VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. The technology was originally developed for business use, but has now also come in handy for private use thanks to VPN providers. When used correctly, they can provide a boost to your privacy, especially on the road.
A VPN was originally intended to make a direct connection to a company network. This creates a firmly encrypted tunnel between your system and that network. Your computer, tablet or smartphone ‘thinks’ it is connected to the remote network after connecting. And can – depending on the configuration there – use network folders, printers and so on. The internet connection (again somewhat dependent on the configuration that the system administrator has devised for your work) also runs via the company network. In practice, this means that you use your company’s public IP address for all your online activities.
VPN for everyone
Precisely that last phenomenon – getting a different IP address – has made a number of people think. Because: a different IP address combined with a firmly encrypted tunnel to elsewhere is a very interesting way to guarantee privacy. So VPN providers arose. What they do is actually very simple. Such a provider (usually) has a lot of servers around the world in a variety of countries and regions. You as a user of a specific VPN service connect to a server through that encrypted tunnel. You will then be assigned an IP address from that server in a specific country.
Perfect for your privacy and security
You are now killing several birds with one stone. First, no one can read your internet traffic between your device and the endpoint in the form of the VPN server you are connected to. Without a doubt a very big advantage, for example if you go on holiday to a country where privacy rights are taken less closely. Or when you live there. A VPN provider is often the only way to get around the state censorship on your local internet. And to prevent you from getting an unexpected visit from a group of friendly gentlemen m/f with a lot of unfriendly questions.
A VPN server also comes in handy when used in combination with public hotspots. These things often have no security at all. Moreover, you have to wait and see whether a hotspot turns out not to be a honeypot, set up by a digital thief with less noble intentions. Not an exceptional phenomenon unfortunately, in crowded areas. As soon as you connect to a hotspot, all your internet traffic is normally readable by a malicious person. Not, however, as soon as you use VPN!
VPN via hotspot
As soon as a hotspot does not allow VPN connections, it is simply a matter of quickly disconnecting from it and not using it. It may then be a rogue WiFi access point. Or usage data is collected for advertising and other purposes of a less noble nature. In any case, you should avoid public hotspots – especially the ones that do not require a WiFi password. Sometimes, however, that is not possible, and then plan B is only to connect to such an access point via VPN.
VPN providers
There are quite a few VPN providers now. It also applies – how could it be otherwise – that there are also bad apples among them. Because such a provider could link various things such as incoming and outgoing IP addresses linked to usage times. That way you can still be traced, for example. Often the better and more reliable VPN providers are also in a slightly higher price segment. For example, a well-known name is the ancient NordVPN. A subscription to it will cost you a few tens a year, but then you don’t have to worry about anything else. Other names that enjoy a certain notoriety in terms of reliability include ExpressVPN and surf shark.
Subscription and Connecting
Once you have taken out a subscription (free providers can often or not be trusted or offer unusable limits in the field of speed and data to be consumed in the long run), the fun can begin. If you have little or no understanding of the slightly more technical settings of your computer or mobile device, use the app that most self-respecting VPN providers have in their range. This usually connects you to the service with a tap of a button. You can also often easily choose a geolocation here, which considerably simplifies use. In the case of an iPhone, for example, you will usually be asked to install a profile during the first use, because otherwise no connection can be made.
Bypass geoblock
Let’s take a quick look at another practical advantage of a VPN provider. If you go on holiday to a destination outside the Netherlands, you will normally receive an IP address that comes from your destination country (especially if you connect to a local WiFi access point in, for example, your hotel or at the campsite). A number of services now have a so-called geoblock. Based on the country where you are – recognizable by the IP address of your internet connection – you are sometimes excluded from certain services.
A notorious example is video streaming. For example, you cannot watch the live streams of the public broadcaster, which can be inconvenient if you also want to be able to watch your favorite program abroad. In such a case, choose a VPN server target in the Netherlands and it will work. Usually, because streaming providers are also getting smarter and collecting IP addresses from VPN providers. Because imagine that as that one Japanese you would illegally watch a Dutch-language program. In short: VPN providers can sometimes be recognized, so you won’t see anything after all. In that case it usually helps to just choose another server. The better VPN providers have several ready for you to choose from.
Connect automatically, so safe
Finally, a tip: make sure that you set up your mobile or laptop in such a way that preferably a connection is made on request. You can then be sure that you always connect via VPN and never accidentally connect to a malicious hotspot without VPN. If you don’t know how to do this on your device, check it in the manual, help file or Google. It all differs quite a bit per operating system and version, so we can’t give a quick general recipe. For example, in recent versions of iOS, you’ll find the option in the Settings app under VPN, where you will find a list of the previously added VPN provider (you know: that profile!). Tap the (i) behind the provider and put the switch behind Connect on demand. From that moment on, a connection is first made with the VPN server (if there was no connection at all) before even a bit of data is exchanged with the angry outside world.
