A VPN is a Virtual Private Network. A VPN works like a normal network where you have two or more computers connected to using a physical device like a router. With a VPN the computers are connected via the Internet. There’s no physical hardware other than what you already have (modem, router, cable/DSL etc.) VPN requires software to complete the private network.
In a VPN the communication between the computers is encrypted so that only the computers on the VPN can understand the communication. Depending on the VPN server you choose you can achieve or come close to achieve virtual anonymity, even your true IP address and geographical location are hidden. You can appear to be using a computer from England, Australia, or anywhere in the world, all the while you’re sitting in your home.
A VPN creates a tunnel between you and the VPN server, essentially bypassing your ISP. The only transmissions your ISP logs are the transmissions (which are encrypted) between your computer and the VPN server. Once you’re connected to the VPN service your browsing is as close to anonymous as you can get.
VPNs are popular with businesses whose employees need to access the company’s network without exposing data to the Internet. Newer VPN software like CyberGhost, makes it as simple as clicking a button to connect your home computer via a VPN.
While you might be tempted to say you have nothing to hide, you would be wise to consider that almost everything you do on the Internet is logged and tracked. And it’s not only advertisers who track and log your activities, now it’s your ISP and governments too. And let’s not forget hackers and other miscreants with hacking tools and password crackers. It just pays to be smart and take every precaution. There are times when you might want to use a VPN and other times use your normal connection. Software programs like CyberGhost make it easy to connect to a VPN and to disconnect from it with just the click of a button.
Again, using a VPN is another smart way to protect your privacy, and it’s the only way we know of to be virtually anonymous on the Internet.
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For those of you who are unfortunate enough (like me) to have satellite as your only “high-speed” Internet option, don’t bother buying/downloading VPN software. Unless the technology has changed since I last looked, using a VPN over satellite will slow your connection to about dial-up speed.
I really think you should try the newer software like CyberGhost or Kepard. There is no noticable difference in speed because both use servers which are every bit as fast as your current ISP. They can’t be any faster — so you can’t connect to a VPN and increase your speed. Your speed will always be limited to the speed of your ISP. But it shouldn’t be any slower. If it is, you’re not using the right software.