How a VPN Maintains Security over Data Transmitted Through It

One of the most prevalent questions people ask about VPNs is, “How secure is my data over VPN transmission?” As more and more people turn to VPNs to protect their data while travelling or working remotely, it is important to understand how security on the network and the devices connected to it works. In this article, we will discuss how data is secured with a VPN and the different attacks that could potentially compromise your security.

Secure Puts You In Control

When you use a VPN, you are putting your security in the hands of a third party. This third party could be a company you know and trust or a country, but either way, there is a chance that they could compromise your security if they wish to do so. When you use a VPN, you are essentially handing your security details over to a stranger so that they can keep your data secure on the network. This could mean that your personal information such as credit card details and login IDs could be at risk. When you are traveling or working remotely, being able to maintain control of your personal data and ensure its security is one of the key concerns.

Data Is Decrypted In The Cloud

When you use a VPN, your data is always encrypted when transmitted over the network. This means that even if your personal information is intercepted by someone, it will be meaningless to them without the key. To break the encryption and access the data, they would first need to get ahold of the key which protects the data. Once they have this key, they can access and use your data for any purpose they deem fit. Even if you use a strong, secure password and encrypt your data using PGP, there is always a chance that it could be accessed by someone with physical access to your computer.

Key Vulnerability

Another major factor that puts your data security at risk is the key. Just like your password, the key that encrypts your data is something you have to keep track of and ensure is safe. If you use an easily guessable key or a key that is shared among many users, it could lead to potential security breaches. Anyone who gets access to the key can decrypt your encrypted data and gain access to your account. You should use a unique key for each encrypted file or use a key manager application to generate and store your keys in a safe place.

To reiterate, when you use a VPN, your data is encrypted when transmitted over the network, but this encryption is only as strong as the key you use to encrypt it. The more security precautions you take, the better, but there is always a chance that a stranger could get hold of your key and decrypt your data. As more and more people use VPNs to protect their accounts online, the potential for exposing sensitive information grows. This is why you should always take extra precaution when using one.

IP Vanish

Another critical factor that puts your security at risk is the anonymity of your internet connection. When you use a VPN, the service will assign you a new IP address that is associated with a dynamic range of ports. Your actual IP address will never be seen or heard from again, which is why VPNs are commonly called “IP Vanish” or “IP Mask”. This new IP address could be anything from a few numbers to a whole different city, which is why you should use a VPN to ensure that your location remains private. Your new IP address will completely hide your real location and any associated websites that you visit will also be determined by the VPN service. If you use free VPNs, this IP address can be easily traced by the service provider, even when you are accessing content anonymously. This could put your security at risk if the service provider decides to track your activity or sell your information to law enforcement or other third parties. When considering a VPN, ensure that the service provider respects your privacy and does not sell or share your information with any third parties.

With the above in mind, let’s examine how security works in more detail.

Encryption

As discussed above, when you use a VPN, your data is always encrypted when transmitted over the network. This means that even if someone gets ahold of your traffic, it will be completely meaningless to them without the key. To decrypt the data, they would first need to get ahold of the key which protects the data. Once they have this key, they can access and use your data for any purpose they deem fit. Even if you use a strong, secure password and encrypt your data using PGP, there is always a chance that it could be accessed by someone with physical access to your computer.

Data Integrity

Another critical factor that puts your security at risk is data integrity. When you use a VPN, your traffic is usually sent over a large network of different servers scattered all over the world. Because of this, it is extremely unlikely that your data will disappear or be corrupted en route through VPN. However, there is always a chance that a server could malfunction or be attacked by a virus, which could potentially lead to some of your data being lost or altered. In this case, you would need to start over from scratch, which is why you should use multiple backups of your data wherever you store it.

Data Confidentiality

Your data confidentiality is also at risk with a VPN. Just like your data integrity, when you use a VPN, your data is usually sent over a large network of different servers scattered all over the world. As discussed above, even if you use a strong, secure password and encrypt your data using PGP, there is always a chance that it could be accessed by someone with physical access to your computer.

To reiterate, when you use a VPN, your data is encrypted when transmitted over the network, but this encryption is only as strong as the key you use to encrypt it. The more security precautions you take, the better, but there is always a chance that a stranger could get hold of your key and decrypt your data. As more and more people turn to VPNs to protect their accounts online, the potential for exposing sensitive information grows. This is why you should always take extra precaution when using one. In light of the above, let’s examine some potential security breaches and how you could prevent or mitigate them.

Man In The Middle

One of the most prevalent security risks with a VPN is man in the middle attacks. This type of attack occurs when someone gets ahold of your key and uses this to decrypt and access your data. They could do this for any number of reasons, but the main goal is to use your data to facilitate their own activities. In a man in the middle attack, your data is unencrypted even when it is transmitted over the network, so anyone who gets ahold of your key and uses it to decrypt your data could easily read and access your information. For example, if you are using a free VPN and this key is shared among many users, anyone who gets access to this key could potentially decrypt your data and steal your account credentials.

Dumpster Diving

Dumpster diving is when a hacker or a group of hackers get ahold of a server containing your data and attempt to brute-force their way into it, looking for sensitive information. If you use a free VPN and this server is not locked down or requires registration to access, anyone could potentially get ahold of this information and use it for their own nefarious purposes.

Phishing

Phishing is when a hacker tricks you into providing sensitive information, usually through email. They will send you a link or an attachment that seems legitimate, but is actually designed to trick you into providing your personal details. When you provide this information, you are effectively handing the keys to your security over to the hacker. Just remember, whatever you do online can be recorded and used against you in some way or another. You should not provide any personal information to anyone you do not know and trust, especially if you use a free service. Even if you think the risk is low, there is always a chance that an unknown individual or group could get ahold of your key and use it to impersonate you or take advantage of your information. Do not use a free service if you want to keep your personal information secure.

In summary, be leery of anyone who asks for your password or personal information over email, and never, ever give your key over to anyone unless you are convinced that they are who they claim to be. Even if you think the risk is low, there is always a chance that a stranger could get ahold of your key and use it to access your account.