The Power of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) in Privacy Protection

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By Sunwoo Adela Cho • March 28, 2024March 28, 2024

What Is A VPN?

A VPN establishes a secure connection between you and the internet, acting as a protective shield against malicious hackers by anonymizing the online traffic and location of the user. The key functions and benefits of a VPN include:

Online Privacy: VPNs encrypt – concealing data by converting it into code– all internet traffic to ensure the security of sensitive information so that no one, including your internet service provider, can monitor your online activities.
Protection on Public Wi-Fi:  VPNs encrypt your connection, preventing hackers from monitoring your online activities through public Wi-Fi networks that have a higher potential to make security vulnerable, making them prime targets. Although in the past, public Wi-Fi was notorious for its lack of security, technological developments have increased security. To ensure the encryption of your connection and overall security of your browsing, check for a lock icon next to your search bar and protect your online identity by using strong passwords and avoiding scams.
Privacy: Although a VPN alone doesn’t guarantee full anonymity online, VPNs hide your IP address, making it difficult for anyone to trace your location or identify you online.
Blocking Malicious Ads and Websites: Some VPNs have built-in features that block malicious websites, ads, and trackers to blacklist harmful sites before they can cause damage.

How do VPNs Work?

The Power of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) in Privacy Protection | Office of Information Security (1)

VPNs route all your internet traffic through one of its servers, where it is encrypted. The server then forwards the traffic to the website which acknowledges the VPN server’s IP address rather than the user’s device IP address. Redirecting the IP address allows the user’s identity and location to remain private.

Can VPNs be Bad?

Although VPNs are meant to protect the user, unless the VPN is open source, you can’t be 100% certain of its security. It is crucial to be cautious of any software especially when it is pertinent to your safety.

Slow Internet Connection Speed: Some less-reputable VPNs can potentially slow down internet speed due to the additional time required to encrypt and decrypt data. Because traffic goes through the VPN server, rather than traffic directly between website and browser, internet browsing can slow down. 
Untrustworthy VPNs: Some less-reputable VPN providers may not uphold user privacy, sharing browsing activities with third parties.
Blocked Websites: Some websites may block access to VPN users; however, this can sometimes be overcome by connecting to a different server in the same region.
Account Security: Certain online services like PayPal may flag account security breaches when notified of a foreign IP address to protect against international fraudsters.

What Should I Look for In A VPN?

Strict no-logs policy: A strict no-logs policy will not “log”, or collect and save, any personal information from your network while you are browsing.
User-friendly apps for devices: VPNs should be able to provide proper guides, tips, and instructions about how to best use their service.
Large server coverage: Premium VPNs will allow you to connect you to any location with servers across the globe.
Multiple Simultaneous Connections: Premium VPNs will allow you to be able to use the VPN on multiple devices.
Automatic kill switch: An automatic kill switch temporarily disconnects you from the VPN connection when it becomes unstable to prevent data leaks.
256-bit encryption: This is the highest-level encryption currently available that will protect personal information and browsing activity
Customer Support: Whenever there is an issue or question, reputable VPNs should have a 24/7 customer support line that can help.

Why Should a person Use VPNs?

Remote Access: This is the best and most important reason to use a VPN. WashU VPN allows off-campus access to the university’s network, resources, and databases. You can read more about the WashU VPN athttps://it.wustl.edu/items/connect/
Bypassing Geo-Restrictions: VPNs allow students to change their virtual location, allowing access to educational websites, resources, and streaming services that are geographically restricted.
Privacy: Those working on sensitive, private topics can remain anonymous and safeguard their identity and location. VPNs also provide a secure and encrypted environment for sharing sensitive documents so that your data remains confidential.

VPNs are versatile tools and play an important role in online privacy for some users. They are also a critical tool for accessing important resources from remote locations. At WashU, please read more about the WashU VPN to learn about remote access to resources https://it.wustl.edu/items/connect/

Sources:

Cobalt.io. (2023, December 8). Top Cybersecurity Statistics for 2024. Cobalt. https://www.cobalt.io/blog/cybersecurity-statistics-2023

Electronic Frontier Foundation. (n.d.). Learn. Cover Your Tracks. https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/learn

GOOSE B.V. (2023). 9 facts about VPN that you probably didn’t know. GOOSE VPN. https://goosevpn.com/blog/9-facts-vpn-probably-didnt-know

Kitboga. (2020, May 26). VPN Companies Are Lying To You. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNRdHQJ9AMk&t=561s&ab_channel=Kitboga

vpnMentors.com. (2023). What’s A VPN? & Why You [REALLY] Need One in 2023. https://www.vpn-mentors.com/popular/vpns-101-vpnmentors-vpn-guide-newbies/?keyword=what%20is%20a%20vpn&geo=9022860&device=&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=14985651282&cq_term=what%20is%20a%20vpn&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_plt=gp&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuqKqBhDxARIsAFZELmL5_uDO2KNMQsg6aFGILkKFvkYpjYgn6FQqlIkL7BNxWr-88ACcP-

FAQs

The Power of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) in Privacy Protection | Office of Information Security? ›

Online Privacy: VPNs encrypt – concealing data by converting it into code– all internet traffic to ensure the security of sensitive information so that no one, including your internet service provider, can monitor your online activities.

Read On ›

How does a VPN protect your privacy? ›

It works by connecting a user's device to the VPN server, then passing their internet traffic through the VPN provider's internet connection. This hides browsing information and makes it more difficult for bad actors to gather or monitor the user's online activity.

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What is the purpose of virtual private networking (VPN)? ›

A VPN protects its users by encrypting their data and masking their IP address, leaving their browsing history and location untraceable. This greater anonymity allows for greater privacy, as well as greater freedom for those who wish to access blocked or region-bound content.

Which of the following is an advantage of a virtual private network VPN? ›

The benefits of using a VPN include secure data transmission, enhanced productivity, secure remote access, and longstanding dependability.

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What are the security benefits of always on VPN? ›

With Always On VPN, your employees can securely access the internet without worrying whether the VPN is on or off, as it will always be enforced, allowing them to focus on their tasks uninterrupted. Your IT admins retain full control over the tool, ensuring secure access and a smooth experience for all.

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Is there a downside to always using a VPN? ›

Security and trust concerns

VPNs rely on encryption to secure data transmission. However, if a VPN provider uses weak encryption protocols or fails to implement encryption properly, it can expose user data to interception and compromise.

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What is the main purpose of using VPN today? ›

Secure connection from anywhere: VPNs give secure access to the internet, no matter where you are. Even if you're using public Wi-Fi, all of your outgoing and incoming traffic is secure and anonymous.

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What doesn't a VPN protect against? ›

However, they can't protect against cookies, website-level tracking, malware or the information you voluntarily share online. Despite their limitations, VPNs remain an essential tool for enhancing online privacy.

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What are the security risks of VPN? ›

VPNs can face various security threats that can compromise data integrity and confidentiality. One prevalent threat is man-in-the-middle or meddler-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, where an unauthorized actor intercepts communications between a user's device and the VPN server.

Can you be tracked if you use VPN? ›

You can't be tracked using a VPN because it encrypts your data. As a result, your ISP or bad actors can't get any information out of your traffic. They only see the VPN server's IP address (e.g. if you're connected to a US server, the US IP address is visible), while your real IP and online activities stay hidden.

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What is the difference between a VPN and a virtual VPN? ›

A VPN (virtual private network) creates a secure connection over the internet to protect data exchanges between a user and the network. A VPC (virtual private cloud), however, is a segment of a public cloud infrastructure that offers a private cloud environment.

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What is an example of a virtual private network? ›

VPNs allow two or more networks to be connected together. For example, a branch office of a bank located in Nevada and its headquarters located in Texas connect to one another through the Internet securely to share their resources (such as bank statements, mortgage records, etc.) together.

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Why is VPN so important? ›

Without a VPN, you may experience an influx of pop-up ads that can interrupt your browsing experience and be a general nuisance. If you use a VPN, it can stop people, software, and web browsers from gaining access to your connection. This keeps the information you transmit and receive secure and anonymous.

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What are the benefits of virtual private networks? ›

Let's take a look at some of the main advantages of a VPN.

Hide your private information. ...
Bank online more safely. ...
Avoid bandwidth-throttling. ...
Access region-blocked services, including streaming services. ...
Avoid censorship when traveling abroad* ...
Access regional sports unavailable in your location*

More items...

Feb 26, 2024

How can VPN be beneficial for organizations? ›

As we've seen, VPN pros include enhanced privacy, easier access to overseas content, data encryption, and protection against ISP data throttling. Companies can create secure connections between remote workers and central offices.

Why is VPN good for security? ›

Protection against third-party tracking.

When you reroute your connection from your internet service provider to a remote VPN, the VPN replaces your real IP address with a dummy IP, rendering you untraceable to your internet service provider, advertisers, fraudsters, and the state.

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What is VPN and is it worth having? ›

A VPN is privacy software that routes your internet connection through an encrypted tunnel to a secure server in another location. In doing so, the VPN does two main things: It encrypts your internet traffic and it masks your IP address.

Does VPN slow down the internet? ›

Yes, free VPNs can significantly slow down your internet. They often have fewer servers, leading to overcrowding and slow speeds. They may also use encryption protocols that require more processing, and often prioritize speed for paid users.

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Why would a company set up a VPN inside their network? ›

VPNs can securely connect a user to a company's internal network or to the public Internet. Businesses typically use a VPN to give remote employees access to internal applications and data, or to create a single shared network between multiple office locations.

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The Power of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) in Privacy Protection | Office of Information Security (2024)

What Is A VPN?

How do VPNs Work?

Can VPNs be Bad?

What Should I Look for In A VPN?

Why Should a person Use VPNs?

Sources:

FAQs

The Power of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) in Privacy Protection | Office of Information Security? ›

What is the difference between a VPN and a virtual VPN? ›