What is a VPN?
A VPN is a virtual tunnel «covering» your connection, «through» which your device is «going» online. That is not your device’s IP address but the IP of the «covering» VPN that websites, providers, and services see.
The data you send and receive is additionally encrypted for better protection from hackers. A special DNS is used to hide the search history, the IP, and your internet provider location.
When is VPN useful?
VPN is used as an additional layer of privacy, that is to say:
• To protect data, transmitted through unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.
• To bypass the blocking of the DPI system, used to maintain the Russian «sovereign internet» - for example, to access Facebook and Instagram.
• To hide the IP or the location of the user. This allows access to the resources, blocked by the provider or the resource itself (such as Spotify or Netflix).
• To hide your traffic from the internet provider. Like that, the intelligence agencies can not analyze your traffic, for example, your browser history.
• For extra security and better privacy. A VPN protects from the man-in-the-middle type of cyberattacks when the attacker intercepts and unencrypts your traffic. Citizens under surveillance, journalists, and activists from countries with repressive governments may need it the most.
• For the safe usage of Torrent.
Still, it is good to remember that a VPN is not everything one can do for data protection. A VPN does not ensure total privacy: it doesn’t make you completely anonymous and doesn’t guarantee the absolute security of your messages, passwords, and bank details.
What can my VPN «see»?
VPN services «see» the same data as your internet provider:
• search history (websites you open, but not pages on the websites);
• IP-address;
• digital footprint of the device, but only if you use a VPN app, not OpenVPN or WireGuard.
A VPN service «sees» traffic packets, as well as their departure and destination points, because it functions like a provider. Your data is neither stored nor analyzed by a VPN.
The most important data is not transmitted on the internet openly, it is hashed (converted by using a mathematical algorithm). This makes it hidden from VPN services. In particular, a VPN cannot «see»:
- your passwords;
- your credit card details;
- your messages.
That means that the most important information remains confidential.
When choosing a VPN, it is important to choose wisely. Use only those services that do not keep logs (data of the user’s activity). BlancVPN, for example.
Why BlancVPN?
Providing you with a «tunnel» for safe internet usage, we:
• do not keep logs;
• meet the GDPR standards;
• guarantee minimal delay and speed loss;
• ensure anonymity, including cryptocurrency payments;
• offer unlimited traffic for any amount of devices;
• have the trust of thousands of users, including journalists and human rights activists – vpnlove.me.
Why are free VPNs dangerous?
Free VPN services may be dangerous for your privacy. For instance, they:
• May sell your data. Unfortunately, if somebody offers you a free service, you and your data may become objects to trade.
• Integrate ads into the websites you visit.
• Are slow and laggy.
Read a detailed article about What is a VPN and how does it help bypass blocking, in our blog!