What Is a VPN? Meaning, Benefits & How It Works

Key takeaways:

• A Virtual Private Network (VPN) establishes an encrypted connection between your device and the internet by routing your data through VPN servers that mask your IP address.
• Online privacy, tracking prevention, and accessing geo-restricted content are some of the most common reasons people use VPNs.
• The best VPN providers will offer the performance and features you actually need at affordable prices.

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, a service that establishes a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server. Once connected, your device acts as if it's a part of that private network, routing all of its internet traffic and changing its IP address along the way.

IP address-related information can be used to identify and track you online. Each IP address is tied to an approximate location and Internet Service Provider (ISP). Connecting to a VPN server first helps you to hide such information, stay anonymous, and access geo-restricted content.

VPN service also encrypts all data passing between your device and VPN servers. Your ISP or other third parties cannot see what you do online. Even if someone were to get their hands on your data, it would be useless. Once you securely connect to a VPN, it's turned into "gibberish".

How does a VPN work?

All VPNs rely on encrypted tunnelling governed by VPN protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, or IPSec (Internet Protocol Security). Algorithms like AES-256 make your data unreadable to anyone intercepting the connection before the data is rerouted to third-party servers.

Normally, your internet traffic goes straight to websites through your ISP, but VPN protocols create a tunnel that routes data packets to a VPN server first. Your ISP sees only encrypted data, and websites get the VPN server's IP instead of yours.

Some VPN setups, such as decentralized VPNs, use peer-to-peer networks to route traffic, which means you also route others' traffic. A more common and consumer-friendly approach is to use a reliable provider that can securely connect you to a VPN with a click of a button.

Why do people use VPNs?

Online privacy

VPN servers essentially act as your online middlemen, connecting on your behalf while you remain anonymous. The location data might come from a server in almost any country, so your actual location cannot be determined.

A trustworthy VPN service, such as CometVPN, will not store any logs of user activities. Some providers, on the other hand, record your behavior, but do not pass this information on to third parties. While it's a bit better, there's still a chance of your private information leaking.

Secure public Wi-Fi

VPN services connect to private servers and use encryption methods to reduce the chances of data leakage and interception. Such risks are the most prevalent on unprotected public Wi-Fis, such as in cafes and airports.

When you securely connect to a VPN, even the most unprotected public Wi-Fi becomes reasonably safe. With a click of a button, a VPN protects your data with encryption. So even if it gets intercepted, it won't be accessed.

Access geo-restricted content

Apps and websites often can only be accessed from certain parts of the world. Standard connections use local servers in the country to determine your location and block access. Such location restrictions are enforced by checking your IP address.

With a location change from a VPN, you can switch to a server in another country and effectively change your location. It allows you to access home content while traveling or access international content from home.

Avoid tracking

A VPN connection disguises your data traffic online and protects it from external access. Unencrypted data can be viewed by anyone who has network access and wants to see it. With a VPN, hackers and cyber criminals can't decipher your private data.

To read the data, you need an encryption key. Without one, it would take millions of years to decipher the code with a brute force attack. Not even your ISP or government will be able to access your data. That's why some authoritarian countries limit VPN use (Are VPNs legal in your country?), and activists embrace them.

If you're still not convinced about why use a VPN service, check out other entries in our blog. Especially those comparing VPNs with other tools, like Proxy vs VPN.

Types of VPNs

Remote access VPN

As the name might suggest, remote access VPNs are meant to ensure access to internal networks for safe file or system use. It also creates an encrypted tunnel and changes the location, but the goal is not privacy. Remote access VPNs are most commonly used by employees in corporate settings.

Site-to-site VPN

While remote access VPNs work on an individual level, site-to-site VPNs connect entire network infrastructures. Such VPNs are used by businesses with multiple offices and a need for interconnected operations. It removes the need for each employee to connect to a VPN as long as they use the office internet connection.

Consumer VPN

It's the broadest and most well-known VPN type, encompassing all VPN services people use for private network security and anonymity. Advanced VPN functions, like CometVPN's dedicated residential IPs and Obfuscated VPNs, also fall into this category. The goal is to ensure convenient VPN protection for personal devices in everyday situations.

Datacenter vs residential IPs

VPN services can also differ by the servers they use to route your traffic. Most commonly, VPN providers use data center servers with datacenter IPs. They are fast and cheap, but easily detectable and blocked by websites. Advanced providers offer residential IP VPNs with real ISPs assigned traffic to genuine home users who share it.

How to choose the right VPN?

Site-to-site and remote access VPNs are typically chosen by the IT department, while with consumer VPNs, you'll need to make the choice. The best VPN is one that suits your use case the most, so start by thinking of where you'll use the VPN service.

If it's for simple browsing, streaming, and gaming, a datacenter IP VPN will do the trick. If the stakes are higher and you know the websites you connect to are banning VPNs, a dedicated residential IP VPN might be needed.

It's best to have all options available while you use a VPN, so you can switch back and forth as the need arises. Providers that can affordably provide you with all the necessary options usually top the VPN server lists, but there are other features to look into.

• No-logs policy. VPN protection loses all weight if a provider is known to keep user logs or, even worse, known to pass them on to governments. Look for VPNs with a good reputation for not keeping any logs.
• Jurisdiction. A reputable provider thinks strategically about where their business is registered and what legislation it abides by. Ideally, your VPN provider should operate outside the 14 Eyes alliance countries.
• Price and transparency. There's no need to buy VPNs that cost hundreds per month for personal use. Also, avoid providers with unclear pricing structures and aggressive tactics that add additional features you don't need.
• Protocol support. Modern protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard are the most reliable and common. Providers with outdated or niche protocols might not be the best for casual use.
• Server locations. A large and well-distributed network of VPN servers will allow you to access more geo-restricted content. The spread of locations is often less important than their quality, however.
• Performance. Every internet connection and location differs, but generally, a VPN should not slow down your internet speed to a very noticeable degree. Run some tests before committing to a long-period subscription.

Is a VPN Safe?

VPNs are safe and even recommended for use online, yet the efficiency of your safety measures depends on how you use them as well. While VPN encryption is virtually unbreakable, know how to set up your VPN server for maximum network security.

Features like split tunneling are convenient for routing only part of your traffic through a VPN connection. Yet, without carefully tracking your usage, it can expose more than you might want to. Similarly, VPNs should be supplemented with additional privacy tools.

A custom DNS server is most commonly recommended to avoid DNS leaks that allow your ISP to spy on you, even with a VPN connection. Other tools for browser fingerprinting, cookies, and account logins still need to be used to some extent.

Much of the VPN safety also relies on your provider. A trustworthy provider will not keep any logs and charge you reasonably without selling your data. Poor choice in VPN providers simply shifts the privacy risks instead of helping you to stay anonymous.

How to use a VPN?

While VPNs might differ in protocols or the underlying infrastructure, they all function more or less the same from the user's perspective. All you need is an account, a VPN app, and the VPN encrypts and routes your data. Here's how to use CometVPN.

1. Create an account and choose a suitable subscription plan.
2. Download a VPN app compatible with your device.
3. Log in to the VPN app on your device to choose your IP address location and enable encryption.

That's it. Your device is now connected to the VPN, and your IP address can be changed to the one provided by the VPN server. You can now surf the internet with ease, as all your personal data is protected. If you need any more advanced features, you can toggle them as you go.