What is a VPN, How Does it Work, and Why Do You Need One?

Whether you are a blogger travelling the world and posting on social media or a business owner involved in ecommerce, a VPN is an essential tool that can help you with your work. The digital world is full of dangers and, without a VPN, criminals and shady organizations can easily intercept and steal your data.

Although 100 percent protection on the internet is impossible, a VPN, together with other security systems, gives you the best shot at keeping your data and reputation as safe as possible.

So what is a VPN? If you don’t know, or aren’t sure why you even need one, read on to learn more about them, including what they do, and why they are incredibly important for online security.

• What is a VPN?
• How does a VPN work?
• Do I need a VPN?

What is a VPN?

VPNs, short for virtual private networks, are built as a way of ensuring a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the online network or website it is connected to. In other words, it is a private connection between you and someone else. Only you and the other party can use or view the exchanged data, and anyone else outside your connection will not have access to it. 

How Does a VPN Work?

When you turn on your VPN software and click the connect button, it will look for one of the VPN provider’s servers. Most providers have servers located around the world, and in most cases, you will be connected to the nearest one for maximum performance, but you can usually choose your own instead if you so choose.

Once you have connected, the server will assign you a temporary IP address which masks your real IP. Because hackers can use your real IP to track your online activities, masking it with a VPN keeps you protected.

At the same time, a virtual private network also encrypts your connection. This process makes your data unusable to anyone who is not authorized for access. For example, when you connect to a VPN server, only your computer and the server can decipher the data transmitted between them. Any other entity that somehow finds this data will not be able to make sense of it.

Do I Need a Virtual Private Network?

Do you value privacy and security for yourself, your devices, and your data? If your answer is yes, you need a VPN. This is especially important if you share and work with critical information regularly, such as personal details and private records.

With a virtual private network, your login details, like passwords, also remain safe on public networks. Other data, like debit or credit card info and additional sensitive information, will also be kept secure. Thanks to powerful encryption, any data that is somehow stolen will not be readable and, therefore, becomes useless to outsiders.

Conclusion

VPNs make you anonymous in the dangerous online world. They keep your data encrypted, ensuring maximum safety even if your network has been compromised.

One more benefit of VPNs is that they can spoof your geographic location. By using this functionality smartly, you can bypass online restrictions, such as country-specific websites and services. In other words, with VPN software in your arsenal, you can finally watch that Netflix series that is only available in another country!

Are you looking for a VPN service that offers you the best security and privacy at the best price? HotBot can offer you precisely that! Check out what our VPN software has in store for you. Also available on the Play Store for Android.