In 2024, VPNs have become an integral part of the digital world. If you’re not up to speed and want to quickly understand what a VPN is and what it’s used for, here’s a rundown of VPNs for dummies.
What is a VPN? Origin and simple explanations
A Virtual Private Network, abbreviated as VPN, means virtual private network in French. It’s a system based on setting up a connection between the user’s computer and a remote server. Access to the Internet is therefore via a VPN, rather than directly as is normally the case. So what’s the point of adding another intermediary? In fact, by isolating the Internet user’s connection, a VPN will make the user’s traffic private and anonymous. The term secure tunnel is often used because the VPN connection isolates exchanges from the public Internet network.
There are several types, but in practical terms, a VPN for dummies comes in the form of an application. And that’s a real advantage, because they’re compatible on several platforms. So a VPN can follow you wherever you go.
VPNs were first used mainly in the world of work, so that employees could access the company network securely without being at work. Over time, the use of VPNs has become more widespread. They are now accessible to private individuals.
The benefits of a VPN
A VPN is a service that enables you to surf securely wherever you are and to change your virtual location.
Online protection is the major advantage of VPNs. They encrypt the user’s web traffic (represented by the famous secure tunnel we were talking about). The data is scrambled, so the traffic is totally unreadable to third parties, such as hackers or the ISP. A VPN is therefore an excellent way of protecting against online surveillance and data theft.
Another advantage of VPNs is anonymity. By hiding users’ IP address and physical location, VPNs offer 100% confidential browsing, preventing anyone from knowing the real identity of the Internet user. With the number of cyber-attacks skyrocketing, VPNs are essential tools for online security and confidentiality.
VPNs do more than just hide your IP address. Given that it is not possible to surf without this identification number, they will carry out an instant IP change. This enables Internet users to change their virtual location. The repercussions of this simple change are far-reaching: it makes it possible to surf the Internet with a geographical barrier. You may not have known it, but many sites are geo-blocked, meaning that access to them is restricted according to territory. This is the case for television channels and streaming platforms, for example. By circumventing this type of blocking, VPNs offer greater freedom on the Internet. They are also effective for bypassing government censorship.
Here’s what a VPN is for dummies in a nutshell.
How do I use a VPN?
New technologies may seem inaccessible to some people. Yet VPNs are far from complicated to use – on the contrary. These days, VPN service providers are doing everything they can to make their applications as intuitive as possible. Using a VPN has never been easier.
Installation requires no special knowledge, as it is similar to other applications. All you have to do is let yourself be guided, step by step. What’s more, configuration is very quick, whether you’re using a PC, smartphone or even a tablet.
The interface of VPN apps for dummies is pretty similar. You’ll generally find:
- A list of available countries
- The connect and disconnect button
- Settings (connectivity, network, etc.)
Click on the territory of your choice to connect to a server. The VPN is then activated. To be sure, there is often a green indicator on the interface. All you have to do is browse normally. The VPN runs in the background until you disconnect it.
Because of their technology, VPNs are apparently complex tools, but in reality they are very simple to use, at least for consumer applications.
Conclusion
VPNs or virtual private networks are multi-purpose applications. These services enable you to access the Internet without compromising your security or online confidentiality. These tools are also effective for unblocking geo-restricted and censored sites.
VPN for dummies generally offers a streamlined, no-frills interface with accessible features. In addition to these elements, the service must be highly secure and the connection fast so as not to mar your browsing experience. This is the case with ExpressVPN, CyberGhost and NordVPN, providers that are highly regarded for their quality and ease of use.
VPN links
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