VPN: how does it work?

Are you tempted to subscribe to a VPN service, but would like to know the details of how such a service works before you start?

This is perfectly normal.

After all, using a VPN implies that you entrust the security and privacy of your Internet connection to the platform you have chosen.

Better to know where you are stepping to ensure that your personal data does not fall into the wrong hands, and that you pay for a quality service.

VPN stands for "Virtual Private Network", a particularly short definition that can leave you in the dark.

Even if it may seem technical and complex, the “virtual private network” which constitutes the heart of the VPN is not incomprehensible and it is a safe bet that you will quickly understand what such a service consists of with our explanations.

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How does a VPN work?

To understand how a VPN works, you first need to know what a connection to the Internet is.

When you turn on your computer and visit websites, your Internet box makes the link between your machine and the “World Wide Web”.

Your connection is associated with what is called an IP address, a unique series of numbers that identifies you on the network.

Your IP address makes it possible to know where you are and your Internet service provider (ISP) even knows your identity thanks to it.

Your IP address can therefore be used to identify you if necessary, but it also gives information, albeit less advanced, to all the sites you visit.

For example, an e-commerce platform may adapt its prices according to the country where you reside, foreign countries may choose to block your access to certain content or you may be the subject of targeted advertising.

You should also know that since ADSL and with the massive development of Fiber, it is not uncommon for Internet users to have a fixed IP address: this means that you always have the same one when you surf on the web, making you even easier to identify.

This is where the VPN comes in. Indeed, the main purpose of the VPN is to anonymize your connection.

To do this, it uses software that will redirect your access to a high-performance server, based in a foreign country: by going through this kind of "digital tunnel", not only will your connection be fully encrypted, but you will also change IP address.

The result is that you are no longer identifiable to anyone on the Internet, including your ISP.

As your new IP address is foreign, you go completely unnoticed on the Web and no one really knows where you are.

By using a good VPN, with a good connection speed, you usually do not see the difference compared to a connection without a VPN and therefore you can use it every day, wherever you are.

When you no longer need it, just disconnect from the VPN software, and you're done!

In addition, the vast majority of VPNs, and all paid services, do not store any information related to your connection habits.

This means that your discretion is complete on the web, no matter what you do there.

Why use a VPN?

Using a VPN has several advantages.

First of all, being anonymous on the Internet allows you to avoid any form of targeted advertising on the sites you visit.

This prevents you from being identified as a regular visitor to a site, which may be of interest to online sales platforms which may be tempted to raise prices when they see that visitors are reluctant to buy.

This is particularly what happens if you hesitate to book plane tickets.

By using a VPN, you have a chance of not seeing prices increase without warning.

As the VPN allows you to geolocate yourself in a foreign country, this can allow you to access content that is normally blocked where you reside.

The catalogs of streaming videos and the replay sites of TV channels from other countries are particularly concerned.

In particular, you can choose to geolocate yourself in New York to take advantage of the American catalog of Netflix or other SVOD platforms.

Using a VPN is also recommended when you travel a lot and regularly connect to Wi-Fi networks in public places such as hotels, cafes, train stations and other airports.

Even if these online spaces require you to give some information to connect to them, they are not highly secure and allow malicious people to enter them.

After connecting to such a network, activating your VPN is the best way to become anonymous and thus prevent a hacker from gaining access to your personal data.

It is therefore very easy to protect yourself and improve your daily browsing comfort with a VPN.

By choosing a platform suitable for general public use, you will have no difficulty in exploiting the potential of the service, even if you are new to the subject.

Which VPN to choose for daily use?

NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN platforms around the world.

Based in Panama where there is no data retention law, the company does not store any files related to your login habits on its servers, which means complete anonymity.

The service has more than 5,500 servers in 59 countries around the world, which gives you multiple possibilities to geolocate yourself exactly where you want.

With its fast connection, NordVPN allows you to enjoy all your online entertainment without losing speed.

In addition, the subscription gives access to an unlimited amount of data for download, which is very useful if you like to watch movies in streaming and play video games, for example.

Finally, each subscription allows you to use the platform on six devices at the same time.

There are three NordVPN subscription plans: to take advantage of the best prices, it is interesting to opt for an offer that includes two years of commitment.

The essential subscription costs 3.49 euros per month and provides access to VPN, virus protection and an ad blocker.

The advanced subscription costs 4.29 euros per month and completes this proposal with a cross-platform password manager and a vulnerability scanner.

Finally, if you decide to invest in the ultimate subscription at 5.49 euros per month, you also benefit from a secure storage space of 1 TB within the NordVPN cloud.

Right now, the service is offering an additional three months of subscription as part of its plans with two years of commitment.

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