Many of the internet users believe; that browsing the web is highly private stuff and no one monitors their browsing patterns and online activities. This is when we make the basic mistake. We do not know the fact that Big Brother constantly watches us. And browsing the internet is not as private and confidential as we think it is.

What’s A VPN?

The VPN or Virtual Private Network software was originally designed to help the remote workers to connect securely to their company’s networks. This enables them to access the confidential information of the company, and its resources even from being physically distant from the company. This system still exists but now it is referred to as commercial VPNs that let the corporate sector workers access the web via their own servers remotely. Basically, a VPN changes web browsing in a way to provide us better and secure browsing experience. (Also see, A Comprehensive Guide to IP Leaks)

How A VPN Changes Web Browsing

VPN For Private Internet Browsing

This makes all the difference; VPN for private internet browsing enables the users to access the web via a specific server that a specialized VPN service provider operates. The data that transmits between a device and a VPN server is securely encrypted. This is how the VPN assures you to protect your privacy by effectively tunnelling all your internet data traffic and making it impossible for anyone to intercept it; not even your ISP or the government.

You can securely circumvent censorship by your office, school, ISP, and government while also “geo-spoofing” your location to access websites denied unreasonably to you on your own geographical location or while on holiday in a foreign country. The further benefit of a VPN is that it ensures protection against cybercrooks when you connect a public WiFi spot with safe P2P downloads as well. This how a VPN changes web browsing.

Getting a VPN service

In order to avail the VPN service, you first need to get the subscription of a good VPN. This can cost you anything between $5 to $10 monthly. Moreover, you can also enjoy substantial off when subscribing for six months or for a year. However, it’s worth mentioning that a VPN provider can never replace ISP. You will still need your ISP to get the internet connection in the first place, and then an extra layer of security via VPN. Also, a VPN changes web browsing and make it private for its users.

How Does A VPN Work?

Normally, when you connect to the Internet, it’s the ISP that subsequently connects you to any requested websites. At the same time, all the internet traffic is passing through the ISP’s servers and is accessible by the ISP.

As you start using a VPN, you get connected to the server that is operated by your VPN provider through an encrypted connection. This is also called the VPN tunnel. This means that all the encrypted data can only be seen by you and the VPN’s server.

This assures that your ISP does not get to know what you’re viewing on the Net; your data remains unseen as it’s encrypted; the ISP doesn’t get to know which websites you visited because all activity gets routed via the VPN’s server. All that the ISP gets to see is your connection with the VPN’s server.

Furthermore, should the VPN server be located in a distinct country, any website you visit thinks that you are accessing it from that particular country only. Anyone trying to monitor your Internet activities will be able to trace it back to the VPN server only. Therefore, unless your VPN’s service provider spills out your details, your actual IP address remains hidden.

Additionally, the Internet connection between the VPN server and your device is encrypted. Thus, even if a hacker contrives somehow to access your private data by outwitting you into making a connection with a hotspot’s that an “evil twin” or packet-sniffs your WiFi data, your data persists safe due to solid and foolproof encryption.(Also read, VPN vs PROXY vs Smart DNS – What is the Difference?)

VPN and Privacy

Your privacy is also of importance to your VPN provider, which is not the same in the case of your ISP. Usually, VPN services that are privacy-minded, employ numerous technical measures to be as less aware of your activities. In other words, they are never unduly inquisitive or curious about what you do on the Internet.

However, using a VPN slows down the access speed because the data travels an extra distance. For instance, when connecting to a VPN server that is geographically located nearby to access any website; which is also located nearby, a 10% hit may be expected. This again may be improved depending on the processing power of the server, the bandwidth available as also the current load – the number of people using the same server simultaneously.

All other factors remaining equal; to get the best performance while using a VPN; one needs to connect to the VPN server; that is closest to the service or website he wishes to use as also the maximum closeness possible to his own location.

How VPN Changes Web Browsing- Wrap Up

To sum up, VPN has moderately remodelled Internet usage the world over; especially in countries that have outlawed several sites or have coercively restricted their netizens from making good use of the Web. Hence, a VPN changes web browsing experience for all the good.