*Content includes branded mentions of our sponsor, Norton Secure VPN.

Understanding the way to use the web safely is more crucial than ever in today’s increasingly digital world. One popular tool that will help protect us online is a VPN, or virtual private network, which means that you can more securely browse the online by ensuring your identity and sensitive information remain private from third parties.

But what exactly is a VPN, and why should you think about using one? Read on to learn what a VPN connection is, how it really works and the way to add one to your mobile device, computer or other internet-enabled device (and benefit from it).

What’s a VPN connection?

A VPN connection is a sort of technology that encrypts your web traffic and reroutes it through a distant server before sending it to a different device, website, or online service. This process creates a secure tunnel between your device and the VPN’s servers or your goal network, ensuring that your online activity is kept private and secure from outside interference.

By concealing your IP address, which is a novel numerical label on your device on the web, a VPN makes it appear to be you’re browsing the online from the situation of the VPN server slightly than your individual (say, from Miami slightly than Latest York City, or from Lagos slightly than London). This helps prevent your information and real IP address from leaking to others snooping in the identical network, equivalent to cybercriminals attempting to commit identity theft.

A VPN may also assist you to access geo-blocked content by connecting to a server in a distinct country. While this might be useful for bypassing regional restrictions, it’s vital to notice that doing so may breach your streaming service’s user agreement.

Do I Need a VPN?

VPNs have several different use cases and offer a secure, encrypted connection that keeps your online activities hidden from prying eyes whether you are using a public Wi-Fi network, accessing sensitive data or just trying to keep up your privacy.

You could need a VPN with a secure connection like Norton Secure VPN if you ought to:

• Improve your security online, especially on public or shared Wi-Fi
• Avoid being logged and tracked online
• Bypass censorship and access geo-blocked content
• Access prices reserved for certain nationalities and regions

In the event you’re considering getting a VPN, take a have a look at our list of the best VPN services of 2024.

Varieties of VPNs

Below we discuss the 4 major sorts of VPN: personal VPNs, mobile VPNs, distant access VPNs and site-to-site VPNs.

• Personal VPNs: Designed for individual users, personal VPNs allow you to hook up with virtual servers created and maintained by VPN firms. These services often require that you simply install software in your device. When using one, it masks your IP address and encrypts your data, making it look as in case your traffic is coming from the VPN’s server.
• Mobile VPNs: These VPNs enable you to change between web connections while maintaining the identical session. In other words, a mobile VPN keeps you connected on the identical IP address, allowing you to maintain using your apps via the VPN even for those who change from one Wi-Fi or cellular network to a different.
• Distant access VPNs: These allow organizations and firms to grant access to their private network to users from different locations, equivalent to distant staff. Every time a user sends an access request, a distant access VPN will authenticate the user and establish an encrypted tunnel with the server.
• Site-to-site VPNs: With site-to-site VPNs, multiple networks on different sites can connect and communicate securely. For instance, you should use a site-to-site VPN to link various departments and offices inside a company.

Learn how to add a VPN connection

Adding a VPN connection to your device is a straightforward and easy process which you can complete in 4 steps.

1. Find a good VPN service and select a plan

Select a VPN company with services that match your needs. A few of the key aspects to take a look at when picking a VPN service provider include:

• Device compatibility: Before you choose any VPN service, be certain its software is compatible with the devices you would like to apply it to. Some VPNs work across multiple operating systems, including MacOS, iOS, Windows and Android, while others only support a limited variety of them.

• Encryption: Select a VPN provider that uses a reliable encryption algorithm. While there are numerous encryption standards, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256 is the most effective one, because it has minimal impact on performance and stays virtually unimaginable to interrupt to this present day, getting used by the U.S. government for its classified documents.

• Protocols: A VPN protocol is a algorithm liable for moving data between your device and a server. Select a VPN company that provides secure and stable protocols, equivalent to OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2. VPN services could have multiple protocols and assist you to switch between them at will.

• Coverage: A great VPN provider can have multiple servers in many alternative locations. Having a high variety of servers reduces the general strain of web traffic on the network, enabling faster connections. A greater number of locations may additionally assist you to route your web traffic through a selected country of your alternative.

• Privacy policy: Discover a no-logs VPN provider, which is one which doesn’t collect web traffic that passes through its servers. This also means they will’t share your online data and browsing history with third parties. Read through each company’s privacy policy to see the sort of information it logs, if any.

Once you’ve got chosen a good VPN provider, proceed to create an account. Many VPN firms offer free trials and have money-back guarantees. Some even offer free versions of their software, but because these usually tend to have poor privacy standards and security protocols, we are able to’t guarantee that every one free VPNs are protected.

2. Download and install the VPN app or software

Visit the App Store or Google Play Store and seek for the name of your chosen VPN to download it in your mobile device. For other sorts of devices or platforms, visit the VPN provider’s website to download and install the right VPN client on your operating system.

3. Check in to the app or software and adjust your settings and permissions

Launch the VPN client and check in using the provided credentials. Check the default setting and permissions and adjust them as mandatory. The extent to which you’ll be able to customize your VPN connection varies from one provider to a different.

4. Select a server location and wait for a connection to be established

Set your chosen server location and wait for the VPN to hook up with it. Once a connection is established, you need to have the opportunity to browse the web and use your apps as you normally would.

Learn how to speed up a VPN connection

In case your VPN connection is slower than expected otherwise you notice it starts to lag, there are several things you’ll be able to try to hurry it up.

• Change the VPN server: Connecting to a VPN server that’s too far-off from chances are you’ll end in lower speeds as a consequence of increased latency, which is the delay or time it takes for data to travel out of your device to its destination and back. Try switching to a server location (country or city) that’s geographically closer to you.

• Change the VPN port and protocol: Different VPN protocols offer various levels of speed and security. For instance, WireGuard or IKEv2 are known for his or her faster performance in comparison with others like OpenVPN and L2TP/IPsec. Try several protocols until you discover one which is quicker while still meeting your cybersecurity needs.

• Switch to a wired connection: Try using a wired connection like ethernet as a substitute of Wi-Fi. Wireless connections are often slower because they use a shared channel to transfer data between devices, increasing latency.

• Restart your device: Devices accumulate removable files over time. These files eat into the system’s available memory, slowing down your connection. Try rebooting your device to clear its memory and liberate resources. A reboot may also feed the device recent programming instructions that could make the VPN connection faster.

• Restart the router or modem: Your router or modem may decelerate because it accumulates junk files and experiences memory leaks over time. Restarting it could actually clear unnecessary data, reset the connection and increase VPN speed.

• Install device updates: Check if there are recent software updates on your device. Latest firmware updates may include fixes for quality issues like lower connection speeds.

• Turn off your local security software temporarily: Your local antivirus or firewall can decelerate your VPN connection because it scans and filters packets of information. Disable it temporarily and test the VPN connection to see in case your local security software is liable for the slower connection.

• Change your physical location or ISP: Your VPN could also be slow due to throttling, which is when an online service provider (ISP) intentionally slows down your web speed. Try connecting to the web using a distinct ISP, or take your device to a recent location like a restaurant or coffee shop and use its network to check your connection.

• Use a distinct device: Some devices like routers and Android devices use heavy encryption, which may decelerate a VPN connection. Try connecting to the VPN with a distinct device and see if the connection is any higher.

Troubleshooting VPN connection issues and failures

VPNs aren’t completely flawless. Common issues with VPNs include low speeds, failure to attach, inability to cover your IP address and dropped connections. In the event you’re experiencing a number of of those problems, try troubleshooting the VPN connection by taking the next steps:

1. Restart the VPN.
2. Use just one VPN software at a time to avoid conflict between different VPN clients.
3. Switch to a recent VPN server to see if the issue stems from the server you’re currently connected to.
4. Change your VPN port and protocol to ascertain if the VPN server is restricting your current port and protocol combination.
5. Check that your firewall isn’t blocking essential data packets mandatory for the VPN to operate appropriately.
6. Leaf through the VPN’s help and support section for fixes to common connectivity issues, or call the VPN company for personalized assistance.

Best practices for maintaining a secure VPN connection

Maintaining a secure VPN tunnel involves configuring it to avoid data leaks and combat potential digital attacks. Listed here are some best practices to follow:

Usually update your VPN software or app

VPN software updates are designed to guard your connection and device from emerging threats. For this reason, VPN firms recurrently update their software and features. Many VPNs will send you update alerts, but when yours doesn’t, you’ll be able to check its website for brand spanking new software updates.

Use VPN protocols that provide strong encryption

Some VPN protocols — notably, PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) — are easier to breach than others. To take care of a secure connection, use a protocol that gives strong VPN encryption. OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2 are amongst the most effective within the industry.

Monitor your VPN connection logs for suspicious activity

VPN monitoring refers to tracking your activity while using a VPN connection. There are several VPN monitoring tools that may pull your VPN’s logs, including OpManager, Juniper and SentinelTrails. In the event you know the way to read the logs, you’ll be able to easily discover suspicious activity. Lots of these monitoring tools also include predefined rules that robotically detect and report suspicious VPN activity.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an additional layer of protection to your regular VPN authentication. For instance, you’ll be able to set a username and password as a primary authentication method and add text message alerts as your secondary authentication method.

Even when a hacker gets your VPN username and password, they won’t have the opportunity to access your account without the knowledge from the text alert.

Summary of What’s a VPN?

Adding a VPN connection to your network will help protect your online privacy, secure your personal data and offer you access to content from different locations. Nevertheless, VPNs aren’t an ideal security tool for each context, and so they still have problems like slowing your connection speed and outright dropping your connection.

In the event you’re experiencing issues along with your VPN, you’ll be able to try changing servers, restarting your device, updating the VPN client’s software or using a more up-to-date VPN protocol. It’s best to also take steps to make sure your VPN connection is at all times secure. These include installing the most recent software updates, monitoring your VPN logs for suspicious activity and using MFA.