VPN connections have become fashionable, especially in recent years, due to new ways of working and entertainment platforms. They work like a black hole or a tunnel in time in which you can even pretend that you are sailing from another country. However, all that glitters is not gold
What are VPNs?
VPN is the acronym for Virtual Private Network or virtual private network (in Spanish) and they are useful when you need to protect IP addresses or what you are looking for or visiting on the internet. It is an ideal tool for users trying to connect from a public wi-fi network, where anyone could have access to browsing or personal data.
Because of this, they allow people to connect securely and remotely to private networks, they can also link many networks and even servers more securely. VPN connections are used in various areas, especially corporate, because companies often use them so that their workers can telecommute
A VPN is a kind of tunnel, where security is guaranteed when browsing the Internet, where there are a series of information risks such as hacking and viruses. VPNs are an intermediary that encapsulates browsing and makes it secure. It is used a lot in the corporate world, but it can also be done by ordinary users ”, Otto Vidal, technology specialist and general manager of Lidera Digital , tells El Comercio .
“If you hire a VPN service and you need to go out over a bridge and it is in the United States, you can pretend that you are browsing from that country. For example, if you open Netflix you will see much more content or enjoy platforms that are not in Peru, such as Hulu, "he adds.
For the specialist, a VPN connection is more secure than browsing a public network, in which emails can be intercepted. Due to this, more and more people prefer to acquire them to connect to a much safer network and enjoy more entertainment content.
Although it is not a new methodology, VPNs have become an essential tool for those who do remote work and for users who have begun to worry more about their privacy online
What are they used for?
1. Telework: this is the most frequent use of these connections, especially because they allow interconnectivity in networks that are not physically connected, as in the case of those who do remote work or companies that have branches in various cities around the world. With a VPN, the worker accesses company resources as if they were in person, thanks to the fact that the connection is encrypted
2. Streaming: with the rise of these platforms, the most playful uses of virtual private networks have become common. This is because thanks to VPNs the user's location can be spoofed. A report from Xataka explains that when you connect with VPN, the device communicates with the VPN server, and it is this that communicates with the internet. This is how, for example, if the user is in China and the VPN server is in the United States, he can browse as if he were in the North American country and enjoy the content that is available there. Based on that logic, it is explained how millions of Chinese citizens manage to connect to Facebook and another 3,000 pages that are blocked in their country.
3. Additional security: although it does not happen in all cases, virtual private networks usually come accompanied by an encryption for the packets that are transmitted with them. Various specialists, such as Otto Vidal, point out that it is advisable to always connect to a VPN when accessing the internet from a public network, because it does not allow information thieves or hackers to access private information and accounts of the users.
How to connect to a VPN from a cell phone?
1. On Android
The Google support platform explains that to connect a phone with Android operating system to a private network, such as that of an educational institution or company, when the user is not there. These are the steps to follow on devices running Android 9 and later versions.
- Step 1: Get VPN information
Get the VPN information from your administrator. You may need to install a VPN app and start setting it up. Download the app from the Google Play Store or through your administrator.
- Step 2: Enter the VPN information
Open the phone's Settings app.
Press Internet and networks And then Advanced And then VPN.
If you can't find it, search for "VPN." If you still can't find it, get help from the device manufacturer.
In the top right, tap Add
Add.
Enter the administrator information.
Hit Save.
2. On iPhone
- Step 1: enter the iPhone Settings and click on the General section, there are several options, among which is VPN.
- Step 2: Once in the VPN option, you must click "Add configuration", which appears at the top of everything. After that, a window will open with the most important part of the process, in which you have to configure the data of your VPN, which will appear blank if none was accessed from a virtual private network.
A simpler alternative is to use iPhone apps so you don't have to configure VPNs at hand. Most services offer an easily accessible app, explains the Xataka portal.
What are the most reliable?
“For corporate issues I recommend the OPEN VPN on Huawei Cloud. Huawei has achieved a balance between the price and the quality of a VPN for companies, which can serve different companies, both banks and universities, ”says Otto Vidal. As for if a VPN is required for personal use, he recommends Express VPN, which has plans from eleven dollars a month.
For example, ExpressVPN offers fast speeds and an easy-to-use interface that comes with plans that feature a money-back guarantee within 30 days of user registration. This virtual private network service is one of the most popular, due to its compatibility with most devices and a large number of server locations, explains Forbes magazine in an article.
It also allows access to servers in 94 countries and customer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, it has a free version that can be used for 30 days. However, this VPN connection is not useful for businesses, due to its limited functionality.
There are other virtual private networks such as NordVPN, whose creators claim that it is the easiest VPN to configure, either on macOS, Windows or GNU / Linux. It also supports Android and iOS devices, as well as up to six devices connected at the same time.
In addition, there is IPVanish, which has more than 700 servers spread over more than 60 countries, and which supports up to five simultaneous connections on multiple devices using only one account (a single subscription). It can be used on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. Also on Android TV devices or Amazon Firestick.
What are the least recommended? “Don't trust free VPN connections. You have to distrust them because what they will achieve will be the opposite of safe browsing. What the providers of these networks are looking for is that you use them and thus access your information ”, concludes Vidal