What is a VPN, what is it for and how does it work?

Today, in the digital age, security and online privacy have become top priorities for everyday users and businesses. With the rise of cyber threats and growing awareness about personal data protection, tools such as VPN are gaining more and more attention. But what exactly is a VPN? What is it for and how does it work?

From a practical point of view, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the best solution to surf the internet in complete safety, protecting your online activities, personal information and sensitive data. In our guide, we will explore the world of VPNs in detail, analyzing their meaning, the advantages they offer, how they work and how to best use them.

What is a VPN: meaning and definition

When you are away from home, connecting to a public Wi-Fi seems like a good decision. Instead, it is not. In fact, while you browse online your device (whether it is a PC or smartphone) receives and sends numerous data and these are constantly at risk of being intercepted and stolen by external sources.

And while cybersecurity and cybercrime have been discussed for years, many still do not know the tools to protect themselves from possible hacking attempts, such as the virtual private network (VPN). But what is the meaning of VPN? Let’s try to give a definition.

A VPN, acronym for "Virtual Private Network", is a technology that creates a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the Internet. Instead of connecting directly to the web through your Internet Service Provider (ISP), your data traffic is routed through a dedicated VPN server, masking your real IP address and protecting your personal information.

This process ensures that the data you transmit is safe from prying eyes, making it harder for hackers, governments, or other entities to monitor your online activities.

According to recent statistics, VPN adoption is constantly growing. It is estimated that over 1.6 billion people worldwide will use a VPN in 2025. In the United States, 46% of Internet users use VPNs, while in the United Arab Emirates this percentage reaches 38%. Globally, 93% of organizations use VPN services to ensure the security of their communications and business data (data source: DemadSage).

What is VPN? All the advantages

Once you understand what VPN is - we’ll see how it works later - it’s worth understanding when and why it’s used. In essence, what is VPN used for. Basically, these tools offer a series of significant advantages for both individual users and businesses, such as the following.

• Online privacy protection: A VPN masks your IP address, making it difficult for websites, advertisers and other entities to track your online activities. This is particularly useful for avoiding profiling and targeted advertising.
• Security of connections on public networks: When you connect to public Wi-Fi networks, such as those in airports or coffee shops, your data can be vulnerable to attacks. A VPN encrypts your traffic, protecting sensitive information such as passwords and banking details.
• Access to geo-restricted content: Many streaming services and websites restrict access to content based on geographic location. With a VPN, you can connect to servers in different countries, bypassing these restrictions and accessing the content you want. As long as it’s legal, of course.
• Bypass censorship: In some countries, access to certain websites is censored or restricted. VPNs allow users to bypass these restrictions, providing access to unfiltered information.
• Security in corporate communications: Companies use VPNs to ensure that communications between employees and different locations are secure. This is especially important for smart working, where employees access corporate networks remotely.
• Avoid bandwidth throttling: Some ISPs may limit your connection speed for certain services or during specific hours. Using a VPN, your traffic is encrypted, making it harder for the ISP to enforce these limitations.
• Save money: Whether you’re buying a plane ticket or shopping online, a VPN can help you avoid price fluctuations due to cookies that track your interests and your geographic location.

How a VPN connection works

The practical operation of a VPN can be broken down into several key steps, which we’ll summarize and simplify.

• Traffic encryption: When you connect to a VPN, the software on your device encrypts all the data you send and receive. This means that even if someone were to intercept your traffic, they wouldn’t be able to read the content.
• Route through a VPN server: The encrypted data is sent to the VPN server you choose. This server acts as an intermediary between your device and the Internet, assigning you a new IP address and masking your real one.
• Website Access: From the VPN server, your data is sent to the website or online service you want to use. The site will see the request as coming from the VPN server’s IP address, not yours.
• Data Receipt: The requested information is sent to the VPN server, which encrypts it and sends it back to your device. The VPN software on your device decrypts the data, allowing you to view it.

It should be noted that this entire process happens in real time, ensuring safe and private browsing without interruptions. It is important to note that the quality and speed of the connection may vary based on the VPN provider you choose and the location of the server you select.

How to Use a VPN

Before choosing the VPN that will protect your PC - or smartphone - it is important to understand how to use it correctly. In reality, the process is quite simple.

Each provider offers different services that, based on various factors, can change the way they work and, consequently, how they are used. Generally speaking, however, the procedure is similar for any platform and involves some standard steps.

1. Depending on the operating system you use (for Windows, Mac OS, Linux computers; for Android and iOS smartphones) there are different options with minimal variations.
2. Once you have chosen the VPN you need, you will have to register on the provider’s website, download and run the installation on your device.
3. At this point you will only need to start the program by clicking on the appropriate icon - exactly like any other software.
4. Once you have entered your credentials, you will need to choose whether the server to connect to will be selected automatically by the program or manually by the user.
5. Finally, all that remains is to connect and start browsing the Internet.

Types of VPNs to know

In order to choose the VPN that best meets your needs, however, it is good to know in detail the existing types of VPNs, which differ in implementations and functions. As of today, there are at least four types:

• Remote Access VPN: Suitable for businesses and individuals, it allows users to securely access a network remotely, creating a tunnel between the employee’s device and the corporate network;
• Site-to-Site VPN: Connects two private networks together, such as the networks of two locations of the same company (Intranet) or two different companies (Extranet) by accessing specific resources of the remote network;
• Personal VPN: Allows a user to securely access their home network remotely, protecting personal data when accessing the Internet from a public Wi-Fi;
• Business VPN (or corporate): Suitable for companies that need advanced features, such as access control, or to isolate access to certain corporate data.

How to choose the best VPN for yourself?

To choose the best VPN you should take into consideration several factors.

• The Cost. Free VPNs exist but they are often slow, less secure and have fewer features than paid VPNs.
• Security features. The encryption process that transforms personal data into codes, so that it is impossible to decipher them, is fundamental. The best is AES-256. But this must be accompanied by a rigorous privacy policy, a kill switch function (which automatically disconnects the device in the event of a VPN interruption) and other additional security features.
• Connection speed. The first VPNs had the defect of slowing down the connection, everything has changed with the new protocols: Wireguard is the fastest VPN protocol currently.
• Number of Servers. The more servers the VPN offers and in different locations, the greater the chances of speed and reliability.
• Ease of Use. The app should be easy to set up and use.
• Customer Support. The VPN provider should offer competent customer support, so look for those that offer live support, 24-hour chat, and a ticketing system.
• Additional Features. Nowadays, premium VPN services can offer additional features such as ad blocking, double VPN, or unlimited simultaneous connections.
• Other Services. Several providers do not just offer a simple VPN, but provide a whole series of services - from antivirus to secure web searches, from the creation of new digital identities to an effective Alert system - which complete an aggregated and varied offer for the user interested in moving online with privacy and security.

In any case, to choose the best VPN it is a good idea to first do some research, reading reviews and comparing prices. Finally, it is preferable to try the VPN before purchasing it. Many providers, in fact, offer a free trial that allows you to evaluate the service offered.

Are VPNs legal and safe?

By now there should be no doubt: the only way to truly protect your searches and activities on the Internet is to use a VPN, a secure tool that allows users to browse without worrying about their data.

At the same time, however, customers may wonder whether it is really legal to use a VPN for their browsing. It all depends on the country you are in, as VPNs are not legal in all countries. In countries where governments are particularly authoritarian – such as Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and Turkmenistan – and freedom of expression is not protected, VPNs are illegal, as they allow you to escape censorship systems and government controls.

In Europe, however, as in the rest of Western countries, you can breathe a sigh of relief: VPNs are legal, but using them for illegal purposes can constitute a crime. Hackers themselves, in fact, use VPNs to visit sites with illegal content or to escape checks by the Postal Police.

But – repetita iuvant – it is the use that is made of it that is illegal, not the VPN itself, which instead remains the main tool for surfing the Internet safely.

Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Cos’è una VPN, a cosa serve e come funziona