What is a VPN?

So, exactly what is a VPN? The full term, Virtual Private Network, really means a set of computers or networks operating together over another network that is public, more widely known as the Internet. A virtual private network (VPN) is a technology for using the Internet or another intermediate network to connect computers to isolated remote computer networks that would otherwise be inaccessible.

A VPN provides security so that traffic sent through the VPN connection stays isolated from other computers on the network (Wikipedia).

VPNs are commonly used in businesses to access systems remotely by individuals away from the usual LAN used to access the network. The everyday person typically uses a VPN for security when on a network they can’t trust to safeguard important information from others, mainly because VPNs encrypt that information.

Why use a VPN?

Now that the question, “what is a VPN,” has been answered, you need to understand why you should use one. Everybody should use a VPN to protect their private information from unwanted exposure, as a VPN promises to keep personal accounts and other information away from others that may try to access it. Users benefit from VPNs because their data is encrypted and can be used on any network they access anywhere in the world. If you have to use public access channels routinely to get on the Internet, a VPN can provide peace of mind for you as you will know that your information is protected.

Another great thing about VPNs is that they allow users to watch their favorite shows from anywhere in the world that they travel to. So, you never have to miss a beat now as far as watching your programs goes when you have to travel.

Many different types of individuals in all walks of life can benefit from using a VPN. Consider the following:

Students and Workers: Many students and employees need VPNs for remote access to information they need to access for either their university or business. However, they are often on public networks and typically need also to use a VPN to secure their data. So even if they decide to connect to the Internet through a public connection, like at a hotel, they know that nobody can pry into their information.

People that Download Often. If you are the type of person that downloads a lot of things, the last thing you want is some strange program or application to appear suddenly on your computer. VPNs are a sure fire way to stay safe for individuals that download often. The last thing you need is somebody hacking into your identity or information, posing as you, and you winding up leftover with the consequences of actions you did not even commit.

People Who Worry About Privacy. If you often worry about what information others can access over a public network, then you certainly want to use a VPN to ensure your information stays safe. That way, you will never have to worry about accessing the Internet on an unsecured connection ever again.

People that Travel Often. If you are the type of person that has to travel a lot, you probably want to be able to watch your shows wherever you go. A VPN provides access to this. Also, traveling from place to place means having to rely on networks you don’t know. With a VPN, you get a lot more security.

Everybody Else. Even if you don’t quite fit any of these categories, a VPN can still assist you by protecting your information no matter where you access the Internet, and also let you watch your favorite shows no matter where you go.

VPN Security Mechanisms:

VPNs typically require remote users to be authenticated and make use of encryption techniques to prevent disclosure of private information.

VPNs provide security through tunneling protocols and security procedures such as encryption. Their security model provides:

▪   Confidentiality such that even if traffic is sniffed, an attacker would only see encrypted data which they cannot understand

▪   Allowing sender authentication to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the VPN

▪   Message integrity to detect any tampering of transmitted messages.

Le VPN is a VPN service provider, with our servers deployed in 100+ locations, like France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Russia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. View the full list of our VPN servers and countries available.

We base our solutions on OpenVPN and PPTP protocols.

• The OpenVPN protocol ensures highly secured encryption and X.509 certificates authentication. It can be used with different operating systems: Windows, MAC OS X, Ubuntu, etc. Our OpenVPN servers are situated in France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Russia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.
• PPTP protocol is a light version of the VPN service. It protects your connection with 128 bits SSL encryption and login/password authentication. This type of VPN is the ideal solution for mobile devices such as iPhone, Android, iPad, etc. It can also be used with almost any operating system. We recommend that you use this type of connection for your mobile devices, and for places where OpenVPN connections are prohibited. Our PPTP servers are situated in France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

We strive to provide our users with high-speed p2p download over our VPN service. Therefore, we have dedicated our VPN servers in the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Canada and the Netherlands to these needs. These servers are specially configured for p2p and have extreme performance and high bandwidth.

Want to know more about the Security Techniques used in Le VPN tunnel? Then read more about:
• Top Secret Level Encryption • Trusted DNS Servers • Mobile Security

Article Updated June 4, 2016