A VPN (Virtual Private Network) lets you surf the internet while protecting your privacy. It creates an encrypted tunnel between your system and the remote server. Thus, it hides your online activities and your IP address.
There are four major types of VPN. These include personal, site-to-site, remote access, and extranet-based site-to-site VPN. This post will familiarize you with VPN, its types, and how it works.
How Does a VPN Work
A VPN masks your IP address. It does so by making the network redirect your IP address via a specially configured remote server. A VPN host runs this server. So, if you stream content online with a VPN, its server becomes your data’s source. Thus, neither your ISP nor any third party can see the sites you are accessing. They also cannot see the data you exchange online.
Why Should You Use a VPN?
There are many reasons to use a VPN. Protection against identity thieves is its major benefit. But there are many other ways in which it helps improve your online surfing. From hiding your activities from government surveillance to bypassing censorship, the reasons are many. Here’s a detailed explanation of these reasons.
- Hide yourself from government surveillance: A VPN keeps your online activity private. So, your web searches, browsing history, and emails cannot be monitored by government agencies.
- Avoid government censorship: Websites like Twitter, Facebook, and Wikipedia are blocked in many countries. A VPN changes your IP address and encrypts the web traffic. So, you can bypass censorship of the internet.
- Protect your data: Sometimes, malicious users can gain access to your private information. A VPN keeps the sensitive information you share safe. It encrypts this data going through the servers of malicious users.
- Unlock geo-restricted services: Services like Hulu BBC iPlayer, among others, aren’t available everywhere. If you want to access such a service in your region, a VPN will help you. It fakes your location so you can access these services.
The Different Types of VPN
There are many types of VPN that cater to the varying needs of users. You can find the best ones for yourself after analyzing each one.
- Personal VPN
It is also called a commercial VPN. It lets common people set up safe connections over the web. To use it, just install it on your device. They will prove valuable when you connect to public Wi-Fi.
A personal VPN encrypts your internet traffic and ensures your anonymity. It also makes it challenging for threat actors to control your online activity.
- Remote Access VPN
It is one of those types of VPN technologies that lets you access network resources. Remote access VPN imparts a secure connection to link to a private network. Through it, you can access applications, files, or internal systems.
You must have the VPN client application on your computer to use this VPN technology. The client will set up an encrypted VPN tunnel to the VPN network.
After that, remote users verify themselves via credentials.
This VPN type will be good if you want to use enterprise resources. Even IT support personnel can use it. This will allow them to fix servers or device glitches.
- Site-to-Site VPN
A site-to-site VPN technology sets up secure connections between several remote networks. It is one of those types of VPN that businesses use. It lets them link various locations into one private network. This single network is called an intranet.
Every location has its specific local area network called LAN. This LAN has varying IP ranges. A site-to-site VPN technology interconnects LANs securely. It, in turn, enables smooth communication between them.
This type of VPN is ideal to protect data from unauthorized access.
- Extranet-Based Site-to-Site VPN
To have secure communication between several organizations, an extranet-based site-to-site VPN is used. This technology involves business partners, customers, or suppliers. Every organization has its own internal network.
Through this VPN, links between the internal networks are created. In turn, this develops an extranet. It spans across enterprises.
Business partnerships is one area where this VPN finds its use. It makes it possible to exchange confidential information.
Concluding Words
There are many advantages to using various types of VPN. It protects you online and prevents data theft. From regular people to business owners and IT support staff, everyone should use it. You can easily find a suitable type of VPN for your needs and start using it. This step will dramatically lower your worries about the security of your private information.
