VPN is short for Virtual Private Network and is a technology that creates an encrypted secure connection over a less secure network like the Internet. The benefit is that it provides the security that the network on which it is based cannot provide. It uses the web to move data. Many such networks can be developed by using different systems incorporating encryption and other security mechanisms to make certain only authorized users can access the network and information can’t be intercepted by the others. It is like a tunnel built to transmit data between a network of say a business and a remote user. It hides your computer data and IP address.
VPN Protocols
The primary VPN network protocols are:
IPSec – Developed by the web Engineering Task Force, to secure exchanges of data at the IP layer. It is widely used for creating VPNs
PPTP- Point to Point Tunneling Protocol for VPNs developed jointly by Microsoft, US Robotics and several remote access vendor companies. It is now obsolete because of security concerns
L2TP – Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol can be an extension of the PPP Protocol (PPP, which establishes connectivity between 2 nodes or computers) L2TP allows ISPs to operate VPNs
SSL – Secure Sockets Layer may be the commonly used one nowadays that can be used with a standard browser. Unlike IPSec, it generally does not require installation of specialized client software on the end user’s computer.
Benefits of VPN
� Security and prevention of data theft
� Uncensored Internet access
� Unblocking ability for sites
� Keeping away data trackers by keeping your browsing history private
� Supports popular p2p protocol like BitTorrent
Drawbacks of VPN
VPN slows down your internet. The factors affecting the speed will be the number of people using the VPN and the geographical location.
Who uses it?
It is used on a person level – Consumers work with a private VPN service or tunnel to safeguard their identity and online activity. That is especially relevant whenever we use public wifi which might not be secure. You can utilize anonymous VPNs, which serves as a privacy buffer between you and your Internet Service Provider, who otherwise has usage of your internet usage patterns. VPNs are used extensively by BitTorrent users.
Corporates use it to communicate in confidentiality video, voice or data over a public network. Additionally it is an excellent option when employees are scattered all over the world. VPNs help connects global offices. Corporates either use a VPDN which helps hook up to an organization LAN through dial up or site-to-site- VPN where dedicated hardware is also used to connect multiple sites to the business LAN.
Just how many countries support VPNs?
114 countries on the globe provide VPN networks.
Just how much does it cost?
yoursite.com costs less than ten dollars per month, which range from four to seven dollars monthly.
What is free VPN
VPN that does not set you back anything up front. Most free VPN services offer only PPTP that is considered obsolete. Also, because it is free, you will see a large number of users logging in leading to lack of bandwidth for several. Bandwidth which has to be bought could be afforded by paid VPN services who use their profits to get more ba