It’s safe to say that almost everyone knows what a VPN is (even if they might not be entirely au fait with the tech behind them). They are a network of servers based in various locations around the world and can be used for a variety of reasons, ranging from skirting strict censorship laws to giving yourself the chance to watch a movie that has been geo-blocked by your streaming provider. This post will explore how they work and the technology behind them that has made them so vital in the modern world.
Impact Of Bandwidth On VPN Efficiency
Bandwidth is not something often thought of when using a VPN, particularly for those who are using these services on a more casual basis. However, the amount of bandwidth (or lack thereof) can have a substantial effect on whatever VPN service you’re using. In essence, bandwidth refers to the rate of data that can be transmitted via a network connection, and it’s the thing that dictates how fast you can send or receive data. When your VPN is unable to handle a large amount of bandwidth, you will begin to see a considerable decrease in its performance, often resulting in lag and a high latency between when you do something and when it happens.
Role Of Encryption
At its core, a VPN is designed to provide the user with a level of encryption that enables the user to keep their online habits secret from governments, hackers, and really everyone who doesn’t have a need to pry into them. When securing a VPN, it pays to check what kind of encryption they’re using and also to make sure that they operate a strict no-logs policy. This means that even if a government demands your VPN provider hand over information on their users, they simply won’t have any data to provide even if they want to, guaranteeing the highest level of online safety.
There Are Different Protocols To Choose From
Following on from the previous point about encryption, VPNs are not monolithic, and you have plenty of choices depending on how you want to use them and your security-to-usability balance. The main protocols used by most VPN providers include:
- OpenVPN: This is arguably the most well-known and utilized option, but it can be slower than others.
- WireGuard: This offers a decent mixture of speed and security and is fast becoming the go-to choice for providers and consumers who are actually using the VPN.
- IPsec: Although far more complex to use and customize, it offers a very high level of security, albeit at the slight expense of some speed.
- IKEv2: Perhaps the best-balanced protocol and is increasingly being used in more and more VPNs.
Server Location
One of the more valuable aspects of a VPN is the ability to switch between servers and spoof your IP based on what you want to achieve. Whether this is to access geo-blocked content or for security reasons, the ability to access a plethora of servers around the world is invaluable. Therefore, when selecting a VPN, you should ensure it has plenty of usable locations in countries that suit your use case.
A VPN has become a crucial part of modern life, and not only for those who are more tech-savvy, as used to be the case. As long as they utilize the best encryption protocols and offer a fast and easy experience, you will be able to carry out your online activities safely in the knowledge you are hidden.