Sep 21, 2022
8 min read
A VPN lets you claim back your online privacy. With the growing popularity of VPNs, you might have wondered if you need one too. This article offers a detailed explanation of a VPN for beginners – and how to use it without profound computer knowledge.
Contents
VPN stands for virtual private network, and it provides the ability to establish a secure network connection even when you’re using unsafe public Wi-Fi. A VPN will encrypt your online traffic and keep your virtual location hidden. For those that want a more in depth explanation than a VPN for dummies guide, here’s a more detail version.
The internet is not safe by default. Hackers are always looking for ways to get into your system and steal your money and data. This is in addition to governments spying on their citizens and ISPs (Internet Service Providers) selling user browsing data to marketers.
Turning on a VPN on your computer, smartphone, or tablet protects your data by routing it through a secure connection and encrypted servers. Using a VPN helps prevent third parties from spying on your activity, giving you an extra security layer.
Let’s illustrate this process with an example. Imagine getting on a bus in London or New York. Buses have windows and destination signs, so anyone outside the bus can see who’s traveling, what they’re doing, and in what direction they’re heading.
Now imagine getting into a private taxi with tinted windows. No one outside the cab can see you and what you’re doing or know where you’re going – your travel experience becomes a lot more private.
That’s what using a VPN does to your browsing experience. It enhances your privacy by encrypting your data (i.e., converting it to code) and making it unreadable to snoopers.
A VPN application hides your IP address and online activity from monitoring by routing your traffic through encrypted VPN servers. This means that your online activity is kept secure and private from third-parties, and anyone who might want to monitor what you’re doing online.
If you’re wondering why you need a VPN, let’s look at some benefits of connecting to a virtual private network. Here’s what you can do with a VPN:
Some VPN providers may do even more for your cybersecurity. In addition to all of the above, NordVPN offers advanced security features like Threat Protection and Meshnet for blocking malware and creating secure point-to-point connections. It doesn’t keep logs of user activity — and is easy to set up and use on all main devices.
VPNs are legal in most countries. However, certain countries, such as China, Iran, and Russia, regulate or ban the use of VPNs. That’s because a VPN grants users more online privacy and freedom, making some governments see it as a threat to their leadership. Here’s a regularly-updated list of countries where VPNs are illegal.
Proxy is another tech term you can often hear in the context of cybersecurity. Just like virtual private networks, proxies mask your IP address by rerouting your traffic through a proxy server. It’s great if you only wish to change your IP address without the full benefits a fully-fledged VPN service can offer.
However, unlike a VPN, a proxy doesn’t encrypt your traffic, leaving it accessible to hackers, governments, and ISPs.
All the traffic going through a proxy server is also visible to the owner of it. With NordVPN, you don’t need to worry about that because it uses powerful VPN protocols to protect your traffic with encryption. It also doesn’t log user activity — whatever you do online is your business, and your VPN provider won’t see it.
A VPN extension only protects data in your browser, while other programs and services on your device such as Netflix, Dropbox, or Skype use regular unencrypted internet connection.
Unlike an extension, a secure VPN app protects all the traffic leaving your device. If a VPN client is enabled on your computer, it will not only secure the data in your browser, but also other tools connected to the internet. With a premium VPN like NordVPN, you can get strong security and privacy, while also enjoy internet speeds that NordVPN alternatives just can’t match.
Want to read more like this?
Get the latest news and tips from NordVPN.
Getting started with a VPN is easy. You don’t need any technical knowledge — and most VPN providers will have help centers that list the exact steps for setting up and starting to use your VPN. Once your app is set up and ready to go, you’ll need to connect to your chosen server to protect your traffic.
If you’ve decided to go with NordVPN, you’ll be pleased to know that the NordVPN app is easy to use and will only take a few minutes to set up. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
For a more detailed guide on how to use the NordVPN app on different devices, check out this article that covers using NordVPN on all platforms.
Trending articles
