I am curious about VPN, just want to understand it better, how it works, and its benefits. Also, if you have a preference on which VPN to use please let me know!
A VPN is a Virtual Private Network, and the name doesnt really tell you much. Basically, when you connect to a VPN, it allows you to connect to someone elses network, and than all of your traffic will flow to their network, and than be passed on to you.
The benefits are it allows you to spoof your geolocation to trackers online (basically everywebsite), but you output so much data that they typically know when you are using a vpn and track you via fingerprints instead so its moot.
Most VPN providers claim to hide your IP. But that really depends on where they are located, and if they actually keep track of logs. If they log your activity, and see everything you are doing, than if anyone gets those logs legally or not, than all your data gets handed over anyways. not all vpn providers are created equal. This is where your research is important.
For general day to day use. Its really just an additional onion layer to your security. If the FBI demands the logs to your vpn provider cause they want to know where you specifically have been, well, than you are fucked. But assuming you aren’t like pedaling children, and your like joe schmo in joe blows basement, are you really worth raiding a VPN company with a warrant? probably not.
Like i said earlier, vpns allow you to access another network directly. This can be beneficial to allow users to access your local network, if you set up a vpn. companys tend to use it this way. So the employees can access local network stuff, and the company doesnt have to expose the files directly to the internet. 1 extra layer of security. I personally have a vpn into my home network, so anywhere in the world i can access my files and home network services.
So to sum it up. It puts you on someone elses network, and than all traffic goes through that netwrok to you. Pending what VPN you connect to is really the determining factor as to whether or not its secure. Do you trust that vpn company? whats there policy? are they lieing? etc.
A vpn service will hide your IP adress and location. When shopping for vpn’s make sure they do not keep logs.
With your real ip,they might not havk you but they can take you offline with a DOS or DDOS.
It acts as a man in the middle that encrypts traffic. The end server you’re communicating with sees the VPN server IP/location rather than yours.
The encryption protects you from people sniffing traffic. Most modern traffic is already encrypted though. It’s just another layer.
As far as your network, it doesn’t really do anything for your network.
So while VPN services can mask your traffic from an issue or other provider, they can see everything you’re doing so just know that they will still comply with discovery and give this info to law enforcement so you’re not getting much protecting
I use proton vpn and all of its services, I don’t trust other vpn without open source code……it’s the expensive one but I think it’s worth the price.
^ pretty much everything you need to know about
There are still companies with integrity like Mullvad
You can set up your own VPN and not go through VVN apps so there no company to comply with discovery…