Feb 09, 2022 by Toktabek, Tim
A Virtual Private Network or VPN establishes a protected network connection when using public networks. They encrypt your internet traffic and disguise your identity. As a result, third parties would have to try much harder to track your activities online and steal data, to the point where it’d be pointless to do so.
A VPN is an encrypted private connection between two machines. When using a VPN, your device connects to another computer called a server.
Your device will then use that server’s information to browse the internet rather than its accurate network information. Any site tracking user data would see the VPN server’s data rather than your device’s information.
Nobody can access the data between your device and the server because the VPN turns it into gibberish, making it impossible to decipher.
To read the data while using a VPN, you need an encryption key. Otherwise, it would take a millennium to crack the code. Simply put, your online activities are hidden, even on public networks.
This has become exceptionally important with “work from home” dominating the workforce. Sensitive company data and client information are at a higher risk of being leaked.
Suppose an employee connects their work laptop remotely to a public network. Anyone can have access to the internal company network. However, with a VPN in use, all his information would be invisible to others.
The demographic location data arrives from a server in another country when using a VPN. Hence, your actual location cannot be determined. Most VPN services do not store logs of your activities.
Some providers record your behaviour but do not pass the information to third parties. Meaning any record of your user behaviour remains permanently hidden.
Certain web content is available in specific locations and not accessible from elsewhere. Your standard connection uses local servers in the country to determine your location.
Simply put, you can only access information based on your given location. However, with VPN spoofing, you can switch your servers to another country and simply just change your location.
When accessing essential files on your company’s network from your home, for example, requires a secure connection. A VPN will most likely be required to gain access to the network. Using the VPN will connect you to the network through private servers, reducing any data leak.
A widespread trend in Ecommerce noticed is websites increasing their prices for solutions and services based on your location. If it isn’t already obvious, VPN can get you the most affordable prices by allowing you to change your area to get cheaper offers.
Since a VPN makes your presence harder to trace online, you do not require firewalls and other security solutions. That is if you’re using the VPN all the time. If you are, you can save a ton by avoiding the huge licensing fees and monthly charges.
Source: Avira
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) sets up your connection when you connect to the internet. It tracks you via an IP address. Your network traffic goes through your ISP’s servers, which can log and display everything you do online.
Your ISP may share your browsing history with advertisers, the police or government, and other third parties based on your contract with them. ISPs can also fall victim to attacks by cybercriminals: If they are hacked, your personal and private data can be compromised.
This is especially important if you regularly connect to public Wi-Fi networks. Someone can easily monitor your internet traffic and possibly steal your passwords, personal data, payment information, or even your entire identity.
Often, not all company employees have access to a company laptop they can use to work from home. Sometimes, your company may not provide you with the devices and expect you to bring your own. In such cases, using a remote device (PC, laptop, tablet, mobile phone) is often resorted to. The best option, in this case, for companies is to get an SSL VPN.
The prerequisite is usually an HTML-5-capable browser, which calls up the company’s login page. HTML-5 capable browsers are available for virtually any operating system. Access is guarded with a username and password.
A site-to-site VPN is essentially a private network designed to hide private intranets (A private network only accessible by authorized users) and allow users of these secure networks to access each other’s resources.
A site-to-site VPN is helpful if you have multiple locations in your company, each with its local area network (LAN) connected to the WAN (Wide Area Network). They are great if you have two separate intranets between which you want to send files without users from one intranet explicitly accessing the other.
Most suitable for larger companies, site-to-site VPNs are complex to implement and do not offer the same flexibility as SSL VPNs. However, they are the most effective communication within and between large departments.
Connecting via a VPN client is similar to connecting your home PC to the company through an extension cable. Employees can use the company network from anywhere via a secure connection and act as if they were sitting in the office. However, a VPN client must first be installed and configured on the computer.
This involves the user establishing a direct connection through their VPN provider instead of jumping onto their ISP network. Instead of using the VPN to create an encryption tunnel to disguise the existing internet connection, the VPN can automatically encrypt the data before it is made available to the user.
Particularly useful for providers of insecure public WLAN, it prevents third parties from accessing and compromising the network connection. It encrypts data to the provider.
This type of VPN access is more efficient and universal access to company resources. Provided an appropriate telephone system is available, the employee can, for example, connect to the system with a headset and act as if they were at their company workplace.
These days, using the internet is more daunting than ever, with several cyber threats. There is only one proper way to use the internet privately: a VPN or Virtual Private Network. That is why Mercku natively supports VPN configs on the router on both the Mercku M6 WiFi 6 Mesh & Mercku M2 WiFi Mesh System. Whether you want to watch region-specific content or create a secure home office environment, VPNs have become more valuable now than ever.
Want to learn more about WiFi? Our team of experts has put together an eBook that explores the past, present and future of WiFi! Read our WiFi: The Definitive Guide eBook for ultimate WiFi mastery.
For more information about Mercku’s Connectivity Suite, our hardware and how you can partner with Mercku, please reach out to the team at connect@mercku.com.
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