Lets talk VPN's

As things change in our day-to-day hustle and bustle, there are a few things that are starting to really gain some traction, and that's two-step authentication, Multifactor authentication(MFA), Password safety, Florida man, and VPNs.. okay Florida man had nothing to do with this but just felt the urge to have a shout-out to Florida man. The topic we will discuss today is virtual private networks (VPN). A VPN is a digital connection from your device of choice to a remote server hosted by a VPN provider that can create a point-to-point encrypted tunnel to protect all of your personally identifiable information (PII). 

Before I get too far ahead of myself, there will be some technical jargon that I will be throwing out, but don't worry, I'll always give what that jargon is. I won't lead you a stray and expect you to know what it is, to be completely honest. With you, too many things in the tech field boil down to abbreviations because it takes way too long to type or even remember, but when you think about it, there are ways to remember things like that everywhere. We technical professionals aren't special, but back to VPNs.

The VPN provider created a point-to-point tunnel that will encrypt your Personal identifiable information (PII), such as your name, birthday, credit card information, or anything personally attached to your person. It will also make your IP address different from others and let you sidestep website blockers and firewalls to give you an actual private, protected, and secure experience.

Now, for some, the question stands: "Why should I need a VPN?" for multiple reasons:

1. Secure your data.
2. Work from home.
3. Access or stream regional content anywhere.
4. Bypass censorships and surveillance.
5. Prevent ISP and third-party tracking.

Before I go any further, Internet service providers(ISPs) are your regular cable providers. Your ISP has a log and can track your history. From that point, the internet provider can sell your information to third-party advertisers to which the government will then be able to have it, or worse, it all gets stolen. Now that's a whole new blog for a different day. With a VPN, you'll bypass all of that because it will:

1. Mask your IP address
2. Prevent ISP tracking
3. Protects your data

There are three types of VPN connections:

1. Home- which connects to a private network.
2. Private- which connects to another Local Area Network(LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN).
3. Mobile- which can be connected through a VPN app.

A site-to-site VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a networking solution that establishes a secure and encrypted connection between two or more physical locations, typically different office branches or data centers. This type of VPN enables seamless and protected communication between the networks of these geographically dispersed sites over the internet.

Key features and aspects of site-to-site VPNs include:

1. Secure Communication: Site-to-site VPNs ensure secure data transmission between connected locations by encrypting the traffic passing through the VPN tunnel. This encryption helps protect sensitive information from unauthorized access or interception.
2. Tunnel Establishment: The VPN connection is established by creating a tunnel between the routers or firewalls at each site. This tunnel is a secure conduit for data to travel between the sites.
3. Authentication and Authorization: Before allowing data to traverse the VPN tunnel, the connected sites authenticate each other to verify their identities. This process ensures that only authorized sites can participate in the secure communication.
4. Scalability: Site-to-site VPNs are scalable and can accommodate the expansion of network infrastructure. As new sites are added, they can be seamlessly integrated into the existing VPN architecture.
5. Cost-Efficiency: Using the internet as the transport medium, site-to-site VPNs can be more cost-effective than dedicated private connections. This is particularly beneficial for organizations with multiple locations.
6. Traffic Routing: The VPN tunnel allows traffic routing between the connected sites. This means that users at one location can access resources, applications, and data hosted at another location securely.
7. Centralized Management: Many site-to-site VPN solutions offer centralized management tools, allowing administrators to configure, monitor, and maintain VPN connections from a central location.
8. Redundancy and Failover: To enhance reliability, site-to-site VPNs often support redundancy and failover mechanisms. In connection failure, traffic can be rerouted through alternative paths to maintain continuous communication.

Overall, site-to-site VPNs foster secure and efficient communication between disparate organizational locations. They contribute to establishing a cohesive and integrated network infrastructure, supporting the seamless exchange of information across geographically distributed sites.

Mobile VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks designed for mobile devices, ensure secure and private internet connections on smartphones and tablets. Here are key points about mobile VPNs:

1. Enhanced Security: Mobile VPNs encrypt your internet traffic, providing a secure tunnel between your device and the VPN server. This encryption prevents unauthorized access and protects your data from potential cyber threats, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks.
2. Privacy Protection: These VPNs help safeguard your online privacy by masking your IP address. By routing your internet traffic through the VPN server, your location and identity remain hidden from websites and third-party entities.
3. Bypass Geo-Restrictions: Mobile VPNs enable users to access content that may be restricted based on geographical location. Connecting to a server in a different region can circumvent geo-blocks and access region-specific content.
4. Secure Remote Access: Mobile VPNs are valuable for remote workers who need secure access to their company's internal network. This ensures that sensitive business data remains protected even when employees work from various locations.
5. Preventing Tracking and Profiling: VPNs on mobile devices help prevent online trackers and advertisers from profiling your online activities. This adds an extra layer of privacy by limiting the information accessible to third parties.
6. Optimized Performance: While some VPNs may slightly reduce internet speed, many reputable mobile VPN services are designed to minimize this impact, ensuring a relatively seamless online experience.
7. User-Friendly Interfaces: Mobile VPN apps are generally user-friendly, allowing easy installation and configuration. Users can connect or disconnect with a simple tap, making it convenient for on-the-go protection.
8. Multiple Device Compatibility: Many mobile VPN services offer cross-platform compatibility, allowing users to protect various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and even desktop computers, under a single subscription.

When selecting a mobile VPN service, it's essential to consider the provider's reputation, encryption protocols, server locations, and privacy policies to ensure a reliable and secure experience.

Here's a link that further explains what VPNs are and dives more into depth on those. Full transparency, this information is excellent to know. I want it to be a manageable length. It's already long, but I don't want it to go on forever. I can talk about tech all day, but there's a time when it has to end.

There are a multitude of companies that have excellent VPN services:

1. Surfshark VPN
2. NordVPN
3. Norton(Lifelock) VPN
4. Hotspot Shield(Mobile)
5. IPVanish(Mobile)

With all this information, the best thing to do is to have something in place to ensure your safety while browsing online. Our sponsor SurfShark does just that.

Surfshark is a cybersecurity company that develops humanized privacy and security solutions. They aspire for everyone to have complete control of their digital lives. talk about cybersecurity and cyberthreats in a language everyone understands, making our products accessible to all. Its best solution based on our experience is their Surfshark One product. An Antivirus & VPN all wrapped into one.  It’s not just a tool but a suite of tools, all integrated into one user-friendly app. This multifunctional package includes a VPN, Antivirus, Alert, Search, and Alternative ID services, making it a one-stop shop for all your digital security needs. This integration simplifies managing your online safety, eliminating the need for multiple apps and subscriptions.

Enjoy an exclusive offer of 78% off plus 2 extra months for just $3.19 per month through this link. This makes it easier to protect your privacy online at all angles. As technology continues to advance, so will hackers ability to try and steal your information: