What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network – or VPN – allows you to send and receive data via the internet using a public network as if you were connected to a private network. In other words, it is a system that allow you to connect to a public network (a hotspot, for example) but acts as if you were connected to your company’s host computer. This makes it difficult to be located and greatly improves the security of your connection. But let’s not get too technical. Below you’ll find the principal uses of a VPN:
- To bypass internet censorship a good VPN is essential in China, Iran or in many other lesser known countries such as Thailand, Vietnam or Russia. For example Youtube is restricted in at least a dozen countries.
- Access to services that are only available in some countries, principally audiovisual content (such as television shows, series or podcasts). For example, if you want to watch your favorite programs on Netflix or Hulu, but you are not in the United States, you can’t. Unless you use a VPN to access those website from a US server!
- To send sensitive data (such as banking information) via an encrypted connection. Many people use these systems to protect their banking and personal information from being robbed by third parties when connected to public networks, and/or to maintain anonymity.
- To create your own VPN and allow your employees to access your company’s private network, including if they are not physically connected to it.