The internet has become a center for all
kinds of activities from communication to financial transactions. The amount of
data that flows over and is stored on the internet is enormous. This provides a
host of opportunities for all kinds of elements both positive and negative. In
recent years, cybersecurity has grown into one of the biggest threats these
days with annual losses going above $5 trillion in 2019. This and other factors
make it imperative to use a VPN.
So, let’s discuss what a VPN is, how it
works and what are the reasons that they’ve become essential these days.
What is a VPN?
A
Virtual Private Network or VPN is a program which makes data traffic anonymous
while masking user’s IP address. This is done by rerouting the internet traffic
to go through a secure server instead of being handled by the local internet
service provider (ISP). A VPN is one of the most effective tools to plug the
biggest loophole in cybersecurity and that is the fact that IP addresses in
general are public. This means that anyone on the internet can access them.
How does a VPN for Windows work?
A VPN acts as a barrier between the local
ISP and the server of the website. ISPs have been given a free hand in
regulating the internet ever since net neutrality ended in 2018. This allows
them to store and even sell data on what users are doing on the internet
because that matters to a lot of entities. With a VPN, the role of the ISP is
minimized or even eliminated completely.
Common threats on the internet today
There is a wide range of threats on the
internet these days. From businesses and organizations to cybercriminals, all
prove a variable level of risk to users around the world. The type of breaches
that are caused as a result include both financial losses and psychological
distress. Although the challenges are evolving, there are some that are
prevalent worldwide. Here are a few:
Malware
These include a wide variety of viruses.
Hackers and other cybercriminals use a number of ways like email attachments or
random links to plant malware into user systems. Malware can include but is not
limited to ransomware, adware, Trojans, spyware, bots, bugs and a lot more
besides. Based on the type, malware can hide in a device and harm personal data
stored on it in any way that the attacker wants.
Phishing
Another one of the most common ways for
hackers is to use phishing schemes. These can be executed through phone, text,
email or any other digital medium. All it takes is for the cybercriminal to
design a form or page that looks legitimate and asks the user for some private
information. The hacker can act as a bank representative or government official
to retrieve data that they are looking for.
Social engineering
This is one of the newest methods that are
rising quickly around the globe. Hackers and other elements study a person that
they want to target. They research about their colleagues, friends and even
family members to pick someone who they can impersonate. All this information
is easily available through social media so it is no problem for any element to
get a hold of all this data.
DDoS
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) or
Denial of Service (DoS) attacks are common to disable and cause damages to the
servers of the victim. These types of attacks are common in gaming and for
websites like e-commerce stores etc. The load of irrelevant data causes the
server to crash taking the player or business off-line which ultimately cause
huge damages to the organization or person.
How a VPN protects against cybersecurity threats
A VPN is a program designed to mask IP
addresses. This means that the biggest source of all cybercrimes in dealt with.
The level of protection available will depend on the type of VPN that you are
using. There are a number of features that VPNs offer to make a comprehensive
cybersecurity cover for users whether they are individuals or businesses. Here
are a few:
Encryption
The leading VPN services like Ivacy provide
an end-to-end 256-bit encryption at minimum because that is the highest level
commercially available. It is used by government departments to protect their
data so it is bound to be effective. Encryption protects data while it is being
transferred from one server to another. This is the time when data is the most
vulnerable so protecting it at this point is crucial.
Advanced protection
Good VPN services offer additional
protocols for users. These can be added over the already available encryption
to form military grade cybersecurity coverage for users. VPN customers can pick what protocols they
need to customize how they want their cybersecurity profiles to look. Each
protocol has its own benefits.
Servers
The basic function of a VPN is to mask IP
addresses. This is done through rerouting data traffic to the secure servers of
the program. These servers have to offer elaborate protection against
cybercriminals and also they have to be spread out across the world. They
should also be abundant because that will determine the options available for
users. The reliability of the servers offered by a VPN can easily be gauged by
customer reviews.
Additional features
Other features that are provided by a VPN for Windows
include internet kill switches, split tunneling, public Wi-Fi security,
unlimited bandwidth, a strict zero logging policy, secure DNS, IPv6 leak
protection and a lot more besides. All these features come together to ensure
that users are secured from all kinds of threats at all times.
Conclusion
A VPN for Windows has
become vital in light of the way network connections are being regulated
nowadays. From cybercriminals to businesses, everyone is in search of private
user data for various purposes. What’s troubling is that these entities can go
to any length in order to acquire what they are looking for. In times like
these, VPNs are the most affordable and effective solutions against these
threats.
Author
Bio:
Scott is a cyber-security professional.
He's been writing in the internet privacy niche for a while now and has churned
variety of informational pieces to educate his audience. Connect with him on Twitter.
