We’re heading towards the last quarter of 2022 and what we’ve seen so far is how much data is
exchanged. We send emails, message our closest people, perform tasks, watch educational materials, listen to
music and consume all types of content.
However, with the advance of the Internet, it was obvious that people with malicious intent
would appear on the scene. Many online scams have emerged over the last few years, leading to the rise of virtual
private networks to secure web traffic.
The virtual private network (VPN) is one of the most powerful and effective ways to protect
your privacy and security online. However, VPNs are sometimes complex to use, making them difficult to
set up and use. This blog will explain everything you need to know about VPNs so you can make informed
decisions before choosing a provider. We’ll also explain the benefits of using a VPN and how it can help
you stay secure online.
What is VPN?
A VPN, or virtual private network, is a secure and encrypted tunnel between your computer
and another server. Its main purpose is to protect your network connection from exposure from third
parties and man-in-the-middle attacks. The encryption happens in real-time and blocks any attempts by
other people to track your online data.
How Does it Work?
A VPN helps protect your data at home or on the street by changing your source IP address.
You can choose a virtual location from any of our servers, and no one will be able to see what website
you are trying to get to or who you are talking to. Your data will turn into a random string of numbers
and letters, making it impossible for people to trace it back. The encryption turns the data into random
strings, and nobody is able to read it, thus protecting your traffic from the Internet Service Provider
(ISP), government, and other prying eyes (like hackers or nasty advertisers).
Types of VPN
As with everything, different types of VPN services are available on the market, and they aim to
serve diverse audiences. Some of them target individuals, while others focus on a corporate level.
You’ll need to know that personal VPNs and mobile VPNs target individual customers,
while remote-access VPNs and site-to-site (or S2S) VPNs are focused on corporate clients.
Individual VPNs
Individual VPN plans are designed to protect the privacy of everyday users when they are
browsing the web or doing different activities. By encrypting their data and hiding their IP address,
VPNs allow users to remain anonymous and safe from potential threats.
Why choose Personal VPN services?
Streaming Online Content
if you’re a Netflix or Amazon Prime Video fan, you might find quality VPNs a great
choice for your needs. Whether you live in a country with restricted access to, for example, US
Netflix, or you’re traveling abroad and cannot load your favorite TV series, a good virtual
private network will effectively solve your issues.
Preventing Internet Throttling
Internet Service Providers have a “good” habit of monitoring users’ traffic. If they
identify patterns like too much 4K streaming, they’ll be quick to react and throttle speeds “to
ensure all network users have enough bandwidth to execute daily routines.” We can argue about
it, as it can be another reason to get you sold for a more expensive plan.
Blocks Censorship
if you live in a less democratic state, it’s possible to have your Internet access
“moderated” by your country. It’s not uncommon for countries like Turkey, North Korea, Russia,
or China to limit access to social media networks or websites that don’t fit the local
authorities’ agenda. With a reliable VPN service, you can avoid the bans, and roam free.
Best Personal VPNs:
PrivateVPN
it is an amazing piece of software that allows you to stream many services in 4K,
unlocks many global content libraries, it doesn’t record your logs, and can offer an all-in-one
package within $2.
NordVPN
NordVPN is a trademark in the VPN industry. It has a global network coverage, great
supported speeds, and it can be used for all-round purposes. While it’s mid-pack when it comes
to prices, it certainly offers great features for what it costs.
Surfshark
Surfshark is another amazing virtual private network service that offers high speeds
and great value for money. If you want to connect more than 10 devices, then it’s your go-to
choice!
Mobile VPN
Mobile VPNs are used to ensure consistent availability for mobile workers or for the convenience
of having a VPN that tolerates connection changes. They provide the same security and networking services
as traditional VPNs but are more flexible and can be adapted to different mobile devices.
How it works: The user downloads the app on their mobile phone and then launches it. Then, they get
authorized access to the application (via Face ID, Touch ID, or password), and then they get connected.
Whether they switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi, it doesn’t affect the IP address which remains static.
Why choose Mobile VPN services?
Safe Public Browsing
if you’re a heavy public Wi-Fi user, you might become a prime target for
man-in-the-middle attacks. Networks that are available for the masses (consider bus stops,
cafeterias, the underground, etc.) usually attract hackers. Enabling a VPN service might prevent
infiltration.
Avoid Advertising targeting
a common issue when browsing your mobile phone is spammy ads. Get rid of them by
utilizing a VPN which could block your traffic and stop ad companies from tracking your online
activities.
Data throttling
you can’t have an unlimited data cap, but you can protect yourself from being
throttled. Again, mobile carriers can try and reduce your max speed, to get you hooked up to a
next-tier mobile plan.
Best mobile VPNs
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN tops the chart in the mobile app department, as it has all the necessary
tools to provide a smooth experience without breaking the bank. The app has an intuitive iOS
version, and it also supports Android flawlessly.
AtlasVPN
AtlasVPN grabbed our attention with the excellent value for money (it trumps anyone
on the list). It also has a free version that offers an ad-free experience.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN offers an amazing and intuitive mobile user interface. Apart from the
high price tag, it does a great job and provides plenty of security features that make up for
the costly subscription.
Corporate VPNs
A corporate VPN can provide remote workers with secure access to company assets while keeping
server data safe. By encrypting all data transmitted between the worker and the company network, a VPN
can ensure that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive information. The virtual private
network can also help prevent malicious actors from intercepting data or accessing company resources
without permission by establishing a secure connection.
Why choose remote Access VPN services?
Provide secure connection for workers – remote workers might be a good target for hackers. Why? It’s
simple. If they work in public places, they could get exposed, or if someone hacks their network. Businesses
with large databases cannot afford any data leaks, and a remote access VPN might be an absolute must.
Monitor employees – while it’s not ethical to have live-monitoring tools at your disposal (or at
least that’s what we believe in honesty), some businesses need to know what their employees are doing and if
they’re visiting harmful websites.
Best Remote Access VPNs
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN is our all-around winner, as it provides everything users needs – it’s the
remote worker paradise, but it also doesn’t cost employers much, and there are advanced settings.
Private Internet Access
PIA offers one of the most extensive server networks in the world, and it can
accommodate the needs of staff members and business owners, which could attract many mid- and
big-time companies.
Surfshark
Surfshark is another cheap solution that can work perfectly with remote workers. It has
multiple security features and provides some of the industry-leading speeds for a VPN.
Site-to-site VPN
Site-to-site VPN is a scalable network for large companies that operate in many offices or separate partner companies that want to have access to each other’s resources. The main difference between remote access VPN and site-to-site VPN is that we are talking about individual users and the whole network. We would need a few examples to simplify things.
Example
Company A has 100 employees in Office X, and 50 in Office Y. One of the offices is located in New York, and the other – in London. Instead of connecting an encrypted tunnel for everyone, the whole network from Office X will connect with the Office Y network.
Example
Company A has 100 employees. Company B has 200 employees. To have a “safety net,” they establish a site-to-site VPN connection where both networks have access to business data required for operations to run smoothly.
Why choose site-to-site VPN services?
Slight speed loss
Compared to standard VPNs, S2S providers offer best-in-class architecture, which leads to minimum loss while getting all other advantages of virtual private networks.
Flexible
it’s a flex pick. You can combine a site-to-site VPN with a remote access VPN to add additional value to companies with remote workers and in-house employees.
Best site-to-site VPNs:
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN has a good scaling network that can offer customers an ultimate user experience, even if they are corporate clients. The low fees and good content delivery network ensure that B2B customers won’t end up disappointed.
Tunnelbear
Tunnelbears serves both small-time customers and enterprises. It has dedicated team plans for big enough organizations; feature-wise, it’s also stacked up, which guarantees good CX.
ProtonVPN
Developed by CERN engineers, ProtonVPN provides a top-notch scaling solution for many businesses that want to develop an S2S network. A typical Swiss-made quality product.
Final Words
VPNs are one of the most promising cyber security products right now. Having a proper virtual
private network can prevent internet throttling and hacking attempts, but it can also allow you to stream
content from anywhere.
Still, you should ensure you pick the right type for your needs to gain the best benefits. For example, if you need a VPN for gaming, you should ensure that it has low latency and high speeds. If you need a VPN for streaming, you should ensure that it can bypass geo-restrictions. Choose the wrong type of
virtual private network, and you might not be able to enjoy all the benefits it has to offer.
FAQ
- If you get a VPN that has a free plan available – like AtlasVPN or ProtonVPN.
- If you have a remote access VPN that is paid by your employer.