What is a VPN service, and how does it work?

Conventionally, when your computer tries and connects with the internet, the device’s IP address is used as an identification for the server. It helps establish a connection and ensure accurate data exchange. However, it is not always that your computer accesses secure servers. Sometimes the problem is with the site you are trying to access and the kind of servers it relies on.

The problem

When you have robust anti-virus software, it also monitors and blocks such malicious connections. However, to be sure that your connection doesn’t make your device vulnerable to threats, the only option you have is not to let out information like your IP address.

Sometimes it is not just the IP address that is leaked but other sensitive information like your device location and others. If a hacker gains access to this kind of valuable information, it can lead to data breaches and other severe cases like identity thefts. Besides the device itself, the other gadgets connected in the same network would also be at risk.

The solution

While all that sounds scary, there is a straightforward solution that you can rely on if you wish to secure your computer from such risks – VPN. Virtual Private Network is originally a concept that was created for the corporate scenario. There are times where businesses let employees access critical data from different locations other than the physical office location. To ensure the loss of data during these connections, virtual connections were used. The primary reason was also to let employees access the local intranet from different locations.

The concept now has evolved and is being commonly used by several computer users around the world. There are several reasons why people choose to use a VPN service

To hide their device identity
To protect the location and access sites that are restricted in the respective geographical location
To maintain anonymity online

VPNs ensure that random sites and servers that you connect do not collect your device information. This expands the applications of the internet and acts as a secondary layer of protection besides the installation of an anti-virus tool.

The procedure

There are different types of virtual private networks in use today. Irrespective of the VPN you choose, here is what happens –

When your device tries to connect to a site on the internet, instead of directly accessing the respective server, it connects to the virtual network.
The virtual network then sends the connection request making it look like the connection is originating from the virtual network. The IP address and other details that the desired server would receive would be the details of the chosen virtual network.
The response comes from the site to the virtual network, which is then routed to your device.

In this whole process, there is a level of encryption available, which ensures that your device’s location or IP address is not traceable. It makes sure that your connection requests are anonymous, and thus your computer is protected from hackers.

The options

There are VPN apps that let you run the app in the background as you use the internet. It can be installed on your computer or laptop, and irrespective of the browser you use, the connection requests would all be directed to the virtual network. Whether it is an app that connects to the internet or your browser, the VPN app takes care of all forms of connection requests.
There is the other type of VPN service that lets you install a plug-in for your browser. It is a browser-specific application. Therefore, it only maintains anonymity when you browse the internet from that browser.
Finally, there is another secure solution, which is the router-based VPN. This one lets you establish a virtual network for the whole home or office network. With this established, you are creating a primary layer of security for all the devices connected in that network. This can be slightly more expensive, but it is also the most reliable solution as you can protect the entire network. Remember that the weakest device in your network would become the entryway for threats. Even if you have the best VPN on your PC, but there is another device that is trying to access a less secure connection, the whole network of connected devices would be at risk.

A final note

Using an anti-virus tool, a good one, and using a VPN would be the most reliable solution to secure your PC or laptop from threats. However, remember that these aids only help you strengthen security. They can only make it all the more difficult for hackers, but still, hacking or accessing data from your computer would no be impossible. The only way to avoid threats would be to prevent connecting to sites that are not secure. Also, make sure that you choose a reliable VPN with good reviews from users around the world. Finally, keep your computer and anti-virus tool regularly updated with security patches released from time to time.

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Use A VPN

Have you thought of installing a virtual private network (VPN) and then dumped the idea as an unnecessary expense? Well, this article will give you 5 reasons for changing your mind and installing the best VPN for your PC or laptop today!

1. Protects your IP address

Any user logs on to the internet using the internet protocol (IP) address of their device. This exposes the user to many risks as the IP address can reveal a lot of sensitive information about the person. A person’s location, language, and the internet service provider (ISP) currently being used, can all be known using the IP address. A user can mitigate these risks by using a VPN.

When a VPN is installed on your device, you will access any site on the internet through a virtual network. Therefore if you make a connection request to a site, it will look as if the request is coming from the VPN and not from your IP address. Thus it is the VPN’s IP address that will be visible and not yours!

Moreover, the information passed between your device and the VPN is encrypted. It ensures that your device is untraceable, and you are not left like a sitting duck for cybercriminals to pry upon.

2. Protects your browsing history

As discussed, if you do not use a VPN, then you access the net through your device’s IP address. It can pose a problem as your ISP can access your browsing history.

Therefore if you search for information that is prohibited by the government, then it will surely raise a few red flags.

Also, online marketers exploit a user’s search history to bombard them with targeted ads. So if you have searched online for a waffle recipe in the past, you are most likely to get find advertisements related to finding the best place for buying tasty waffles near you in your news feeds.

Access to your browser history is a violation of your privacy. It can leave you vulnerable to eavesdropping and potentially harm your reputation. This can be avoided by using a VPN as the virtual network will cloak your IP address and thereby protect your browsing history.

3. Protects you while using public WiFi

The free Wifi in a coffee shop or a hotel that you are staying in may seem like attractive perks. But what one does not realize is that public WiFi is not very secure. A hacker can gain access to these networks and control your device without you even knowing it!

Using sniffer software, hackers can decipher sensitive information such as your login details and passwords and put you at risk. They can even read your emails, bank statements, and private messages on your social media. Your device can also be infected with malware. Hence, it is strongly recommended not to access banking websites or shop online when using public WiFi.

So how do you get out of this jam? Use a VPN!

If you connect to a hotspot using a VPN, you need not worry about the safety of the public WiFi network as all the traffic coming from your device will be encrypted. It will keep you and your data protected against cyber attacks.

4. Protects your freedom

We live in times where we deeply rely on streaming platforms for meeting our daily dose of entertainment. But did you know that there are different versions of the on-demand services in different countries? Put, you may not be able to watch your favorite series if you move out of your country. Also, there are countries where some of the on-demand platforms cannot be accessed.

To get around the problem of geo-blocked content, you need to install a VPN. It gives you the power to unblock tons of content from around the world by encrypting your traffic and make it appear as if you are logged in from an entirely different country.

Using a VPN also gives you the freedom to bypass certain restrictions. If the internet at your place has restrictive network controls, VPN can circumvent this by not only encrypting your IP address but also keep your browsing history private.

5. Protects you from tracking

We all love Google and its free services. But it tends to get a bit creepy when it knows about everything you do and every place you go. If you browse the net casually without caring about your privacy settings, Google will store and track all your movements online. It will even search your Gmail to show you better-targeted advertisements.

This may put you in a difficult or embarrassing situation, depending on where you went and what you searched for.

A VPN provides the user with the power to stop Google and others to track their location and activities online.

Bottom line

While VPN is not something new, it has gained a lot of momentum in the recent past. People realize the importance of protecting their online privacy. So if you want to safeguard yourself in the virtual world, get a VPN to hide your IP and save yourself from any inconvenience.

Is it legal to use a VPN service in Australia?

Australian VPN services allow you to mask your computer’s IP address and location when you browse the internet. These will enable you to access risky sites securely. You can also enjoy the privacy that these connections offer.

Is VPN legal in Australia?

The first question that arises when it comes to accessing proxies and VPNs is about the legal aspects. It is only natural that people are scared to access a site that is blocked. If the VPN is letting your override this restriction, there is always doubt about credibility.

Would it be illegal to use a VPN to browse the internet when you are in Australia? No. Some countries around the globe have stringently declared that the use of a VPN would be illegal.

However, Australia is not one of them. You can confidently use a VPN when you are in Australia.

Make sure that you stay away from risky connections only as a measure to safeguard your PC and your data. VPNs can come into the picture for those times where you need to access sites blocked due to your geographic location.

Pick the best of VPN services that are used by the Australians. Check out the reviews from critics and users to know whether the service works in your country. Finally, know about the security the VPN offers and ensure that you do not pick something that leaks your data.

Role played by a VPN in your internet connection

When you are browsing a site, the corresponding server might capture information like your PC’s IP address and DNS or location details. Sometimes this can be a problem, especially if the server is not secure. This allows hackers to access these details and thus put your PC at the risk of being hacked. VPNs help by rerouting your connection request. Your computer communicates with the VPN, and it creates a virtual connection on your PC’s behalf. The address that goes in the connection request would be the IP that the VPN assigns and not your PC’s IP. The server then sees the request from a different IP and different location and not from your original location. This false set of credentials is what your hacker would have access to. As long as you are accessing a site that is not banned or considered illegal in Australia, you can use a VPN easily.

Times when you need a VPN in Australia

There are times where you might be supporting your teams from home. For remote support in the enterprise scenario, VPN networks have a bigger significance. Australians are outdoor-loving people. However, there are times you are bound to work from home. Sometimes you might need to access your office files while you are traveling. For a variety of such office applications, VPNs come as handy solutions.
Australia is very stringent about the metadata retention process. Considering the security of each and every citizen, the country monitors and blocks risky sites. This makes it impossible to gain access to several sites even when you are in a dire need. Using VPN, you can make sure that your IP address is not being logged in unwanted situations. Your PC’s identity stays hidden while you access your favorite sites.
Sometimes, you might have clients or customer websites from other countries. When you have to check those sites, if they are not available for your region, then you would not be able to gather desired information. When you use a VPN, you would be able to access content that is available for any other country outside Australia.
Online streaming services often restrict the content based on the region from where you are browsing the services. You might have an excellent online streaming service already like Netflix. You move to Australia and find that your required streaming service is not available in the country. Or, you notice that the content that is available for the Australian audience is limited. These are times when you would not like to waste the subscription that you paid for. During these occasions, you can pick a good VPN and continue using your streaming service as intended. This would also help you expand the options available in your region by virtually changing the region on your VPN.
There are people involved in the field of research or digital marketing who might be accessing sites from around the globe. The website might redirect you to the Australian page by default when it identifies your location. This would only allow you to view the Australian version of the site and not the global picture. If you have to study about the website from a different region’s perspective or that of the global audience, then you can rely on a VPN. This lets you manually change the region and thus enables you to see what the site looks like when you physically access it from the chosen region.

VPN is not illegal in Australia as long as you only use it to override geographical restrictions. Clearly understand what your VPN offers before you pay for the services.

How to watch Netflix with a VPN

Netflix has grown to become one of the most popular online streaming services. From movies to TV shows, the options are endless when you choose this streaming service. There are several subscription plans that it offers, and you can easily pick one that fits your budget. There is one little hack some users pick to gain access to endless content on Netflix, and that is to use a VPN. With a VPN or virtual private network, you can make the connection request appear like it is coming from a different location. The virtual network that your VPN provider offers would mask your PC’s IP address and location from the server that you are trying to connect with. Some users use this little trick to access Netflix content from around the world. There might be some content that is only accessible in specific regions. With a VPN, you can gain access to content from around the world with a single Netflix subscription.

Is it illegal to use a VPN to watch Netflix?

Using a VPN merely to work your way around the geographical restrictions is not directly illegal as of today. There are no laws that restrict the use of VPN to access streaming sites. You might, however, check with your local legislation regarding the use of VPN in general, to get a clearer picture.

When can VPN be useful for Netflix?

There are times where you badly want to watch a movie that is available on Netflix. You login only to find that the movie is currently not available for your region whereas it is available in some other country. That is when you might find a VPN to be an easy solution to tackle this restriction and watch your favorite movie, no matter where you are located.

There are some places where Netflix is prohibited. You might already own a valid Netflix subscription, but then there could be times where you travel to a place where you cannot access Netflix. This is another situation where you can benefit from using a VPN for Netflix access.

To put in simple words, the VPN services for Netflix would help you change the viewing region for your Netflix account.

Do all VPNs work?

Netflix imposed a ban on the use of proxies to access the site and its services. This is why you might come across a prompt that requests you to turn off the proxy before accessing the site when you try using it with a VPN. The key is, therefore, to identify the best possible VPNs that work with Netflix. There is a handful of credible options that you can choose.

Procedure

Once you pick one of them for your computer here are the steps involved-

Make sure that you create your account in the VPN. This lets you trust on the service for several internet browsing instances and not just for Netflix.
Change the location on your VPN to the desired location whose Netflix library you intend to explore.
Before you access content, ensure that you clear the cache memory of your browser.
Log in to your Netflix account from the device where you have installed the VPN. Unless you plan to watch the movie only on a browser, pick a router-based VPN, which lets you access the desired Netflix location from all the connected devices when you have a multi-device subscription.
When you open the Netflix library, you should be able to view the content that you wanted.

How to pick a VPN for Netflix?

Pick a security-focused VPN which would help strengthen the overall security of your connections. This can be useful when it comes to securing your credentials and can prevent Netflix from restricting your connection.
Choose a VPN that doesn’t store your device information. There are plenty that maintains anonymity without recording the data about the devices that send the request.
When you pick a VPN, you might find the information about it right on the product page. Check whether the VPN is capable of unblocking Netflix libraries before you choose any paid services.
Having round-the-clock customer services is an added advantage. This helps you quickly get a response in case you do not know how to proceed at any given step. There are several options in each budget with many security options. Pick something fast and reliable. User-friendly options are easy to find.

A final note

You should only choose VPNs that come with robust encryptions when you wish to access streaming sites. Remember that your payment information and login credentials would all be at risk when you access your paid streaming services from a network that is not secure. VPNs that work at the router level can ensure that your entire network is safe. This also helps protect devices like smart TVs or even your home smart speaker that carries a lot of vulnerable information, including your contact details and location.

How To Setup And Use A VPN On Your iPhone

People generally consider an iPhone to be hacker-proof. While this may be true to a certain extent, the fact remains that no device is entirely immune to cyber attacks. There may be fewer possibilities of malware corrupting your iPhone devices, but your data is still vulnerable when you surf the internet. Therefore to protect your data and device from hackers, it is essential to install a VPN on your iPhone.

Before learning about how to set up a VPN on your iPhone, let us first briefly look at the importance of installing a VPN and the factors to consider while choosing a VPN provider.

Why must a VPN be installed on your iPhone?

In today’s world, people spend most of their time on their phones instead of their laptops. We accomplish a variety of tasks such as paying bills, making purchases, searching for information, watching our favorite series, etc. on our phones. To do these, we provide sensitive information such as a username and password over a network we assume to be safe. Your assumption may or may not be true.

The most important reason for installing a VPN on your phone is to ensure your internet connection is secure. It does not matter if you connect to the internet using your mobile’s data plan or through a public WiFi service, a VPN will ensure that all traffic from your phone is encrypted and safe.

Apart from this a VPN will give you access to geo-blocked content, cloak your IP address, protect you from snooping, override censorship issues, hide your location, and keep your browsing history private

How to choose a VPN provider?

Now that we have seen the need for a VPN let us look at some of the important points while selecting a VPN provider.

1. Encryption

Choose a VPN provider that has a strong protocol and uses 256-bit encryption.

2. Privacy

Read the privacy policies of the VPN provider to ensure they do not keep a log of your online activities.

3. Speed

If a VPN provider has few servers in a few locations, then you will have to share the bandwidth with several users. this may slow your internet experience.

Test the speed by opting for a VPN provider that offers a free trial.

4. Caps

If you opt for a free service, then there will be a cap on your daily and monthly usage. If you opt for a subscription, you can enjoy unlimited use.

How to configure a VPN on your iPhone?

There are a couple of ways to install a VPN on your iPhone. You can either install an iOS VPN app or use in-built settings to install a VPN on your iPhone manually. Let us look at both these options closely.

1. Install an iOS VPN app

This is the most straightforward and easy option for installing a VPN on your iPhone. Setting up these applications is easy, even for novices. Maintaining these apps are also simple as users can set up and save their preferences.

While doing your research, you will come across several VPN providers. Select one that is compatible with iOS platforms and follow the below steps:

Go to iTunes and search for the VPN provider’s app.
Install the app that pops up in the search results.
Wait for the app to get installed on your iPhone. It usually takes less than a minute.
Once done, open the app and establish a connection with the VPN provider.

You can select any location of your choice or stick to the default option. By following the above steps, you can install a VPN on your iPhone and ensure its safety.

2. Manually install a VPN

If the VPN provider does not have a custom app, you can still install the VPN by using your iPhone’s in-built settings by following the below steps.

Click on the settings button that can be found on your home screen.
Select general and click on VPN
Choose the option with the label Add VPN Configuration
Press on Type and choose the VPN protocol
Next, select Add Configuration and provide information such as User ID, server, etc. These details can be obtained from the VPN provider.
Finally, click on Done.

Once your VPN is configured, you must go to Status and enable it. Users must also ensure that the option, Send all Traffic, is turned on. Enabling this option will send your traffic through a secure encrypted tunnel.

Conclusion

If you’re not a tech person, you can opt for a VPN provider that has a customized app for iPhone devices. This way, you can save yourself the trouble of following several steps for installing the VPN manually. All that you will have to do is select and click on the install icon.

Whatever may be the case, if your iPhone is an indispensable part of your life, then having a VPN installed on your device is a necessity. It will not only provide you with an open internet but also safeguard your data and privacy.

How to setup a VPN on Windows 10?

Have you noticed that Windows Firewall and anti-virus tools all block some connections by default? If the server seems to be risky, this happens. This is a precautionary machine that is executed to secure your computer. However, this is not enough, sometimes. Whatever be the site you access, details like your machine’s DNS (domain name server) and IP address are accessible to the site. In contrast, you might be thinking that your PC is secure and your anti-virus is offering reliable protection.

When you use a proxy to visit blocked sites, things get even worse. To make sure that hackers do not easily get a hold of your computer’s IP address and location, you need a reliable arrangement. This arrangement comes in the form of a VPN or virtual private network. This creates a virtual network and assigns a different IP address to your machine so that the site you access doesn’t see your IP and location.

Using VPN on windows 10 with an external app

The procedure here would often be simple

Create an account with the VPN you wish to use
Download the corresponding VPN app version for your computer and install it
Sometimes there is a browser extension alone if you need VPN for browsing
Run the corresponding app and turn the VPN on and enjoy your secure connection

Even when you are using the best of VPN services, you should know whether your VPN is working. Make a timely check to understanding whether your VPN is leaking any information like IP or location.

The actual steps for installation and the method to turn on the VPN depends on the tool you pick. Some of them let you manually change the server location. You would find a list of servers available, and you can choose one. This can be useful for accessing online streaming services from a particular location. The VPN fools the desired server to believe that you are accessing the site from the chosen location.

Using VPN on Windows 10 when you cannot install an app

Are you using Windows 10 in S mode, then you have the drawback that it doesn’t let you install apps outside the Windows store. This is where you can directly configure VPN from your machine manually.

Make sure that you complete the account creation process and keep your credentials ready. You should have prior information like the VPN type, sign-in info type, server address, and others. Once you have gathered these details here is how you should proceed-

Click the Windows logo at the bottom of your screen and go to the Settings page
Choose Network & Internet section on your Settings page
Among the options in the menu on the left, you should find VPN
Click on the VPN option, and you will find the options “Allow VPN over metered networks” and “Allow VPN while roaming.” Toggle the respective options as required.
Click Add a VPN connection option
It takes you to the page where you take care of VPN configuration
In the VPN provider dropdown, select “Windows (built-in)”
Enter the connection name and server address from the details you get from your VPN provider
Choose the sign-in info type depending on the VPN connection type you work with
Create the user name and password if required and click on Save

When you then go back to the VPN page in Settings, you should see the VPN you completed configuring. Click “Connect” and enjoy secure VPN based connection on your Windows 10 PC.

You can navigate to any IP address checking site online. You should see a different IP address and not the default one that your PC has. If this happens, you can be assured that your VPN connection has gone live.

Disabling the VPN setup

Go to the VPN page in Settings
When you click on the connected VPN when it is live, you should see the “Disconnect” option. Click this before you remove or disable the VPN
Once you disconnect the VPN, you should then find the “Remove” button on clicking the corresponding VPN.

This disables the VPN and puts your PC back to the original state.

As you can see, enabling and disabling a VPN on a machine takes a few simple steps, and anyone would be able to do this. Make sure that you know the pros and cons of VPN and pick the best one out there. There are plenty of choices when it comes to VPN depending on the level of protection they offer, the encryption provided, and more. Pick something that works best depending on the sites you usually browse. If you access several risky connections, it is a good idea to invest in a VPN that doesn’t save your PC details while also offering good masking of the IP and DNS details.

How to check if your VPN is working or not?

VPN or virtual private network is the strategy where your device connects with a virtual network that helps hide your device information to any server you connect. This lets you access several sites confidently without worrying about hackers getting a hold on information like your computer’s IP address. From letting you access sites restricted in your region to increase the security of your connection, there are many benefits that the best VPNs offer.

What could be the problem?

The core concept is to encrypt your IP address and make sure that the site you connect with doesn’t trace it. However, does this happen? Is your VPN masking your IP address? If it does, then it means that your VPN is working. A fancy website and promising plenty of features would not be sufficient. You should not blindly trust any VPN providers without actually testing whether it is working. If you do, you might be accessing risky connections without even realizing that your VPN has been leaking your device’s IP address.

Signs that your VPN connection is live

Some of the straightforward indicators that let you know that your VPN is still working would be

On personal gadgets like phones and tablets, there is usually an icon that you can find on the top portion of the screen when the connection is live. This shows that your VPN is active, and when you browse the internet, your device’s IP address is ideally not visible to the servers you connect.
When you use a VPN on a computer, you should check the VPN for a change of IP address. Before you turn the VPN on, you should see the PC’s original IP address displayed. Once you turn on the VPN, the newly assigned IP address would be visible. This would be a random IP which the virtual network then shares with the site you access.

What are the possible problems when a VPN is not reliable?

There are several kinds of information that your VPN can continue to leak even when you connect with it. This is the kind of information that can put your computer at risk again, proving the services of the VPN to be futile.

Here are some details that can be leaked

IP – given that your device’s IP address alone can give out a whole lot of information, your chosen VPN mustn’t reveal the IP address.
DNS – sometimes it is the domain name server that is visible. Even if the IP is hidden, the DNS details can tell about your device location, which is another sensitive detail to leak.

Is your VPN leaking your device information?

There are plenty of readymade tools that let you check whether your VPN is working. These can test the VPN connection and provide you information about the details that the VPN is masking and the amount of data it is leaking. With these tools, you can enjoy a user-friendly experience. You do not have to be an expert to use these tools. Anyone who knows to use a VPN would be able to check the credibility of the VPN with these tools.

Checking whether your VPN is leaking the IP address is relatively easy. Several sites let you identify your device’s IP address. Check the default IP of your machine without the VPN turned on. Turn on the VPN and then refresh the site. If you find a new IP address in place of your device’s original IP, then it indicates that the VPN is not leaking the IP address.

Most of these IP details sites also provide information like the internet service provider you use and the location of your machine. If you find this information also changing once your VPN is on, then it means that your VPN is working as intended.

Look for credible IP leak tests and DNS leak tests that are available online. Most of them are free and easy to use. One other benefit is that you do not have to install any software to use most of these tools. They can directly be accessed from your browser. You would also be able to test the leaks without risks of your device data being stored. Look for no-log leak test tools online. These help you get a credible picture of your VPN. This lets you decide whether you want to stay with the same VPN or choose a different one.

Sometimes people use free VPN tools and for different applications. Depending on the level of security you expect, you can always pick a plan that fits your budget. One good way to finalize your VPN is to try the free version and then check in one of the online tools to find whether there are no leaks. You can then proceed to choose the paid service with confidence.