Sunday, August 5, 2012

Why Use a VPN?


VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and is a secure way of being able to connect to a network, whether it is an internal business network or the internet. There are many reasons for using a VPN and many situations where they can be beneficial.
A VPN works as an extra layer of security when you are surfing the web. It hides your IP address so it can’t be tracked, allowing you to surf the web in private. People who may want to track your online movements for malicious reasons will not be able to do so. It is useful if you don’t want your identity tracked.
Computer security is so important. For one, it prevents people from being able to hack into your computer to install a virus or find sensitive information stored on your computer. The number of people carrying out financial transaction online has increase significantly over recent years. People are entering their bank details online more than even. Whether it is for purchasing something online or banking online, security needs to be maintained at all times. A VPN helps in keeping you secure.
Wireless networks are much more widely used than they ever have been in the past. When someone is on a wireless network there is a stronger possibility of someone intercepting what they are doing. VPN’s have become invaluable as wireless networks have become more popular. Wireless hotspots can be particularly insecure. When you are accessing the internet from a free wireless hotspot, for example in a cafe, an airport or a hotel, then it is easier for others to compromise your security. A VPN can protect against this and prevent others from accessing your personal data or from working out what you are doing.
When using a VPN anything that travels across a network is kept secure through encryption. When you send data using a VPN the following will happen:
• The data is encrypted (scrambled) so a human cannot understand it. 
• The data is sent in a data packet with a Header Component (title of the data packet) and Payload (the encrypted data). 
• It arrives at its destination. 
• It is decrypted into its original form so the recipient can make sense of it.
This means the information you send, whether it is bank details, an email or just a word document, is sent securely.
Firewalls and anti-virus software can protect your computer itself. When online, though, it is not just your own computer you are using. Firewalls and anti-virus software do not protect data that is travelling from one computer to another. So when you submit your credit card details to an internet shopping site or send sensitive information in an email, it is not protected. This is where a VPN comes in. It will ensure that this data is encrypted before it is sent so that it can’t be intercepted and used by someone it is not intended for.
There are a number of reasons why a VPN can be important in ensuring you safety. They are becoming essential in today’s internet driven world.

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