Examining how a VPN protects your network
The role that VPNs play in protecting networks from malware has been understated. In this article, we’ll review the basics of how a VPN protects your network against malware and other threats from the cyberworld.
Let’s see how a VPN protects your network. To begin, a VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a common solution when it comes to securely encrypt the entire path from your computer to the VPN provider. All the data passing through this network is encrypted. In this day and age when computer security is all-important, or where Internet usage is via an open network (such as a coffee shop or cybercafé), a VPN can be a great solution.
But here are some important things to take into consideration when using a VPN to guard against malware:
Security is only guaranteed if you’re connecting via the VPN’s servers. Any traffic outside these servers is unencrypted. This means others including the VPN provider, may be able to see your data, or even map out the path to you’re connecting to.
Also, in some instances, adding a VPN will compromise speed because you’re adding steps between your computer and the server and the one you’re accessing.
Another important aspect about VPN’s is that not all support all protocols.
Finally, remember that not all remote servers allow connections through VPNs. For instance, there are countries where Internet censorship is high. These places will typically block VPN connections in a bid to censor Internet traffic and control info coming and going out of the country.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s see just how a VPN network protects your network.
How a VPN protects your network against cyberthreats
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a software program that acts as an intermediary between you and the general Internet. In short, it offers privacy while on the Internet. For those who are not familiar with a VPN, it stands for a Virtual Private Network. It uses a process called tunneling that burrows through the unsecured public internet, hiding all your sensitive data using a 1024-bit encrypted tunnel. It also provides you with a dynamic IP (Internet Protocol) address that masks your location and other details.
This is critical from a cybersecurity standpoint. It means almost all your Internet activity is hidden including from your ISP (Internet Service Provider), hackers, neighbors, and anyone else who wants to see, manipulate, or steal your important data. A VPN is are especially important if you are using a public Wi-Fi service (for instance, at a coffee shop or airport.
