understanding a vpn in 2021

What Is A VPN? A Non-Technical Beginner’s Guide to Understanding VPN in 2021

A VPN is one of the most easy-to-use tools to protect your online privacy, to stop devices from getting hacked and your ISP from snooping on you. Before genuinely using VPN, you should have a good understanding of it. Here comes the ABCs about it.

understanding a vpn in 2021

VPN 101: All the Basics You Should Know about VPN

What is a VPN?

VPN, an abbreviated form of Virtual Private Network, is a service allowing you to have secure and private access to the internet by routing your connection through a server and hiding your online activities.

But how does it make it? Read on.

How does a VPN work?

First, let’s see the situation when no VPN is used as you get online. You just use your device to directly connect with the internet. Your request just rushes out of your device “naked” to the target. Then, your data can be seen by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) as long as your IP address is known.

When a VPN is used, however, your request is sent from your device to a VPN server first where the request goes through “make-up”, then it reaches the internet with a “different” identity that is hardly known by your ISP.

That’s how a VPN basically works.

Why do I need a VPN?

As is depicted above, when you get online without a VPN, all your online activities will be in great danger. Based on your IP address, all your online activities can be tracked by your ISP, government, or even hackers. However, when a VPN is used as you browse the Internet, it can:

1. Hide your IP address to stop ISP or other individuals or organizations from tracking your online activities;

2. Bypass internet censorship to allow you to visit any website or social media platform restricted by local government and to watch streaming videos exclusively published in an area such as Netflix US;

3. Protect your data through an encrypted tunnel within which your data or files are transmitted without others’ knowledge;

4. Protect your privacy even when you use an insecure WiFi connection such as Starbucks hotspot or airport WiFi.

When to use a VPN?

You can use a VPN at any time when you worry about your online security and privacy.

For a specific situation to use a VPN, you can use it when you travel since not a fixed internet connection can be obtained while you keep constantly moving around the world. Even if you get connected with an insecure internet connection such as a coffee shop or hotel WLAN, you shouldn’t worry about your online security or privacy if a VPN is used.

You can use a VPN when local restrictions stop you from visiting some websites or sharing your stories on social media since VPN can bypass local government restrictions. Or you can use a VPN when you’d like to watch Netflix US or play online games restricted by your local government. As soon as corresponding servers are connected, you can enjoy them.

You can use a VPN when you need to establish an encrypted tunnel for your company or organizations since it can protect your transmitted data from being monitored by third parties.

What devices and operating system does VPN work on?

Different VPN services have different compatible devices or operating systems to work on. BitVPN can work on Android, iOS, macOS and Windows, meeting different demands on hardware and software.

Do I need an ISP if I use a VPN?

Yes.

Your ISP provides you access to the Internet and is required to connect you to a VPN server. You can’t get to the Internet with a VPN alone.

How to set up and use a VPN?

VPN sounds complicated but it is easy to use.

Step#1: Download a VPN app from the App Store, Google play or official website.

Step#2: Install it on your device.

Step#3: Choose a VPN server and connect with it.

Step#4: Now, you can securely and privately browse the internet.

Will a VPN slow down my internet?

In short, it shouldn’t. But it can. A VPN is not created to slow down your internet connection. Contradictorily, it can boost your internet connection by avoiding bandwidth throttling and deploying more efficient routing. However, as you get online, so many elements are correlated with your internet speed. Here are some handy tips to speed up your VPN connection

What Exactly Can You Do with a VPN?

how to beat netflix vpn ban

Does VPN make you 100% anonymous?

Nearly all VPNs declare so, but not all really can.

Theoretically, a VPN can make users anonymously browse by hiding their IP addresses and establishing encrypted tunnel for transmission so that ISPs, coffee shop WiFi routers, and any server on the way to the internet have no access to their online activities.

If a VPN keeps high anonymity of yours, it should be compatible with the following requirement:

  • No Logging
  • Rigorous Privacy Policy
  • Decentralized Structure
  • P2P Mesh Network

Not all VPNs can make you 100% anonymous but your anonymity can be improved based on the applied technology applied by VPN provider. Keep in mind to refer to the above techniques before determining which VPN service to opt for.

Can I use VPN to watch Netflix/Hulu?

VPNs can help you bypass local restrictions to reach services exclusively provided to certain areas, including Netflix or Hulu. Each movie or show lover expects to have the longest Netflix catalogs but not everyone is allowed to because of local restrictions. VPN allows users to get connected with US servers so as to enjoy Netflix US streaming video sources.

However, the Netflix VPN ban makes it not so easily achievable. Most VPNs fail to break the Netflix VPN ban. As you pick up a VPN, its capability to overcome the Netflix ban must be tested in advance if you expect to use it for streaming. The VPNs with Netflix exclusive servers are better to choose from.

Can I use VPN to play online games?

Online games aren’t equivalently released to the world. And they tend to be banned by local government due to sensitive elements such as violence or sex. However, online gamers can use VPN to break the limitations to enjoy games online.

To better play online games with a VPN, the following aspects should be carefully considered: VPN connection speed, compatibility with different operating systems or devices, bandwidth limit, low ping rates, etc.

Can I use a VPN for torrenting?

Generally yes. It largely depends on the specific service provided by your VPN provider and the type of things you need to torrent.

Instead of being the actual format of files, torrent is the common term for the protocol used for data and file transmission on the internet. VPNs have distinctive attitudes towards torrenting and most VPNs support it. In terms of the security of your torrent, it can be maintained by VPN providers who promise not to keep your logging.

Another significant consideration when choosing a VPN for the torrent is the downloading speed. Speed tests are dramatically suggested before you get premium service purchased.

How Secure Is a VPN?

hacker

Can my VPN service get blocked?

VPN blocking can usually occur without any warning or notice. It’s mostly correlated with the local government’s policy or business profits. For instance, the Kashmir lockdown belongs to the former type while the Netflix VPN ban belongs to the latter.

However, no VPNs keep unchanged from the beginning to the end. Quality VPNs are so sensitive to any challenge to their service. Despite sudden blocks, solutions can be achieved in a short time and specialized servers will be prepared to meet the challenge.

Am I safe when using public WiFi hotspots with a VPN?

Absolutely you are.

VPN helps to build an encrypted tunnel connecting your device with the internet. Even though your WiFi connection is insecurely made, you can get online with full security thanks to the encryption brought by a VPN.

Do I need to read a VPN’s privacy policy?

For your highest online security, of course, you need.

However, the real issue is that privacy policy usually consists of piles of professional terms and complicated expressions. Most VPN providers confirm their zero-logging of users’ data while not all of them can really do. It’s impossible for you to testify to their released privacy policy unless decentralized VPN is applied since the decentralized structure it depends on essentially stops users’ data from being centered on one server or device. Moreover, free VPN conforms to a weak privacy policy while paying one to a rigorous one.

What do zero logs mean?

When a VPN claims they keep the zero-logging policy, it means that no users’ data is tracked or stored on the server. However, no real zero log VPN exists unless it is based on a decentralized structure. The centralized VPN transmits users’ data through a single encrypted tunnel. Once the single server is hacked, users’ data will be in great danger. In the case of decentralized VPN, it is impossible for hackers to attack all servers or devices in one go, which makes no logging accessible.

Is VPN legal?

VPNs are legal in the majority of countries in the world.

Up to now, VPN is illegal or unacceptable in China, Turkey, Iraq, UAE, Belarus, Oman, etc. To find out more details about the attitude towards VPN from your local government, local laws or regulations can be referred to.

Why decentralized VPN is the most secure VPN?

It’s so true that a decentralized VPN is the most secure one.

A decentralized VPN is not controlled by a central server and is based on blockchain technology. One significant characteristic of decentralization is that there is no single authority involved. Therefore, the system will naturally be fairer, safer, and more flexible.

A decentralized blockchain-based VPN integrates mass traffic of numerous computers and carries out peer-to-peer communication. The traditional VPNs, on the opposite side, but the entire network in constant danger once the central servers are being hacked. However, fortunately, decentralized P2P VPNs don’t have to worry about the threat of being hacked, since there are so many servers available and they’re distributed in a non-linear fashion.

How Different Are They?

Centralized VPN vs Decentralized VPN-BitVPN

Free vs. Paid VPNs, which is better?

Pros and cons of Free VPNs:

Pros:

  • Low Cost
  • Basic VPN Functions

Cons:

×  Extremely Low Security

×  Unstable Connection

×  Slow Connection

×  Have to Spend Time Earning Free Minutes

×  Full of Ads

×  Limited VPN Functions

Pros and Cons of Paid VPNs:

Pros:

  • Protecting Online Security and Privacy
  • Multiple Servers to Opt for
  • Fast VPN Connection
  • No Ads or Videos
  • Unlimited Data

Cons:

×  Need to Pay

Therefore, free VPN features the unique advantage that is being free while paid VPN features the unique disadvantage that is needed to pay. For those who top online security and privacy on the list of your browsing requirements, a paid VPN should be selected.

Centralized vs. Decentralized VPN, which is better?

A centralized VPN depends on a centralized server while decentralized VPN depends on a decentralized structure. Basically, a centralized VPN connects you to the internet much like using a proxy to hide your identity. The connection between you and the proxy is encrypted to stop others from snooping on you. Without this traditional type of VPN, as you connect to the internet through public WiFi or your Internet Service Provider, all your online activities are easily discoverable. The biggest risk of centralized VPN is that once the centralized server is attacked, all users’ data will stay in great danger. In addition, users’ data will possibly be controlled in the VPN service provider’s hands.

A decentralized VPN can do all that a centralized VPN can do but it’s safer. Users’ data is distributed to numerous servers on the internet. It’s so difficult for hackers to attack all servers at the same time. With centralized VPN compared with decentralized VPN, therefore, it’s better and safer to choose the latter.

VPN vs. Proxy, which is better?

In terms of the debate of VPN vs. Proxy, there are a couple of aspects considered. Proxy is mainly used to beat internet censorship or local restrictions on internet visits. It’s achieved through technical configuration. When it comes to functions, Proxy features fewer than VPN since it has little correlation with online security and privacy protections. Moreover, VPN is easily installed and applied while Proxy can’t be set by anyone unless the pros are available.

In sum, for internet censorship bypassing, either VPN or Proxy can be selected. When it comes to online security and privacy, a VPN is better to use.

VPN vs. Smart DNS, which is better?

If you only need to break the geological restrictions to watch streaming video or play online games and care little about your security and privacy, smart DNS is a smart choice. Compared with VPN, smart DNS is cheaper and applied simpler technology. However, no encryption is used. Therefore, smart DNS is only suggested when local restrictions need breaking and you don’t mind your online security and privacy.

VPN vs. Incognito, which is better?

Incognito is originally the name of the private browsing mode of Google Chrome while it has been used as a common term to refer to a private browser. As far as VPN vs. Incognito is concerned, online security is a common concern for both parties. Incognito is created to protect users’ online activities from being monitored or tracked by the browser. However, all your online activities with no participation in the browser fail to be protected from being tracked. But VPN can protect your activities from any risk as long as your connection is made.

How to choose the right VPN service?

What contributes to the best VPN service?

What’s the best VPN service is like? There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people’s eyes. However, the following elements should be carefully considered when you expect a reliable VPN service: technology (centralized or decentralized VPN, P2P mesh network), security extent, connection speed (server count), customer service (feedback), etc.

Can I have a trial before buying a VPN service?

Most VPN services provide trials prior to official purchase. For example, BitVPN has a 7-day free trial service before users make a decision to use its Premium service.


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