{"id":38,"date":"2020-04-17T12:59:50","date_gmt":"2020-04-17T12:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hardwarecentral.com\/?page_id=38"},"modified":"2020-04-17T13:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-17T13:00:00","slug":"netflix-vpn","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hardwarecentral.com\/vpn\/netflix-vpn\/","title":{"rendered":"Netflix VPN"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A Guide to Virtual Private Networks (and How to Find the Best VPN for You)<\/h1>\n
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If you surf the internet in public places, consume entertainment content on the web, or communicate with people online, then you may want to consider using a VPN service.<\/p>\n

VPNs let you browse the web through an encrypted connection, allowing you to go about your online business in private. VPN services also hide your IP address to make it seem like you\u2019re surfing from a different location, and this enables you to visit websites that are restricted in your location.<\/p>\n

In this detailed guide, we\u2019ll walk you through everything you need to know about VPNs. We\u2019ll talk about how a VPN works, what service you should use, and the common issues people run into when using a virtual private network.<\/p>\n

By the end of this guide, you\u2019ll have a solid understanding of virtual private networks, and you\u2019ll have the info you need to determine the best VPN for you.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n

VPN Basics<\/b><\/h2>\n

Before diving into the nitty-gritty details of virtual private networks and the services you can check out, let\u2019s shed light on the fundamentals of the technology. Here are some of the answers to the most common questions people have about VPNs.<\/p>\n

What does VPN mean?<\/b><\/p>\n

VPN stands for\u00a0virtual private network.<\/i>\u00a0It\u2019s a service that encrypts your web connection, so your browsing activities aren\u2019t visible to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and other third parties (e.g., hackers, the government, nosy people).<\/p>\n

See, when you\u2019re browsing the internet using an unencrypted connection, your web activity and data are fully visible to your ISP. This means that your internet service provider can see what you\u2019re doing online and collect information that it can use for things like targeted advertising.<\/p>\n

Additionally, if you\u2019re using a public internet connection \u2014 like the free WiFi in your local coffee shop \u2014 the administrator of that network can monitor your web activity and data.<\/p>\n

Using a VPN service helps prevent all that.<\/p>\n

How does a VPN work?<\/b><\/h3>\n

So, how does a virtual private network protect your web browsing activity? To put it simply, a VPN can serve as the middleman between you and the internet.<\/p>\n

A VPN service encrypts your data before it leaves your device (i.e., laptop, tablet, phone), so when it passes through your ISP\u2019s servers, your provider doesn\u2019t see it. The VPN will then decrypt the traffic and data once it reaches their servers. That way, only you and your VPN will be able to see the information.<\/p>\n

Many people use a tunnel metaphor to describe how VPNs work. Picture this: when your data leaves your device, a VPN encapsulates that information into a \u201ctunnel\u201d, so your information and activities aren\u2019t visible to third parties.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a VPN diagram illustrating how the technology works:\u00a0https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/nz\/photo\/vpn-tunnel-gm524156555-51519070<\/a><\/p>\n

Need more visuals? Check out this ExpressVPN video that explains it further:\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/xKPKs9tVmN4?t=54s<\/a><\/p>\n

Why use a VPN?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s go into a bit more detail on the benefits of using a VPN service. In this chapter, we\u2019ll discuss the top reasons people use virtual private networks.<\/p>\n