▾If you use a VPN, you certainly know what it offers. However, even among VPNs, there are certain differences in solution, functioning principle, installation, pricing, and other details. Essentially, a VPN serves as protection against the leakage of online data, protects your internet privacy, can rid you of annoying offers and ads, protects the network from cybercrime and malware, allows anonymous shopping, and last but not least, gives the opportunity to watch channels and shows that are restricted in some countries.
Using VPN in Business
VPN services intended for business and thus of interest primarily to companies are almost always paid for. In return, the company gains reliable data protection and encrypted internal communication, which can take place on a national or international scale. Companies prefer dedicated servers that guarantee higher speed and maximum reliability, a level of security much higher than what is used in common servers for the public. The company also receives a dedicated IP address to ensure seamless access for employees from anywhere in the world. This is particularly appreciated by companies with multiple offices situated far apart and with employees who occasionally work from home.
VPN for Personal Use
A virtual private network (VPN) is increasingly being used by ordinary users in households. The name comes from the fact that it is truly VIRTUAL - it provides a virtual connection with any other computer or similar device anywhere in the world; PRIVATE - as all communication is encrypted and, unless set otherwise, occurs only between you and the visited sites or the designated server. And of course, it is a NETWORK, because it uses a vast network of VPN servers located almost all over the world.
In addition to data and information protection for the household, VPN also protects your privacy when shopping, surfing the internet, and allows, for example, watching series and movies through streaming services. These are sometimes set up so that they cannot be accessed from other countries. An example is the increasingly popular Netflix service, offering a large selection of interesting programs.
Single-Protocol and Multi-Protocol VPNs
To achieve maximum protection, sometimes quite complicated protocols are used, often utilizing multiple types of VPN simultaneously. These can be described as multi-protocol. While simpler, single-protocol VPNs are sufficient for general use, it depends on their purpose and level of data protection.
A classic example of a single-protocol VPN can be the PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) type, which creates a tunnel and captures data. It is also used for remote connection and is a very popular service for home users and businessmen. Its undeniable advantage is that you do not have to buy new hardware, and all functions can be controlled using inexpensive supplementary software. It is also reliably compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
As for two-protocol VPNs, they use a combination of two protocols that complement each other in a suitable way. Among the world's most popular is undoubtedly the type known as L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol), most often used to implement private virtual networks with higher security. It contains two reliably functioning protocols: Microsoft's PPTP and Cisco's L2F protocol. Thus, the result is a truly reliable VPN protocol, which is among the "bulletproof" ones.
What is No-login VPN?
Since privacy is the top priority for most VPN users, they can choose from a large number of VPN protocols. The No-login designation, among other things, means that no details about the user's connection will be recorded, documented, or stored anywhere. It provides the much-desired anonymous login, allowing you to shop, surf, and communicate without the other party knowing who you are, where you logged in from, and possibly obtaining further information about you. It is usually a paid service but is not expensive.
Premium VPNs
As for premium VPNs, they are managed by proxy servers only for their (mostly paying) users. The connection is encrypted, and the websites you visit only see the identification data of the VPN, not yours, so you remain anonymous.
Free VPNs
Online privacy should be for everyone, but sometimes it is not. However, you can still find a way to maintain your anonymity for free. There are options for obtaining VPNs completely free of charge. No hidden fees, just download a VPN, and you're done. So why hesitate between a paid or unpaid service? Clearly, even such a free thing ultimately costs something. With VPNs, it won't be money, but it could be a reduced connection speed, some unwanted ads, in short, with free things, you can't expect the same as from paid ones.
So have you chosen which VPN is right for you?