What Is a VPN and How Does It Work?

Everyone from your nerdy cousin to YouTube superstars keeps talking about VPNs these days.

01:11 08 November 2023

Everyone from your nerdy cousin to YouTube superstars keeps talking about VPNs these days. So, what's the big deal? What is a VPN, and why should you care? This article will ease you into the basics. Read on to discover how VPNs work and why getting one is among the best things you can do to stay safe online while getting more out of your network connection. 

What Is a VPN?

Think of the VPN as a cybersecurity tool used to connect to the internet safely and anonymously. It's Virtual, meaning you don’t need physical cables to reap the benefits. Private means neither hackers, snoops, nor your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can see what you’re up to online when it’s active. The network has to do with how VPNs operate since they connect different devices to function. 

Why Would You Need a VPN?

You can't access the Internet without signing a contract with an Internet Service Provider. The ISP assigns a unique string of numbers to each device it services, known as the Internet Protocol or IP address. 

That address tells different interested parties a lot about you. ISPs use it to track all your online activities. Advertisers use a combination of your IP address and cookies to follow you around the internet and display ads they feel matter to you. Worst of all, hackers who know your IP address may use it to track you or steal your data. Essentially, a VPN assigns you a new, dedicated IP address and protects the privacy of your online activities. 

Now, you might be concerned. If they can grant great privacy, are VPNs legal? The answer to this question largely depends on the country you're in and its specific laws and regulations concerning virtual private networks. 

How Do VPNs Work?

To start using a VPN, you must first download its launcher program, the VPN client. The client connects to the ISP and encrypts the connection. More on that in a bit. It creates a tunnel between your device and a VPN server, decrypting any data you send and vice versa.

Let’s break that down.

To encrypt means to disguise a message using a code or cipher. Let’s say you want to buy a lamp online. Ordinarily, you’d search for one you like, pay for it, and provide shipping details all out in the open. Your ISP knows where you bought it, how much you paid, and which credit card you used. So can hackers, especially if you connect to public Wi-Fi, which is never a good idea unless you have a VPN.

If your connection is encrypted, all the above information becomes nonsense to anyone who might be snooping. The client provides a key the VPN server uses to decrypt your request and pass it on to your destination. Plus, the VPN substitutes your IP address with one from its many worldwide server locations. This makes your habits completely anonymous.

To return to our lamp example, neither your ISP nor anyone who monitors your connection even knows you were searching for a lamp. The store will still need your payment & shipping info, but no one else can intercept it.

Can Anyone Benefit From a VPN?

The applications for a VPN are so diverse that hardly anyone wouldn’t benefit. Employees use them to securely connect to company networks and access or transfer confidential data. Activists and truth seekers in oppressive regimes rely on the anonymity and security VPNs bring to share information and organize.

Ordinary users not only enjoy greater privacy but can access sites with geo-restrictions. Why miss out on your favorite shows when on vacation if your streaming service doesn't operate in the country you're visiting? Even public Wi-Fi isn’t a cybersecurity hazard if you route the connection through a VPN.

Moreover, a VPN levels the playing field when searching for the best prices online since it gets rid of price gouging based on location. Speaking of play, VPNs may even help gamers reduce latency if they take a more direct route to game servers than the ISP.