The Beginner’s Guide to Understanding VPN, All Explained in 2022

beginners guide to understainding vpn

A VPN is one of the most easy-to-use tools to protect your online privacy, to stop devices from hackers and ISP from tracking your online activities. Before genuinely using VPN, you should have a good understanding of it. Here comes the ABCs about it.

beginners guide to understainding vpn

VPN Basics

What is a VPN?

VPN, an abbreviated form of Virtual Private Network, is a service allowing you to have secure and private access to the internet by routing your connection through a server and hiding your online activities.

But how does it make it? Read on.

How does a VPN work?

First, let’s see the situation when no VPN is used as you get online. You just use your device to directly connect with the internet. Your request just rushes out of your device “naked” to the target. Then, your data can be seen by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) as long as your IP address is known.

When a VPN is used, however, your request is sent from your device to a VPN server first where the request goes through “make-up”, then it reaches the internet with a “different” identity that is hardly known by your ISP.

That’s how a VPN basically works.

Why do I need a VPN?

As is depicted above, when you get online without a VPN, all your online activities will be exposed on the Internet and all your personal data may be leaked. Based on your IP address, all your online activities can be tracked by your ISP, government, or even hackers. However, when a VPN is used as you browse the Internet, it can:

1. Hide your IP address to stop ISP or other individual or organizations from tracking your online activities;

2. Bypass internet censorship to allow you to visit any website or social media platform restricted by local government and to watch Netflix exclusively published in the US;

3. Protect your data through an encrypted tunnel within which your data or files are transmitted without others’ knowledge;

4. Protect your privacy even when you use an insecure WiFi connection such as a Starbucks hotspot or airport WiFi.

When to use a VPN?

You can use a VPN at any time when you worry about your online security and privacy.

For a specific situation, you can use VPN when you travel since not a fixed internet connection can be obtained while you keep constantly moving around the world. Even if you get connected with an insecure internet connection such as a coffee shop or hotel WLAN, you shouldn’t worry about your online security or privacy if a VPN is used.

You can use a VPN when local restrictions stop you from visiting some websites or sharing your stories on social media since VPN can bypass local government restrictions. Or you can use a VPN when you’d like to watch Netflix US or play online games restricted by your local government. As soon as corresponding servers are connected, you can enjoy them.

You can use a VPN when you need to establish an encrypted tunnel for your company or organizations since it can protect your transmitted data from being monitored by third parties.

What devices and operating systems does VPN work on?

Different VPN services have different compatible devices or operating systems to work on. SkyVPN can work on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, meeting different demands on hardware and software.

Do I still need an ISP if I use a VPN?

Yes.

Your ISP provides you access to the Internet and is required to connect you to a VPN server. You can’t get to the Internet with a VPN alone. But it’s quite possible for you to save your network fees.

How to set up and use a VPN?

VPN sounds complicated but it is easy to use.

Step#1: Download a VPN app from the App Store, Google play or official website.

Step#2: Install it on your device.

Step#3: Choose a VPN server and connect with it.

Step#4: Now, you can securely and privately browse the internet.

Will a VPN slow down my internet?

In short, it shouldn’t. But it can.

A VPN is not created to slow down your internet connection. Contradictorily, it can boost your internet connection by avoiding bandwidth throttling and deploying more efficient routing. However, as you get online, so many elements are correlated with your internet speed.

VPN Functions

Does VPN make you 100% anonymous?

Nearly all VPNs declare so, but not all really can.

Theoretically, a VPN can make users anonymously browse by hiding their IP addresses and establishing encrypted tunnel for transmission so that ISPs, coffee shop WiFi routers, and any server on the way to the internet have no access to their online activities.

If a VPN keeps high anonymity of yours, it should be compatible with the following requirement:

  • No Logging
  • Rigorous Privacy Policy
  • No registration acquired

Not all VPNs can make you 100% anonymous but your anonymity can be improved based on the applied technology applied by VPN provider. Keep in mind to refer to the above techniques before determining which VPN service to opt for.

Can I use VPN to watch Netflix/Hulu?

VPNs can help you bypass local restrictions to reach services exclusively provided to certain areas, including Netflix or Hulu. Each movie or show lover expects to have the longest Netflix catalogs but not everyone is allowed to because of local restrictions. VPN allows users to get connected with US servers so as to enjoy Netflix US streaming video sources.

However, the Netflix VPN ban makes it not so easily achievable. Most VPNs fail to break the Netflix VPN ban. As you pick up a VPN, its capability to overcome Netflix ban must be tested in advance if you expect to use it for streaming. The VPNs with Netflix exclusive servers are better to choose from. SkyVPN has a specific Netflix US server for you to get connected as you want to watch streaming.

Can I use VPN to play online games?

Online games aren’t equivalently released to the world. And they tend to be banned by local government due to sensitive elements such as violence or sex. However, online gamers can use VPN to break the limitations to enjoy games online. By the way, SkyVPN has a nickname provided by its users, that is, “game-changer VPN”.

To better play online games with a VPN, the following aspects should be carefully considered: VPN connection speed, compatibility with different operating systems or devices, bandwidth limit, low ping rates, etc.

Can I use a VPN for torrenting?

Generally yes. It largely depends on the specific service provided by your VPN provider and the type of things you need to torrent.

Instead of being the actual format of files, torrent is the common term for the protocol used for data and file transmission on the internet. VPNs have distinctive attitudes towards torrenting and most VPNs support it. In terms of the security of your torrent, it can be maintained by VPN providers who promise not to keep your logging.

Another significant consideration when choosing a VPN for the torrent is the downloading speed. Speed tests are dramatically suggested before you get premium service purchased.

What is VPN kill switch and is it necessary to use it?

A VPN kill switch is a special feature that further protects users’ online security when VPN is used. Without a kill switch feature on your VPN, once the VPN connection is cut, your data will be directly exposed to your ISP. Sometimes, it occurs so abruptly that you even don’t know that. Kill switch is a special VPN feature that automatically disconnects your device (computer, phone, or tablet) from the Internet until the VPN connection is restored. Therefore, kill switch is usually regarded as the last line of your defense, compensating for the unexpected failure of your VPN.

Yes, of course, you need a kill switch. Why you need a VPN kill switch derives from the fact that you need a VPN. The kill switch feature ends your last possible chance to compromise the security of your data. It can further help to boost your cybersecurity by maintaining your privacy and anonymous browsing, stopping data leakage during unexpected connection interruptions, and better protecting your social media accounts.

What is split-tunneling VPN and how does it help you?

As an advanced feature in VPN, split tunneling compensates for VPN’s “all-or-nothing” disadvantage.

VPN split tunnel allows partial devices, websites, or applications to go through the encrypted tunnel while the rest of the devices, websites, or applications directly get connected to the internet. With split tunnel used, you can protect the traffic that is closely correlated with your online security and privacy on one hand; you can get access to LAN on the other hand.

Based on the discussion on what is split-tunneling VPN, it allows you to enjoy streaming video and to get your food delivered at home, through the same device.

When you use a VPN supporting split tunneling, you’re allowed to:

  • Use local IP address to watch streaming videos;
  • Securely download files without slowing down your other network activities;
  • Safely access the internet and local devices at the same time.

Split tunnel plays a similar role as a smart proxy as far as a VPN is used for advanced features. It allows some apps or websites to bypass VPN tunnels and to be directly exposed to the Internet since they’ve been testified to be whitelisted.

VPN Security

Can my VPN service get blocked?

VPN blocking usually occurs without any warning or notice. It’s mostly correlated with the local government’s policy or business profits. For instance, Kashmir lockdown belongs to the former type while the Netflix VPN ban belongs to the latter.

However, no VPNs keep unchanged from the beginning to the end. Quality VPNs are so sensitive to any challenge to their service. Despite sudden blocks, solutions can be achieved in a short time and specialized servers will be prepared to meet the challenge.

Am I safe when using public WiFi hotspots with a VPN?

Absolutely you are.

VPN helps to build an encrypted tunnel connecting your device with the internet. Even though your WiFi connection is insecurely made, you can get online with full security thanks to the encryption brought by a VPN.

Is VPN legal?

VPNs are legal in the majority of countries in the world.

Up to now, VPN is illegal or unacceptable in China, Turkey, Iraq, UAE, Belarus, Oman, etc. To find out more details about the attitude towards VPN from your local government, local laws or regulations can be referred to.

What is DNS leak and how to stop it?

DNS leak refers to the situation when an unencrypted DNS query transmitted by your device gets captured by your ISP DNS server or any third party that aims to steal your online data. As you connect to a VPN, all your traffic will be routed through the VPN network with encryption, including the aforementioned DNS queries that will go through the encrypted tunnel established by your VPN service provider. That’ll be safe.

To stop DNS leaks, you can use a VPN with its own DNS server and the feature of DNS leak test when it occurs. As you get connected to SkyVPN, the only DNS server you’ll be using is from SkyVPN provider, which means all your queries will be transmitted through an encrypted tunnel and parsed on the same VPN server you get connected to.

How Different Are They?

Free vs. Paid VPNs, which is better?

Pros and cons of Free VPNs:

Pros:

  • Low Cost
  • Basic VPN Functions

Cons:

×  Extremely Low Security

×  Unstable Connection

×  Slow Connection

×  Have to Spend Time Earning Free Minutes

×  Full of Ads

×  Limited VPN Functions

Pros and Cons of Paid VPNs:

Pros:

  • Protecting Online Security and Privacy
  • Multiple Servers to Opt for
  • Fast VPN Connection
  • No Ads or Videos
  • Unlimited Data

Cons:

×  Need to Pay

Therefore, free VPN features the unique advantage that is being free while paid VPN features the unique disadvantage that is needed to pay. For those who top online security and privacy on the list of your browsing requirements, paid VPN should be selected.

VPN vs. Proxy, which is better?

In terms of the debate of VPN vs. Proxy, there are a couple of aspects considered. Proxy is mainly used to beat internet censorship or local restrictions towards internet visits. It’s achieved through technical configuration. When it comes to functions, Proxy features are fewer than VPN since it has little correlation with online security and privacy protections. Moreover, VPN is easily installed and applied while Proxy can’t be set by anyone unless the pros are available.

In sum, for internet censorship bypassing, either VPN or Proxy can be selected. When it comes to online security and privacy, a VPN is better to use.

VPN vs. Smart DNS, which is better?

If you only need to break the geological restrictions to watch streaming video or play online games and care little about your security and privacy, smart DNS is a smart choice. Compared with VPN, smart DNS is cheaper and applied simpler technology. However, no encryption is used. Therefore, smart DNS is only suggested when local restrictions need breaking and you don’t mind your online security and privacy.

VPN vs. Incognito, which is better?

Incognito is originally the name of the private browsing mode of Google Chrome while it has been used as a common term to refer to a private browser. As far as VPN vs. Incognito is concerned, online security is a common concern for both parties. Incognito is created to protect users’ online activities from being monitored or tracked by the browser. However, all your online activities with no participation in the browser fail to be protected from being tracked. But VPN can protect your activities from any risk as long as your connection is made.

How to Choose the Right VPN Service?

What contributes to the best VPN service?

What’s the best VPN service is like? There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people’s eyes. However, the following elements should be carefully considered when you expect a reliable VPN service: technology, security extent, connection speed (server count), customer service (feedback), etc.

What is a good free VPN service?

Lots of VPN services are titled “Free VPN” but not all deserve. First, a free VPN service should charge none from users. SkyVPN allows users to freely use VPN service through winning traffic. Second, numerous ways should be prepared for users to earn their online time or traffic. SkyVPN traffic can be earned by watching videos, daily check-in, completing questionnaires, etc. Third, in spite of free charge, a VPN connection should be guaranteed, which is the core of a product.

FOLLOW US


You May Also Like

Share

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *