VPN or virtual private network technology allows you to create a secure connection to another network over the Internet. For example, there is a corporation with its own secure network, and you are an employee of this corporation working from home, and you need secure access to the corporation’s network. And VPN provides you with this access with a high level of encryption of transmitted information, and anonymity on the Web.

What is VPN?

When a computer (smartphone, tablet, etc.) is connected to a virtual private network, the computer acts as if it were on the same local network as the VPN. All traffic on your network is sent over a secure VPN connection. Due to the fact that your device behaves as if it is on the network, you get secure access to local resources, even if you are on the other side of the globe. You will also be able to use the Internet with some advantages that hide your activity and the ability to access sites that you are prohibited from.

When browsing the web while connected to a VPN, your computer contacts the website over an encrypted VPN connection. The VPN redirects your request to connect to the site and sends you a response from the site back over a secure connection. If, for example, you are in Russia and connect to a VPN in Ukraine, the sites will see requests as if you are making them from Ukraine, which will provide an opportunity to see those sites that are prohibited by the censorship of this state.

Using virtual private networks

VPN is a fairly simple tool that provides many different options:

• Access to the corporate network while traveling: VPNs are often used by employees of corporations (enterprises) to gain access to the corporate network and to all local resources of this network while on the road. This connection is safe, which allows you to calmly work with information that cannot be advertised;
• Accessing your home network while traveling: You can also create your own VPN to access your own network while traveling. This will allow you to access a remote Windows desktop over the Internet, use local file shares, and play games over the Internet as if you were on the same local network;
• Hide browser activity from the local network and the Internet: if you use public Wi-Fi to browse the Internet, it will not be difficult for any user to see your activity. If you want to hide your internet activity, get a little more privacy, you can connect to a VPN. Only one active secure VPN connection will be visible on the local network. All other traffic will travel through the VPN connection. This connection method can be used to bypass the connection control from the ISP.
• Bypassing Internet Censorship – Many Chinese people use VPNs to bypass China’s great firewall and access the entire internet.

VPN can be used for many different purposes, and it will take a long time to list them all. Let’s move on to the next point, and if you already consider it necessary to supplement examples of using virtual private networks – write comments!

VPN connection

Connecting to the created VPN is very simple: click on the Internet icon in the lower right corner with the right mouse button and select “Network and Sharing Center” (Network and Sharing Center can be found through the search bar) => select “Set up a new connection or network” => Workplace connection => Use my internet connection => enter the parameters of the VPN you are connecting to and click next. After these steps, you will see an icon for connecting to a virtual private network in the system tray, where you connect Wi-Fi.

Free VPN Options

If you want to bypass censorship and do not have your own VPN server, the easiest and fastest way is to use TunnelBear. The free version is limited to 500 MB per month, but if you just want to periodically connect and view forbidden sites in your region through it, then they should be enough for you. All you need is to register (enter your name, email and password) and download the program for your system.

There are other VPN products to bypass censorship and protect your Internet experience from prying eyes, but I liked TunellBear for its simplicity.

You can also create a VPN on your own server, but this will prevent you from accessing geo-blocking sites and bypassing internet censorship in your country. That’s all for today, if there are additions – write comments! Good luck ?