What is VPN? What is it used for?

In today's complex world of the internet, cybersecurity has become more important than ever. A digital shield used to protect our personal data and ensure online security while browsing the internet, VPN plays a significant role in this context. So, what is VPN and what does it do? Let's unravel the secrets of VPN, the security veil of the digital world.

What is VPN?

VPN is a term that is becoming increasingly prominent in the world of computers. It stands for "Virtual Private Network" in English. To establish secure communication between computers, VPN uses a virtual private tunnel. It serves as a digital privacy shield, encrypting and securely transmitting information. Essentially, VPN offers users online privacy, security, and anonymity, enabling them to browse the internet freely. Particularly as a solution to protect personal privacy against security threats encountered on public internet networks, this technology plays an effective role in keeping users' information secure.

How Many Types of VPN Are There?

While there are many types of VPNs, we can primarily categorize them into three main types. Let’s take a look at these three basic VPN types:

Secure Socket Layer VPN (SSL VPN)

The coronavirus crisis in 2020 caused many companies to struggle with providing sufficient equipment for their employees. In such cases, personal devices such as computers, laptops, tablets, or smartphones are commonly used. In response, companies have turned to SSL-VPN solutions to ensure data security.

Generally, the basic requirement for VPN routers is an HTML5-compatible web browser. Users are directed to the company’s VPN login page, where usually a username and password are sufficient for access.

Site-to-Site VPN

Site-to-site VPN represents a concept of a private network that hides private LANs and allows secure access between users.

For example, let’s say your company operates in a wide area, and in each area of operation, it has a Local Area Network (LAN) connected to a Wide Area Network (WAN). In this case, using site-to-site VPN could be beneficial. Site-to-site VPNs can also be used in situations where you want to send files between two separate users but prevent the other from unwanted access.

Site-to-site VPNs are typically preferred by large-scale companies. Implementing VPNs can be a complex process and may limit the flexibility of SSL VPNs. However, it remains the most effective way for large companies to establish internal communication.

Client-to-Server VPN

Here, users gain access not through an Internet Service Provider (ISP), but by directly establishing a VPN connection. This minimizes the internet connection route. The data can automatically be hidden before being presented to the user. This provides an alternative method instead of using a VPN to create an encryption tunnel.

This type of VPN is particularly important for unsecured WLANs. By encrypting all data to the provider, it prevents third parties from accessing network connections and secures them. It also prevents ISPs from accessing unencrypted data and bypasses their limitations on internet access. Client-to-server VPN offers the advantage of more effective and universal access to company resources.

What Does VPN Do?

VPN is a powerful tool offering a wide range of advantages, which can be used for various purposes. These advantages contribute to users having a safer, freer, and more private experience online. However, it’s important to choose a reliable service provider and use it in compliance with the law while using VPN. If you want to keep your personal information safe and access the internet independently of geographic restrictions, you can opt for a reliable VPN service.

How Does VPN Work?

VPN is a service used by individuals and organizations to enhance their security on the internet, protect their privacy, and anonymize their online activities. Its functionality is based on hiding the user's IP address and encrypting data transmission through specially configured remote servers. In this way, when users browse the internet, they send their data through the VPN server, thus protecting their identity.

The main purpose of a VPN connection is to prevent ISPs and third parties from viewing the user's online activities. By using a VPN, users can protect themselves from ISP tracking of the websites they visit. This way, they can make their online activities more secure. VPN creates a secure tunnel by encrypting user data, protecting it from unauthorized access. This encryption makes personal information and interactions on the internet unreadable. As a result, even if a potential attacker gains access to this data, it becomes nearly impossible for them to interpret it.

What Are the Benefits of a VPN Connection?

There are several important benefits of a VPN connection:

• Secure Encryption: Data is stored securely, encrypted by VPN. Therefore, an access key is required to access the data. This key is the cornerstone of protecting your information. If this key is unavailable and a brute force attack occurs, it can take years to crack the computer's code. With VPN, even on public networks, your online activities remain hidden with this encryption method.
• Location Hiding: VPN servers act as virtual proxies, hiding your online activities. Instead of the user’s real location, the data passes through the VPN server in the country where the connection was made. As a result, the user’s real location cannot be detected. Furthermore, most VPN service providers do not store logs related to the services they provide. Some may store this information but do not share it with third parties. This ensures that user behavior records remain completely private. These security measures offer an effective solution to provide anonymity and privacy for internet users.
• Accessing Regional Content: Sometimes, it may not be possible to access regional internet content from everywhere. Some websites and services may offer content specific to certain regions. Additionally, some websites may be blocked in certain regions. To bypass these restrictions and access limited content, you can use a VPN. Standard connections use local servers to determine your location, which may cause limitations in accessing your home country or international content when traveling. However, by using a VPN, you can easily change your digital location by connecting to a server in another country instead of connecting to the server provided by your ISP.
• Secure Data Transfer: When companies adopt remote work models, they often require VPN connections for employees to access critical company information. This provides a secure, closed access path. VPN services securely connect to private servers and apply encryption methods to prevent data leakage risks. This ensures that remote workers can securely access sensitive company information and maintain data security.

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