VPNs: Who? What? When? Where? Why? And How?

The technology for virtual private networks (VPNs) like RAV VPN dates back to 1996 when Microsoft employees created point-to-point tunneling protocol (PPTN), the precursor to today’s VPN. Initially, VPNs were used primarily by businesses.

In the early 2000s, however, as the general public started using the Internet more and the number of high-profile security breaches grew, VPN use surged amongst individual users concerned about securing their private data.

Today, businesses and users are increasingly using VPNs to protect their privacy. If you value your online privacy too, keep reading for the who, what, where, when, why, and how of VPNs.

The Who

The who question is probably the easiest to answer. You. Your business. And anyone who uses the Internet. If you’re on the Internet and value privacy and data security, you should have a VPN. Period.

The What

A VPN creates a private network for your computer while you’re using a public Internet connection. It achieves this by creating an encrypted connection over the Internet from your device to a network. The encrypted connection is what gives you privacy and anonymity while you surf the Web. 

The Where

There are three answers to ‘where’:

• Installation: Once you’ve decided on a VPN service, you need to install your VPN on your devices or your router. Once installation is complete, you can start using your VPN online, confident in the knowledge that your online activity is virtually untraceable and your privacy is protected. 

• Location: You’re hidden. VPNs encrypt your location and the data you send and receive, so your physical location and IP address remain hidden.

• Content: Everywhere. A VPN can bypass regional restrictions so you can have access to content from almost anywhere in the world.

The When

Another easy question. The answer is yesterday. Like we said, if you use the Internet, you should use a VPN. Period. 

The Why

There are many benefits to installing a VPN. Here are some of the most important:

• Applications and websites can track your online activity without your knowledge. A VPN hides your online identity and keeps the data you send and receive secure and anonymous.

• Data throttling happens when your Internet service provider (ISP) slows your service down because you’ve consumed a specified amount of data. Bandwidth throttling occurs when your ISP slows your Internet speed in its efforts to control network traffic and bandwidth congestion. A good VPN can prevent data throttling and bandwidth throttling.

• Some sites and services don’t permit users from other regions to access their content. A VPN can bypass geographic restrictions and give you access. 

• VPNs make scaling a network more affordable for businesses because they can provide network access to many employees, including remote employees, simultaneously. VPNs can also reduce maintenance costs since support can be outsourced to third parties services. 

• VPNs improve online gaming by reducing ping, ensuring safe rerouting, and providing access to the best game torrents.

• VPNs give you access to deals on products and services that would normally be blocked due to geo-restrictions.

And the How

And lastly, the ‘how’ of VPNs: how to choose a VPN. To get the best VPN, look for the following features:

• a high number of servers in strategic locations around the world;

• a VPN protocol such as OpenVPN that provides a good balance between a fast VPN speed, security, and reliability;

• the ability to bypass bandwidth and data throttling;

• the ability to connect at least five devices simultaneously;

• a no-log policy, so your browsing activity, online transactions, or payment information is not logged or tracked; 

• automatic filtering and blocking of malicious websites;

• a ‘kill switch’ to prevent your data from being accidentally exposed even if the connection to your VPN provider’s server drops.

• online privacy, security, and freedom

VPNs are about three things: securing your data, protecting your privacy, and fair, unobstructed browsing. In the modern, connected world of today, VPNs are a necessity.  We need a say-so over who collects our data and how we protect ourselves from cybercrime. And we deserve access to content despite different geographic locations. VPNs grant us these capabilities.

About RAV VPN

RAV VPN provides safe, private, and unlimited Internet access. With Reason VPN you can protect your online privacy while freely and safely surfing the Web. All transferred data is encrypted using the latest security protocols. Just enjoy a trouble-free VPN experience. Connect quickly and easily.