VPN, also known as Virtual Private Network, allows users to establish a virtual private network with another network over the Internet. VPN can be used to access regionally restricted websites, protecting your web browsing activities from curious eyes on public Wi-Fi by setting up a virtual private network for you, …
What is VPN? How to use VPN
Fundamentally, a VPN redirects all your network traffic to a system - where remote access to local network resources and Internet censorship bypassing can occur. Most operating systems come with built-in VPN support.
What is a VPN?
When you connect your computer (or other devices like smartphones or tablets) to a VPN, the computer operates as if it were on a local connection like VPN. All network traffic is sent through a secure connection to the VPN.
And because your computer operates on this network system, it allows you to access local network resources even when you are on the other side of the world.
Moreover, you can use the Internet as if you were present at the VPN's location. This is advantageous in some cases if you are using public Wifi or want to access geographically restricted websites.
When browsing the web while connected to a VPN, your computer communicates with the website through an encrypted VPN connection. The VPN forwards requests for you and returns responses from the website through a secure connection. If you're using a VPN in the US to access Netflix, Netflix will know your connection is located in the US.
Benefits of using a VPN
Although a fairly simple tool, VPNs have many benefits:
- Accessing Business Network while Traveling: VPNs are commonly used by business travelers to access their business networks, including all local network resources. Local network resources are not directly exposed to the Internet to enhance security.
- Accessing Home Network while Traveling: Additionally, you can set up your own VPN to access while traveling. This will allow you to access Windows Remote Desktop over the Internet, meaning you can access your personal computer over the Internet, share files, work on home computer data, and even play games on that computer.
- Concealing Web Browsing Activity from Local Network and ISP: If you are using a public Wifi connection and browsing on non-HTTPS websites, your activities will be visible to others (if they know how to view your activities).
If you want to conceal your web browsing activity for security and privacy purposes, you can connect to a VPN. The local network will only see a secure and unique VPN connection. All other traffic will go through the VPN connection. And it can be used to bypass monitoring by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
- Accessing Geographically Restricted Websites: Even if you're a US citizen living in the US, but you're traveling in another country, not the US, and you want to access Netflix, Pandora, or Hulu, this is not possible. However, if you connect to a VPN located in the US, accessing Netflix, Pandora, or Hulu becomes entirely possible.
- Using VPN to Bypass Internet Censorship .
- Downloading Files: Many users use a VPN connection to download files via BitTorrent. This is really useful if you want to download legitimate Torrents - if your ISP is throttling BitTorrent and it's quite slow, you can use BitTorrent over VPN to experience faster speeds.
Advantages and Disadvantages of VPN
Using VPN
Connecting to a VPN is quite straightforward. On the Windows operating system, you press the Windows key, then type VPN, and click on the option called Set up a virtual private network (VPN) connection .
What is VPN? How to Use VPN
Note:
If you're using Windows 8, click on Settings, then type VPN, and click on Set up a virtual private network (VPN) connection .
Use the wizard to enter the address and login information of the VPN service you want to use. To connect or disconnect from the VPN, use the network icon in the system tray - where you manage Wifi networks you've connected to.
Some VPN providers may offer a client for you to configure.
Some VPN Applications for Further Reference
If you're a new VPN user and basically using VPN on public Wifi or want to access geo-blocked websites, there are a few VPN app options for you like SurfEasy and TunnelBear. SurfEasy offers better speed but TunnelBear gives you a free option, as long as you don't exceed 500 MB per month. Additionally, you can consider and use StrongVPN.
Hotspot Shield is one of the best virtual private network software for computers today. After using Hotspot Shield to set up a virtual private network for public internet access, make sure to turn off VPN on Hotspot Shield to avoid affecting your home or work internet connection. Refer to how to turn off VPN on Hotspot Shield if you don't know how to do it.
- Read more: How to Turn Off VPN on Hotspot Shield
You don't need VPN software to create a VPN, with simple steps on your system, whether it's Windows 7, 8, or Windows 10, creating VPN on these versions is very easy. If interested, you can visit Mytour to learn more.
VPN is simply a virtual private network, so encountering VPN errors during usage is quite common. Researching some VPN errors and troubleshooting methods to deal with them if you encounter them while creating a virtual private network for public internet access.
If you're unsure about the best VPN software or service available today, you can refer to the VPN list here to find out the top VPN software support currently compiled by Mytour.
- Read more: Top List of Best Free VPNs