How to Get a VPN Connection to Your Home Network
If you’re new to VPNs or simply want to learn more about them, this article is for you. We’ll be going over the different types of VPNs available, how to choose the right one for your needs, and much more.
What is a VPN?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a security technology that allows users to connect to a private network through a public network, such as the internet. This allows users to securely access resources on the private network from any location, as long as they have an internet connection. VPNs are typically used to provide security and privacy to consumers, governments, and businesses.
Why Should You Get a VPN?
With the rise of the internet of things, the number of devices connecting to the internet increases. More and more of these devices are becoming smart, allowing them to access the internet and other connected devices without ever needing to connect to an individual device. However, this openness makes these devices easy prey to hackers and other bad actors. VPNs are security technologies that can be used to provide privacy and security to all internet-connected devices, including your smart ones.
What Type of VPN Should You Get?
There are several types of VPNs, each one with their own unique benefits. Understanding what type of VPN is best suited for your needs can help you choose the right one.
L2TP/IPSec Hybrid VPN
This is the most popular and most secure type of VPN. It is a combination of IPSec and L2TP technologies, which provides better performance than either one individually. The first time you connect to a VPN, you’ll be prompted to choose a login and password. After that, all you have to do is select a server (network) in your area and start enjoying all the security and privacy that a VPN can offer.
SSL VPN
This one is fairly self-explanatory. When you connect to an SSL VPN, all the traffic between your device and the server is encrypted, ensuring that your personal information is secure while you are connected.
An SSL VPN can also be configured to use a shared key for the encryption of all the traffic, allowing the VPN provider to see what you are doing while you are connected but ensuring that your personal information is secure. This makes an SSL VPN highly suitable for use with public Wi-Fi, especially if you are sharing the connection with other people.
PPTP VPN
This one is similar to an SSL VPN in that it provides security and privacy for all the traffic between your device and the server while also using a shared key for the encryption of all the traffic. The main difference is that a PPTP VPN uses a Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol rather than an SSL protocol to encrypt all the traffic. This makes a PPTP VPN faster than an SSL VPN, although the performance difference is subtle. Because they use a different encryption protocol, it is easier for cyber criminals to crack open your personal information.
ChaCha VPN
This one is for those who need a little more security than an SSL or a PPTP VPN. When you use a ChaCha VPN, all the traffic between your device and the server is scrambled, ensuring that your personal information is not only secure but also unreadable by anyone, even the VPN provider itself.
ChaCha is designed to be more secure than your average VPN as it uses a more complicated system to encrypt all the traffic. However, because of this additional security, it tends to be a little slower than the other types of VPNs mentioned so far. That being said, ChaCha VPNs are still easily the most secure type of VPN.
OpenVPN
This is one of the most popular types of VPNs and comes in several different flavors (for different operating systems, like Windows, macOS, and Linux). When you connect to an OpenVPN, the server will request a login and password from you the first time you connect to it. After that, all you have to do is select a country and network (if necessary) and you’re set to go.
OpenVPN is extremely simple to use and can be installed on pretty much any device, including your smartphone. Because of this, it is one of the most versatile types of VPNs available. One of its unique selling points is that it allows for truly unblockable access to the content you want, when you want it, even when your device is traveling internationally.
However, OpenVPN does have its downside. It tends to be a little slower than the other types of VPNs mentioned so far and has a lower data transfer limit than the others (at two gigabytes per day, compared to the others’ four). But for those who need complete control over their personal data and don’t want to be restricted by region, censorship, or data limits, OpenVPN is the clear choice.
What about a VPN for my Mobile Device?
If you’re looking for a VPN for your mobile device, you have a variety of options to choose from. You can get an app for your smartphone that will allow you to connect to a VPN whenever you need (and whenever your device’s connection is available), or you can use a Virtual Private Server (VPS) to set up a VPN on your own computer. The.ovpn file for your VPN can be stored on your smartphone and used whenever you need, allowing you to bypass locations and regional restrictions as needed (with the caveat that you’ll need a strong internet connection and a stable one at that).
Security Risk Assessment
Whether you are new to VPNs and want to learn more about them or you simply want to decide which one to try out, it is essential that you assess the security risks posed by each type of VPN. This means that you need to make sure that you are not putting yourself or your device at a greater risk of getting hacked by choosing this particular type of VPN. For instance, if you live in Germany and you connect to a VPN that is based in Hong Kong, you might want to reconsider your decision.
Choosing The Right Server For Your Needs
When you connect to a VPN, the first thing you’ll need to do is select a server. This is where all the action happens, so it is important that you are choosing a server that is closest to you in order to minimize the amount of latency (time delays caused by traveling between you and the server) and maximize the speed. You’ll also want to make sure that the server you choose is a reputable one and that it has the required features (like a strong VPN, no logging, etc.) to suit your needs. Keep in mind that the farther away the server is, the higher the latency and slower the connection will be. So if you are connecting from a different country, you might need to choose a closer server. But remember, if you are connecting from the same country, the closer server might be the best option (unless you are from a different region, in which case the farther one might be the preferred choice).
Secure Sockets Layer And IP Security Protocols
If you want to learn more about the protocols that a VPN uses to ensure that all the traffic between your device and the server is secure, you can click here. Or if you simply want to know what the difference is between an SSL VPN and a PPTP VPN, you can click here for the lowdown. When it comes to choosing the right VPN for your needs, it’s important to look for a provider that utilizes both SSL and IP Security to protect all the data that you send and receive while connected. This is because, while both technologies separately offer a high level of security, when used together, they offer an even higher level of protection. This is due to the fact that the technologies complement each other, working together to offer an unbeatable level of security.
Mobile Device Management
If you are a mobile device user, you know that your device can be a target for cyber criminals, especially if it is traveling internationally. If you are the owner of several mobile devices, then it might be worthwhile to consider getting a mobile device management (MDM) plan from a reputable vendor.