What is a VPN and why do you REALLY need one in 2021?

What is a VPN? A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a simple piece of software that was created to protecting your online privacy by anonymizing traffic and location. But you can also use it for many other things, whether it's unblocking geo-blocked content from streaming providers (Neftlix, iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon), fast torrenting, or something else.

After reviewing several VPNs and analyzing what they offer, we can honestly say that VPNs are very easy to use and anyone can use them! This simple, no-nonsense guide will teach you everything you need to know about VPNs.

What can a VPN do for you?

Now that you know what a VPN is, let's see how it can help protect you in a few key ways!

A VPN encrypts all the data you send over the internet

When you are connected to a VPN server, all your internet traffic is encrypted. This means that no one can see what you do online, not even your Internet Service Provider (ISP). This means your ISP can't throttle your speed either, which it often does if you're streaming or playing games, for example.

Encryption it prevents hackers from seeing sensitive data, which you enter on websites, such as passwords. This is especially important if you use public WiFi, as cybercriminals can easily monitor your connection on public networks. But a VPN makes sure that even if someone were to steal your data, they wouldn't be able to decrypt or even understand it.

Your VPN also masks your IP address

Websites and services like Netflix use your IP to determine your location. When you connect to a VPN server, the websites you access only see the VPN's IP address.

Since they can no longer see your real IP, they cannot see where you are located. This is essential if you want to bypass geoblocks and censorship. This means you can access any show, movie or game in the world and browse with complete freedom in every country you visit.

Some VPNs block malicious websites, ads, and trackers

Malicious websites can download malware and trackers to your device without your knowledge. VPNs with built-in protection help prevent infections by blocking these sites before they can do any damage.

Some also block ads and pop-ups. This prevents malicious ads from infecting your device with malware, meaning you can enjoy streaming platforms like YouTube without ads.

How does a VPN work?

Your VPN all your internet it directs the traffic to one of its servers where it is encrypted. For example, you might be in the UK and connect to a US server. A VPN sends your traffic from the UK to the US, fully encrypted. Because it is encrypted, your ISP can no longer see the websites you access, where you come from, or track you.

From there, your VPN server forwards your traffic to the website you're visiting, such as a website, app, or streaming service like Netflix. The website sees the VPN server as the origin of your traffic instead of your device. This means it doesn't see your IP address, but the IP address of your VPN server. The best VPNs use thousands of servers and update their IP addresses regularly, so websites don't have enough time to blacklist and block them. This means that you remain completely invisible.

How does a VPN help me stream content?

Streaming providers like Netflix and Hulu use your IP address to determine where you're streaming from. Once they know where you live, they control the content you can stream based on the distribution agreements they have in your region.

With your VPN, you can "trick" providers into thinking you are based in another country. This gives you access to additional content that is not available in your country.

For example, if you connect to a VPN server based in the US, you can unblock US Neflix.

Are VPNs Legal?

In short, yes! VPNs are free to use in most countries, but there are some exceptions.

Countries like China and Iraq, prohibit the use of non-government VPNs. This means that approved providers have most likely met privacy protection and censorship requirements, making their VPN services untrustworthy. Companies that don't comply are usually blocked, so you can't access their websites and download their apps when you're in those countries.

How does a VPN ensure my privacy?

VPNs handle a lot of sensitive information, so they are a must have more than a solid privacy policy and strict security measures. Some security features look the same but do very different things. For example, despite popular belief, DNS and IP leaks are not the same thing. So informing yourself is key here. Additionally, there are some VPNs that cannot be trusted, so it is important to be careful when choosing a reliable and secure one.

Reliable VPNs offer a variety of privacy protection features.

No logging policy

Strict anti-logging policies prevent VPN providers from logging your browsing activity. If they do not record your information, they cannot disclose it to government agencies, even if they are asked to do so. This also means that if the VPN is compromised by hackers, they cannot collect any of your data from the VPN servers.

DNS leak protection

Every time you access a website, your computer sends a request to a DNS server to find out the website's IP address. Typically, this request goes to your ISP's DNS servers and reveals your browsing activity to them.

When you're connected to a VPN, your DNS requests are redirected to your VPN's DNS servers. Sometimes, however, your device may still redirect your requests back to your ISP without your knowledge. This is why DNS leak protection is important as it prevents this.

IPv6 leak protection

Although IPv6 is now available, almost all VPNs still use IPv4 addresses. This creates the possibility of a serious security breach.

If your ISP supports IPv6 and you access a website that also supports IPv6, your traffic to that website will be routed through your ISP and not your VPN. This would reveal your activity to your ISP and your true location to the website.

Trusted VPNs disable IPv6 traffic to protect you from this leak. You can still access websites that support IPv6, but you will do so using our IPv4 address.

WebRTC leak protection

Leading browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer and Opera use WebRTC technology to communicate with each other. To do this, they need to know each other's real IP address.

The techniques they use to obtain this information are more advanced than those used by sites like Netflix, making it harder to hide your IP from them. Third parties can leverage WebRTC to determine your real IP address and location. A trusted VPN will disable WebRTC and protect your IP address so this doesn't happen to you.

Are there any downsides to using a VPN?

The benefits of using a VPN greatly outweigh the negatives, but there are also some drawbacks to be aware of to truly understand what a VPN is!

Connection speed may be slightly affected

It can take some time for your data to "travel", and once you're connected to a VPN, it has to travel a bit further to reach the VPN servers. It also takes a few seconds to encrypt and decrypt traffic. It's normal for your connection speed to slow down a bit.

Untrusted VPNs can access your browsing activity

If you use a less reputable provider, there's no way you can be sure that your browsing won't be viewed or shared with third parties. If your provider is based in the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliance, they may even be forced to share this information with the government.

You can protect yourself from this by using a well-known, reputable VPN with a strict no-logging policy and RAM-based servers. RAM-based servers permanently delete your data every time they restart, so your VPN won't have any information about you, even if it's required by law.

Some websites block VPN users

Some websites, such as Netflix, check your IP address against their list of known VPN server IP addresses when you sign up. If it matches, the connection will be blocked. You can overcome this by connecting to another server in the same region.

PayPal and some online banks may mark your account security breach, if you log in from a foreign IP address.

As part of their online security process, PayPal and other online banking institutions may suspend access to your account if they see that you are logging in from a foreign IP address. This security measure is designed to prevent international fraudsters from logging into your accounts.

Don't worry - your account won't be locked forever. You may need to contact your bank to resolve the error. You can prevent this by accessing your financial accounts while connected to a server in your country.

Pro tip: If you just want to protect yourself online, choose a server close to your physical location. To unblock content from another country, such as a foreign Netflix library, go to a server based in a country where that content is already available.

What is important when choosing a VPN?

Now that you already have a lot of information about what a VPN is, it is important to you choose the VPN that suits your needs and provides the best security and performance. When shopping for a VPN, we recommend that you prioritize services that offer:

• 256-bit encryption: this is the highest level of encryption available and will protect your personal information and browsing;
• “kill switch”: The “kill switch” turns on when your VPN connection becomes unstable. Temporarily disconnects you from the Internet to prevent data leakage;
• strict no logging policy;
• DNS and IPv6 leak protection;
• customer support: Most premium VPNs offer 24/7 live chat support on their websites. Few services offer telephone support, although this is also available in some places;
• user-friendly apps for your devices: see the website of the service provider. Most include screenshots of their applications so you can “feel” the program before installing it;
• large server coverage: you need a VPN with servers all over the world. This ensures access to geoblocked content from any country. It also means that there will always be a server nearby when traveling;
• streaming servers and P2P-optimized servers;
• multiple simultaneous connections: whether you have a large household or just a laptop and phone, you need to be able to protect all your devices without having to sign up for multiple VPN subscriptions.

Top Two VPN Providers 2021

In an article where we tried to explain to you as best as possible what a VPN is, we will now introduce you to two VPN service providers that are great for both beginners and advanced VPN users.

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a great choice if you are new to VPNs as their apps very easy to install and use. You won't need to change any settings before connecting; just install, login and you're good to go! But don't let that fool you, a VPN is also very flexible. In the advanced settings menu, you can change your DNS, change the protocol, and set custom rules.

CyberGhost manages a huge network. It is in 89 countries more than 6,000 servers. Streaming content is also easy as you can choose a server based on the streaming service it can unblock, e.g. US Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

You also get access to the servers CyberGhost NoSpy. These servers are locked away in a secure data center in Romania, outside the jurisdiction of 5/9/14 Eyes. They are independently managed and operate at the highest level of security at all times. There is no intermediary involved in these servers, so there is no risk of data leakage or hacking.

All servers use CyberGhost 256-bit encryption. They maintain a strict no-logging policy, and the app also has a built-in kill switch.
CyberGhost allows you to connect simultaneously up to 7 devices. It also has a generous 45-day money-back guarantee to give the VPN a try first.

To purchase: applications have many functions; excellent level of performance; torrents are supported

Disadvantages: the iOS app is a bit weak

NordVPN

NordVPN least matches or beats almost all the competition in almost every field! He is largely credited for this the NordLynx protocol custom that allows connections to remote servers to be even faster and more reliable.

Above all, the level of security impresses here. Although it offers AES-256 encryption as standard – just like the US government – you can also turn on the Double VPN system, where your Internet traffic is encrypted not just once, but twice. It is useful to know where your anonymity on the Internet is most important, especially if you use the public Internet or perhaps "torrents".

The number of servers is also enviable - there are up to 5,000 in about 60 countries - and simultaneous connection is possible on six devices.

Like its competition, NordVPN offers strong DSN leak protection, proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers, and payment options that include Bitcoin, Paypal, and credit cards. It is also very strong when unlocking Netflix and other services. To ensure that everything is as it should be and that no data is recorded, NordVPN is thoroughly audited every year (PricewaterhouseCooper).

If you encounter any problems using the VPN, you have on their website great helpful guides and countless articles. You always have a chatbot and excellent 24/7 live customer support.

NordVPN has a few payment options available, including monthly subscriptions and special offers. If you want to try it out, there's also a 30-day money-back guarantee here.

To purchase: NordLynx protocol; high-quality use on mobile devices and on the desktop; page unlocking brilliance; great options when subscribing to the service

Disadvantages: the user experience could still be better, despite already being pretty great