Have you encountered the error "This video is not available in your country"? Ever tried accessing LinkedIn from certain regions? Such restrictions can be bypassed by enabling VPN on your device. Recently, countless people shifted to remote work, with many employers requiring VPN for secure corporate service access. Today we'll explore what VPN is and how it actually works.
What is VPN?
VPN — Virtual Private Network — represents a collection of technologies enabling one or multiple network connections (a logical network) over another network (such as the Internet).
Let's break down the name:
- Network — connecting multiple devices through some communication method, enabling information exchange
- Virtual — intangible, non-physical, meaning the specific communication channels don't matter. Physical and logical topologies may match or differ
- Private — outsiders cannot enter this network; only those with granted access can participate. Private networks must mark participants and their traffic to distinguish it from other external information. Such networks also provide data protection through cryptographic means — simply put, encryption
Here's another definition: VPN is a service that protects private data while using the Internet.
Why Do You Need VPN?
Remote Work
When working from home, VPN provides access to your organization's services and documentation with enhanced security. Data becomes difficult to intercept and decrypt.
Connecting Company Branches
VPN unites different parts of one company regardless of physical distance between offices. It also works within companies — for connecting and isolating departments.
Public Wi-Fi Protection
When connecting to Wi-Fi in cafes, subway stations, and similar locations, hackers might steal your data. Using public networks safely limits you to browsing websites. However, using social networks exposes you to attackers who can intercept confidential information and use it for their purposes — even logging into your social media accounts. Email compromise proves even worse — all applications linked to that email become vulnerable. Most dangerous is banking card data leakage if you transfer money while connected to free Wi-Fi.
Accessing Blocked Content
VPN provides access to websites blocked in certain territories. Consider this example: a production company sells a TV show to broadcasters in different countries. Usually, channels upload episodes to YouTube the day after TV premiere for viewers who missed the broadcast and to earn additional advertising revenue. When one country's channel uploads content earlier than another's TV premiere, access gets restricted in the second country until their broadcast airs.
Ensuring Anonymity
Nobody can track which sites you visited, which browser you use, or where you're located. The need to hide geolocation often arises during travel. For example, certain countries block popular platforms like YouTube or messaging apps. Simply accessing familiar services becomes impossible without VPN.
Avoiding Targeted Advertising
VPN prevents browser history from being used to create targeted advertising profiles based on your searches.
Saving Money
Airlines set different prices for identical tickets based on buyer regions. VPN allows changing geolocation information, potentially revealing better prices.
How Can You Use VPN?
We've established that VPN is a useful service, but how exactly do you enable it?
Desktop Options
If you're working at a computer and want to visit a blocked site using a browser, you can:
- Install a dedicated program (VPN client) on your PC
- Add a browser extension
- Use built-in browser VPN (some browsers like Opera include this feature)
All these methods are simple to execute but have certain drawbacks. VPN clients issue random IP addresses, meaning you cannot choose a specific country. Another inconvenience involves constantly launching the program, though some applications start automatically with the operating system.
Browser extensions require registration, after which a single click selects which country's VPN server you want to connect to.
Mobile Devices
VPN usage on smartphones and iPhones works through mobile applications. Popular options include various apps available on both Android and iOS platforms.
You've read about VPN advantages and installation methods. Now let's discuss the downsides.
Continue reading in Part 2: The costs of internet security, how VPN works technically, popular VPN protocols compared, and legal considerations.