Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
What is a VPN?
Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are a tool that establish a secure, encrypted connection for the user’s internet traffic. It initiates a secure connection to a remote server, making it appear as though you're browsing from the server's location rather than your physical one. For example, a user physically located in New York could appear to be browsing from London, effectively masking their real IP address and enhancing their online privacy. When utilizing a VPN, your data moves from your device through your Internet Service Provider (ISP) through the VPN server and finally reaches the destination website. Combined with other methods like whole-disk encryption or browser encryption, VPNs can add an extra layer of defense for your data-in-transit, encrypting it every step of the way. VPNs can also be an extremely useful way for users to connect to their business servers from home, or to remotely gain access to the company network in a secure, and protected manner. Corporate VPNs with full tunneling routes all the user’s traffic through the corporate network, ensuring that all data is protected underneath the corporation’s security systems.
Benefits of Utilizing a VPN
- Encryption Barrier: VPNs create a protective tunnel between your device and the VPN server, allowing your data to pass through encrypted. This provides a protective shield against threat actors. Even if a hacker managed to intercept the data packets in transit, the data would be encrypted, and therefore indecipherable, rendering the information useless to them.
- Data Privacy: Public Wi-Fi is unsecure and without proper protections, users leave themselves vulnerable and exposed to other users on the network. Without a VPN in use, someone else could spy on your device through the network traffic. This is known as, ‘packet sniffing’. With a VPN installed and active, this conceals your activities by encrypting your data while in-transit and protecting your privacy and information while using a shared network.
- Browser Guards: Many VPN services now include browser guards as an added layer of protection. These tools are often integrated directly into the VPN or offered as browser extensions. This allows the VPN to block the user from visiting malicious website known for phishing, malware, or other cyber threats. Browser guards often include built-in ad blockers as well, which improves browsing speed as well as mitigating the risk against malvertising.
Who Should Use a VPN?
- Remote / Home Office Workers: VPNs are a great tool to connect remote workers to the organizations network in a secure and encrypted manner. VPNs add an extra layer of protection to those who work on public Wi-Fi or shared office spaces.
- Frequent Travelers: Travelers who often use public Wi-Fi in airports, hotels, cafés without a VPN are exposed to cyber-attacks via the public network. VPNs protect personal data while on a public network and encrypt data while in transit. Your internet experience while traveling with a VPN may differ from traditional browsing, as your connection is routed through remote servers that can affect speed, access, and content availability.
Which VPN Should You Use?
When selecting a VPN, there are some crucial factors to consider. Price, compatibility, privacy and availability, are good factors to investigate when selecting a VPN provider as these vary from one service provider to another. Ensuring that your VPN provider has a non-disclosure agreement is crucial to protect your information making it important to research different providers to ensure they align with your security concerns and needs. If your business already has a VPN service provider, it is important that you utilize a VPN for all work-related tasks.
This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This material was prepared by LPL Financial, LLC
