VPN briefly explained
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. The application makes sure that your IP address is disguised and you can surf the Internet anonymously. A VPN tunnel, through which you access the Internet, connects your device to a VPN server in encrypted form. This then contacts the website you want to visit. VPN encryption protects you from third parties.
IP address
If you want to go online with a Mac, Windows or Linux device, you need an IP address that uniquely identifies you. It is virtually like a postal address from where you can send and receive mail. Without VPN, the “letters” – your data on the web are readable for everyone. However, if the data is sent via a VPN server, you will use a fake IP address that prevents the data from being read and viewed. Encryption via the server thus increases your security on the Internet!
The main task of the VPN is to encrypt the IP address. The VPN serves as a tunnel between the device on the local network and the Internet. The own, uniquely identifiable IP address can be changed to another one provided by the server of the VPN provider and is thus no longer visible. With a VPN, every computer on the World Wide Web becomes invisible and its data anonymous.
You have nothing to hide, but…
Many people still treat their data carelessly. Data protection and privacy are increasingly important in times of ever-growing surveillance and data misuse such as identity fraud. Online, almost every movement is tracked, recorded and collected, sometimes to play out the best advertising offer, occasionally to get foreign account data and much more.
Passwords and user names, login data for online banking, work e-mails and much more also want to be protected on the Internet. Cyber criminals may target your computer or use it to commit crimes. Those who do not protect themselves can quickly find themselves “down the tubes”.
Surf the Internet safely & anonymously
VPN, in short, protect yourself and your data while surfing. VPN connections are particularly secure thanks to encryption. VPN servers can be used by many users in parallel. If various people are online with the same IP address, it is difficult for third parties to discover and spy on you – the needle in the haystack.
Virtual private networks are very popular among streaming fans. They allow streaming of foreign content such as movies and series by bypassing geoblocking.
But not only private individuals use VPNs. Companies use VPN providers to allow their employees remote access to the corporate network from the home office or while traveling on business. Sensitive information can thus also be shared more securely over the Internet.
VPN encryption
Encryption is the biggest advantage of a VPN besides the secure VPN connection. Unencrypted data makes it easy for hackers and cybercriminals to read and steal. VPN encryption makes it difficult for third parties, including the ISP, to track digital fingerprints on the Internet and view data. Your online activities are reliably hidden even on public Wi-Fi.
OpenVPN
The cross-operating system open source solution OpenVPN is a server software accessible to everyone, which can be used to establish VPN connections. We at DN8 also use OpenVPN as the basis for our VPN solution. The open source code allows free access to everyone. Transparency is its strength. We have optimized the versatile security protocols for our customers – for safe surfing, gaming and streaming. DN8 offers protection for sensitive data with its own encryption algorithm.
What is a VPN Server? How does it work?
The Virtual Private Network establishes a site-to-site connection from a client to a VPN server. A VPN server is a computer on the home network or router that connects to the VPN service. The associated client is, for example, a smartphone, laptop or PC. The server checks the credentials and decides whether to grant access. After that, you will receive the information you requested, for example, the movie you want to stream or the online store you accessed.
VPN servers replace the Internet provider, so to speak. Usually, an Internet provider sends your IP address along with your data – revealing your location. A VPN replaces this uniquely identifiable IP with a random one and makes you untraceable.
Numerous server locations around the globe
Most VPN providers have numerous server locations to choose from. Many websites deliver their offers for certain regions and countries and want to reach Internet users with the corresponding IP address. If you use a VPN server to fake an IP address from another country, you can consume content from that country, which is otherwise blocked for you – keyword geoblocking.
Messages such as “This content is not available in your region” or “Access to this page is not available in your region” appear not only on YouTube, but also on the Apple TV or the Google Play Store. VPN tools allow access to blocked sites, applications and services.
The VPN server basically acts as your middleman on the Internet. Since the geographical IP address from the server represents a different country, it is impossible for strangers to determine your actual location. This means that no matter where you are, you can surf or stream as you please by selecting the appropriate destination country via the server.
Set up VPN server
Setting up a VPN server is relatively simple. There are app applications available for download for Android or iOS devices that are quick and easy to set up. PC and Mac have several options to set up a VPN. The setup works quite straightforward if the router already has a corresponding function. Routers with extensive DD-WRT firmware, such as most Fritzboxes from AVM, are well suited for this. The existing router thus becomes a VPN server.
VPN service DN8
With our VPN service you can enjoy privacy and data protection on the Internet again. Many everyday matters are now handled online, which makes security all the more important. Without VPN, your data such as passwords, bank details and emails are unprotected and can be stolen and misused at any time. However, if you use a VPN, you are even protected in the public WLAN.
