What is VPN: Have you ever thought that someone or the other is watching your every activity on the Internet, be it your Internet Service Provider (ISP), a website or a hacker? In such a situation, the technology that people rely on the most to protect their online privacy and security is VPN (Virtual Private Network). Today we will understand in very simple language what VPN is, how it works and why it is so difficult to track.

What is VPN?

VPN i.e. Virtual Private Network is a technology that makes your Internet connection secure and hides your identity i.e. IP Address. It creates a secure encrypted tunnel between your device and the Internet, inside which all your online activities remain hidden.

Think of it as if there is a glass tube through which all your online information is passing and from outside no one can see what is going on inside.

How does VPN work? the real process behind it

When you use the internet without a VPN, your data reaches the website directly through your internet provider. During this time many people can see your information. But when you turn on VPN, the entire connection path changes. Its process goes something like this.

Encryption of data

VPN converts all your online information into coded form. This code is so complex that no hacker or third party can understand it. This encryption is so strong that even a supercomputer can take millions of years to break it.

Connection to VPN server

Your real IP address gets hidden and in its place the IP of the VPN server becomes visible. Suppose you are sitting in India but if you choose USA as the VPN server, then the internet will think that you are online from America. This is why people sometimes use VPN to watch geo-restricted content.

Secure Tunneling

VPN creates a virtual tunnel through which your data passes. No one from outside can peek into that tunnel. This process makes your internet more secure, especially on public Wi-Fi.

Big benefits of using VPN

• VPN hides your location, IP and internet history. In such a situation, no one can access your real digital identity.
• Public Wi-Fi present in cafes, airports or malls is the biggest danger. But VPN protects your data from hackers by encrypting it.
• Sometimes some websites or content are blocked in your country. VPN helps in accessing them by changing the location.
• Your internet provider cannot see which websites you are opening or what you are downloading.

Why is it difficult to track a VPN?

This question comes in everyone’s mind that why is it so difficult to catch a VPN when everything can be tracked on the internet?

Strong encryption technology

VPN converts data into a language that neither ISPs, hackers, nor any government agency can read without legal permission. This encrypted data can only be decrypted by the VPN server.

Shared IP Address

Many VPNs give the same IP address to multiple users. This makes it almost impossible to trace which user actually performed a particular activity.

No-Log Policy

Reputable VPN companies do not keep records of your identity or your activities. In such a situation, even if someone wants to track, they do not have the data.

traffic obfuscation

Some VPNs make their traffic appear like normal Internet traffic. This makes it difficult to identify whether the user is using a VPN or not.

Is VPN completely secure?

VPN increases your security to a great extent but it does not mean that it is 100% foolproof. If you use a free VPN, sometimes they can sell your information or leak your data. Therefore, one should always choose a reliable, premium and well-reviewed VPN.

Misuse and legal aspects of VPN

The use of VPN is completely legal in India, but if someone uses it to hide crime or do wrong, then even VPN cannot save him. Governments and agencies, if necessary, can seek data from VPN companies, especially those that operate under India’s data laws.

Should you use a VPN?

In today’s time when every step is being tracked, cyber frauds are on the rise and online threats are increasing rapidly, VPN is your security shield.

It hides your identity, keeps your data secure and makes the internet private. If you are serious about your online privacy, then VPN is not just an app for you but the strongest weapon of digital security.

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