What gives vpn. How it works? What is a VPN connection

Every year, electronic communications are improving, and ever higher demands are placed on information exchange for the speed, security and quality of data processing.

And here we will take a closer look at a vpn connection: what it is, what a vpn tunnel is for, and how to use a vpn connection.

This material is a kind of introductory word to a series of articles where we will tell you how to create a vpn on various operating systems.

vpn connection what is it?

So, a virtual private network vpn is a technology that provides a secure (closed from external access) connection of a logical network over a private or public one in the presence of high-speed Internet.

Such a network connection of computers (geographically distant from each other at a considerable distance) uses a point-to-point connection (in other words, "computer-to-computer").

Scientifically, this connection method is called a vpn tunnel (or tunnel protocol). You can connect to such a tunnel if you have a computer with any operating system that has an integrated VPN client that can “forward” virtual ports using the TCP / IP protocol to another network.

What is vpn for?

The main advantage of vpn is that negotiators need a connectivity platform that not only scales quickly, but also (primarily) provides data confidentiality, data integrity, and authentication.

The diagram clearly shows the use of vpn networks.

Beforehand, the rules for connections over a secure channel must be written on the server and router.

how vpn works

When a vpn connection occurs, information about the IP address of the VPN server and the remote route is transmitted in the message header.

Encapsulated data passing over a public or public network cannot be intercepted because all information is encrypted.

The VPN encryption stage is implemented on the sender's side, and the recipient's data is decrypted by the message header (if there is a common encryption key).

After the message is correctly decrypted, a vpn connection is established between the two networks, which also allows you to work in a public network (for example, exchange data with a client 93.88.190.5).

As for information security, the Internet is an extremely insecure network, and a VPN network with OpenVPN, L2TP / IPSec, PPTP, PPPoE protocols is a completely secure and secure way to transfer data.

What is a vpn channel for?

vpn tunneling is used:

Inside the corporate network;

To unite remote offices, as well as small branches;

To serve digital telephony with a wide range of telecommunication services;

To access external IT resources;

To build and implement videoconferencing.

Why do you need a vpn?

vpn connection is required for:

Anonymous work on the Internet;

Application downloads, in the case when the ip address is located in another regional zone of the country;

Safe work in a corporate environment using communications;

Simplicity and convenience of connection setup;

Providing high speed connection without breaks;

Creation of a secure channel without hacker attacks.

How to use vpn?

Examples of how vpn works are endless. So, on any computer in the corporate network, when establishing a secure vpn connection, you can use mail to check messages, publish materials from anywhere in the country, or download files from torrent networks.

Vpn: what is it in the phone?

Access via vpn on your phone (iPhone or any other Android device) allows you to remain anonymous when using the Internet in public places, as well as prevent traffic interception and device hacking.

A VPN client installed on any OS allows you to bypass many settings and rules of the provider (if he has set any restrictions).

Which vpn to choose for the phone?

Android mobile phones and smartphones can use applications from the Google Play market:

• - vpnRoot, droidVPN,
• - tor browser for surfing networks, aka orbot
• - InBrowser, orfox (firefox+tor),
• - SuperVPN Free VPN Client
• - Open VPN Connect
• - Tunnel Bear VPN
• - Hideman VPN

Most of these programs serve for the convenience of "hot" system configuration, placement of launch shortcuts, anonymous Internet surfing, and selection of the type of connection encryption.

But the main tasks of using a VPN on the phone are checking corporate mail, creating video conferences with several participants, as well as holding meetings outside the organization (for example, when an employee is on a business trip).

What is vpn on iphone?

Consider which vpn to choose and how to connect it to an iPhone in more detail.

Depending on the type of network supported, when you first start the VPN configuration on iphone, you can select the following protocols: L2TP, PPTP and Cisco IPSec (in addition, you can “make” a vpn connection using third-party applications).

All of these protocols support encryption keys, user identification with a password and certification.

Among the additional features when setting up a VPN profile on an iPhone, one can note: RSA security, encryption level, and authorization rules for connecting to the server.

For the iphone phone from the appstore store, you should choose:

• - free application Tunnelbear, with which you can connect to VPN servers of any country.
• - OpenVPN connect is one of the best VPN clients. Here, to run the application, you must first import rsa-keys via itunes to your phone.
• - Cloak is a shareware application, because for some time the product can be "used" for free, but to use the program after the demo period expires, you will have to buy it.

Creating a VPN: choosing and configuring equipment

For corporate communication in large organizations or the consolidation of offices remote from each other, they use hardware equipment that can support uninterrupted, secure networking.

To implement vpn technologies, the following can act as a network gateway: Unix servers, Windows servers, a network router and a network gateway on which VPN is raised.

The server or device used to create a vpn network of an enterprise or a vpn channel between remote offices must perform complex technical tasks and provide a full range of services to users both on workstations and on mobile devices.

Any router or vpn router should provide reliable network operation without “freezes”. And the built-in vpn function allows you to change the network configuration for working at home, in an organization or a remote office.

vpn setup on router

In the general case, VPN configuration on the router is carried out using the router's web interface. On “classic” devices for organizing vpn, you need to go to the “settings” or “network settings” section, where you select the VPN section, specify the protocol type, enter your subnet address settings, masks and specify the range of ip addresses for users.

In addition, to secure the connection, you will need to specify encoding algorithms, authentication methods, generate negotiation keys, and specify DNS WINS servers. In the "Gateway" parameters, you need to specify the ip-address of the gateway (your ip) and fill in the data on all network adapters.

If there are several routers in the network, it is necessary to fill in the vpn routing table for all devices in the VPN tunnel.

Here is a list of hardware equipment used in building VPN networks:

Dlink routers: DIR-320, DIR-620, DSR-1000 with new firmware or D-Link DI808HV router.

Routers Cisco PIX 501, Cisco 871-SEC-K9

Linksys Rv082 Router Supporting About 50 VPN Tunnels

Netgear router DG834G and router models FVS318G, FVS318N, FVS336G, SRX5308

Mikrotik router with OpenVPN function. Example RouterBoard RB/2011L-IN Mikrotik

Vpn equipment RVPN S-Terra or VPN Gate

ASUS RT-N66U, RT-N16 and RT N-10 Routers

ZyXel routers ZyWALL 5, ZyWALL P1, ZyWALL USG

VPN is one of those technological terms that has gained a lot of currency in recent years as the internet is slowly changing. Today there are many more prohibited, blocked sites, many services restrict access to their resources to users from other countries. However, this limitation can be bypassed, and this is exactly what VPN servers were invented for.

There are two approaches to explaining this technology, the first of them is technical, and the second is the most understandable for the layman. Everything he needs to know about VPN in order to successfully use it fits into a simple definition. VPN (short for virtual private network) is a service that allows you to access a network securely and privately. All this is done by routing the connection through a so-called VPN server.

If you have a friend who is an IT professional, then their definition may be slightly different and include a lot more technical details. Either way, a VPN is a useful tool.

There are several reasons forcing Internet users to resort to using a VPN:

1. It makes it impossible to snoop on your online activities, and this is useful if you often connect to Wi-Fi hotspots in public places, such as an office or cafe. Everyone knows that they are not safe.
2. You can also use a VPN to hide or change your location. This can unblock services that are blocked in your country but available abroad, and vice versa. They allow you to access sites that are blocked in the country where you are going on vacation or work, such as YouTube in China.

There are many VPNs out there and most of them require a subscription. Among them there are both paid and free services.

Service	Image	Descriptions	Advantages	Flaws
		The ExpressVPN website offers real-time support, with agents available 24/7 to answer any questions users may have. The ExpressVPN service only supports three simultaneous connections per user and comes with premium pricing. ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're unhappy with the service. The following packages are available	A wide range of secure VPN applications. Excellent 24/7 customer support. Ultra-fast VPN servers in 94 countries	Only supports 3 connections. No trial period
		As a key advantage, the developers of this service highlight the quality of customer service, and not a lot of tariff plans. It's "the world's fastest VPN", or so it says on the company's website with over 40,000 shared IP addresses, 950+ VPN servers in 60 countries. It offers unlimited P2P traffic, five simultaneous connections, and more. Complete privacy due to the absence of logs. If you are somehow dissatisfied with the service, you will receive a 7-day money-back guarantee	Excellent download speeds. Configurable software. Free Trial	Relatively high price, higher than average VPN services
		VyprVPN is a fast, reliable service without intermediaries. It has 73 servers and offers unlimited data usage. The headquarters is located in Switzerland, where privacy laws are very favorable for such activities.	Very high performance. Good prices for annual plans. Powerful, customizable apps	Does not refund the cost of the software package if the client is not satisfied with the service. The trial version is only available for three days
		Current NordVPN products are as good as their counterparts in many ways. More than 2 thousand servers, 2048-bit encryption. One license covers 6 devices, different methods of non-cash payment are possible for all users	High quality mobile and desktop programs. Up to six devices. Good performance	There are ambiguities with the privacy policy. Although the provider maintains a "no logs" policy, the exact position in session logging is unclear

Step 1. The first thing you need to do to start using a VPN is to sign up and download it. If you chose NordVPN, go to their website and click Get Now.

Note! Most VPN services have three plans, and most of them have a money-back guarantee.

Step 2 Once you have signed up, you will need to download and install the app on your Mac or PC. Then launch the app to get started.

Step 3 Once the program is installed on your computer, open it and select the location that suits you. You can see a list of countries or a map.

The location of the server you are connecting to is your virtual location, meaning the Internet thinks you are at that location right now. That is why the server you choose will largely depend on what you want to use the VPN for.

If you want to connect to US Netflix you will need to select a US based server or for BBC iPlayer you will need a UK based server.

Note! Such actions violate the terms of use of these online services, that is, by connecting to them through a VPN, you violate the rules for using these sites.

Step 4 Once you have chosen the server that suits you best, connect to it. NordVPN has a big button at the top that allows you to connect to and disconnect from the server when you're done.

Most VPN services have a kill switch that ends the connection and will continue to protect your privacy when the VPN server goes down.

Step 5 Check the VPN is working. You can use the Geolocation BrowserSPY page to see how servers recognize your location.

If instead of your actual location, the system gives out another, the one that you selected in the program, then your VPN is working.

Outside the VPN

There are other services that are similar to VPNs, such as free web proxies:

1. Prox Free.
2. AU proxy.
3. Uroxy.
4. Chinagrows.
5. Hideme Proxy, etc.

A web proxy is a server that acts as an intermediary between you and the website you are connecting to.

Analogue of anonymizers - cameleo.xyz

They are free, but about 75 percent of all such web proxies are unreliable in terms of security. If you are already using them and want to know if everything is ok with them, you can check it with ProxyCheck.

Another popular privacy solution is Tor. It is software and networking that hides your identity by bouncing your traffic to different Tor servers and encrypting it. However, there is every reason to believe that Tor is not as secure as the developers claim.

Video - What is a VPN and how to use it?

Video - How to set up a VPN in Windows 7

Imagine a scene from an action movie in which a villain flees a crime scene down a highway in a sports car. He is pursued by a police helicopter. The car enters a tunnel with several exits. The pilot of the helicopter does not know from which exit the car will appear, and the villain leaves the chase.

VPN - this is the tunnel that connects many roads. No one from the outside knows where the cars entering it will end up. No one outside knows what is going on in the tunnel.

You've probably heard of VPNs more than once. On Lifehacker about this thing too. Most often, a VPN is recommended because it can be used to access geo-restricted content through the network and generally increase security when using the Internet. The truth is that accessing the Internet through a VPN can be no less dangerous than directly.

How Does a VPN Work?

Most likely, you have a Wi-Fi router at home. Devices connected to it can exchange data even without the Internet. It turns out that you have your own private network, but in order to connect to it, you need to be physically within range of the router's signal.

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a virtual private network. It works over the Internet, so you can connect to it from anywhere.

For example, the company you work for may use a virtual private network for remote employees. Using a VPN, they connect to a work network. At the same time, their computers, smartphones or tablets are virtually transferred to the office and connected to the network from the inside. To enter a virtual private network, you need to know the VPN server address, username and password.

Using a VPN is pretty easy. Typically, a company sets up a VPN server somewhere on a local computer, server, or data center, and connects to it using a VPN client on the user's device.

Now built-in VPN clients are available in all current operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux.

The VPN connection between the client and the server is usually encrypted.

So VPN is good?

Yes, if you are a business owner and want to secure corporate data and services. Letting employees into the work environment only through VPN and accounts, you will always know who and what has been and is doing.

Moreover, the VPN owner can monitor and control all the traffic that goes between the server and the user.

Do employees spend a lot of time on VKontakte? You can close access to this service. Does Gennady Andreevich spend half of his day on websites with memes? All his activity is automatically logged and will become an iron argument for dismissal.

Why VPN then?

A VPN allows you to bypass geographic and legal restrictions.

For example, you are in Russia and want to . You are sorry to learn that this service is not available from Russia. You can only use it by accessing the Internet through the VPN server of the country in which Spotify operates.

In some countries, there is Internet censorship that restricts access to certain sites. You want to go to some resource, but in Russia it is blocked. You can open the site only by accessing the Internet through the VPN server of the country in which it is not blocked, that is, from almost any country except the Russian Federation.

VPN is a useful and necessary technology that does a good job with a certain range of tasks. But the security of personal data still depends on the integrity of the VPN service provider, your common sense, attentiveness and Internet literacy.

Relatively recently, VPN technologies have become very popular among users of computer and mobile technology. Most, however, do not really think about why you need a VPN on your phone, tablet, desktop computer and laptop, or how it all works. Let's try to consider some aspects of these issues, without particularly going into technical terms and descriptions of the principles of operation.

What is a VPN in general terms?

The abbreviation VPN is derived from the English phrase, which literally means "private virtual network". Unfortunately, this term does not fully characterize the very organization of such networks, the principles of operation, and why a VPN is needed at all. Yes, of course, some conclusions can be drawn from the definition. In particular, it can be clearly understood that such a definition means a network to which a limited number of users have access.

However, this network is not simple, but secure, and in such a way that transmitted and received data passes through a kind of tunnel in encrypted form, and it is almost impossible to access them outside the network. But this is only a general concept. If you dig deeper, you can find a considerable similarity between VPNs and anonymizers or similar proxy servers, which are able to provide not only information protection, but also the anonymity of the user's stay on the Internet, of course, even hiding traces of visiting certain resources.

Understanding Tunneling Technology

It is not necessary to talk about why a VPN is needed without understanding how it all works, at least at the most primitive level. Therefore, we will briefly dwell on the principles of functioning of connections of this type. For simplicity of explanation, we will use the following example.

The transfer of data from one computer or mobile device to another is carried out exclusively through a special secure channel called a tunnel. At the output, the traffic is encrypted, and at the input, decryption can be done only if the corresponding key is available, which is known only to the transmitting and receiving side. Since access to the network is also limited, only registered users can use it.

But, speaking about why you need a VPN at home or in the office and on different devices when working on the Internet, you should especially pay attention to the fact that when using such technologies, the external IP address of the device from which you connect to a certain resource changes. What is it for? The fact is that when connecting to the World Wide Web, each device is assigned a unique external identifier (IP address), even if dynamically changed, which directly depends on the geographical location of the provider. Based on this, it is not difficult to figure out that access to certain services or sites in a certain region can simply be blocked. A VPN just allows you to bypass such restrictions.

Why do you need a VPN?

If we talk about the practical side of the need to use a VPN, we can give a few specific examples. Suppose you come to a cafe where you can get free access to Wi-Fi, and enter some social network with a username and password. Since the public Wi-Fi network itself has a very low level of protection, or it does not exist at all, it will not be difficult for any competent attacker to gain access to your data by hacking the transmission channel. Well, if it concerns only such resources. But what if you are currently trying to perform some kind of banking transaction using the same mobile application? Where is the guarantee that such information will not be stolen? Now, perhaps, it becomes clear why you need a VPN on an iPhone or Android device. The same applies to all desktop or laptop computers.

Another, albeit sad, example is Ukraine, where relatively recently one of the most ridiculous laws was adopted at the state level to block some Russian social networks (Odnoklassniki, VKontakte) and services, including Yandex search and mail services. and Mail.Ru, not to mention the ban on some online information publications. At first, this caused a real shock among the user audience, but then many quickly realized that using a VPN allows you to bypass these restrictions in no time even without special knowledge in the field of computer technology. China and North Korea are another matter. On the territory of these countries, even a VPN does not help, because such powerful firewalls are installed there that it is almost impossible to break through their protection.

Another aspect can be associated with the presence of services on the Internet that are available only for individual regions. So, for example, just listening to Internet radio, intended for broadcasting exclusively in the United States, will not work, since this service is closed for Eastern Europe. That is, after determining your region based on the external IP of the device from which the connection is attempted, you simply will not get access to the service. Changing the address by using a VPN client solves this problem easily!

in browsers?

Why you need a VPN, figured it out a little. Now let's look at the practical use of such technologies in relation to the most common Internet browsers. For all browsers today you can find a lot of plug-ins in the form of additionally installed extensions, among which there are specialized VPN clients like friGate, Browsec and the like. The Opera browser compares favorably with all other browsers, in which such a client is built-in.

To activate it for the first time, you must use the security section of the main menu, and to re-enable or disable it, use a special switch added to the panel to the left of the address bar. In this case, you can trust the automatic settings or choose your preferred region yourself.

The image above shows an example of access to the Yandex start page in Ukraine with the client turned off and on. As you can see, bypassing the lock is elementary.

General purpose programs

However, the matter may not be limited only to browsers, since access to the Internet at any time may be required by some programs installed on a computer or mobile device. The official websites of such applications can also be blocked. In particular, we are talking about updates of Kaspersky Lab antiviruses and Dr. Web. Why you need a VPN in this case is probably understandable. Without updating anti-virus databases or components of security programs, full-fledged protection will simply become impossible. But after all, updates are not installed through the browser, but directly when accessing the resource by the program itself. In such a situation, special applications help to change the external IP of the computer for all installed applets.

One of the most interesting applications is the SafeIP program, which can configure addresses both automatically and with the provision of region selection to the user himself. This equally applies to all kinds of mail clients like Mail.Ru Agent, for which blocking is bypassed by a similar method.

Why do you need a VPN server?

As for servers of this type, their purpose is more to ensure network security with limited user access and information encryption. This allows you to more secure your own wireless connection. Again, after connecting to such a server, it will not be necessary to bypass locks of different levels on individual devices. In addition, it allows you to organize a network based on connecting via the Internet from different parts of the world.

Creation and tools Windows

In principle, you can create a server at home even using Windows tools. True, the principles used are somewhat different from what third-party programs offer.

On Windows, you first need to enter the network settings (ncpa.cpl), create a new incoming connection, select a user with the maximum set of administrative rights, activate the permission to connect users over the Internet (VPN), enable the desired TCP / IP protocol and specify the users who will be allowed connection.

To connect, you will need to initially know the Internet address of the created server and login with a password.

Note: this technique only works for devices with static addresses, and in some cases (if the VPN connection is made through a router), you need to open (forward) port 1723 on the router, which directly depends on the model of the router used.

Mobile settings and apps

Finally, let's see why you need a VPN on Android. In principle, the purpose of such technologies is practically no different from conventional computers. The difference can only be in the setting. For example, you can create a server (access point) using the system itself or use third-party applications. For comfortable access to sites, you can use the mobile version of the Opera browser. But why do you need VPN Master - one of the most popular programs for mobile devices?

In a sense, it is an analogue of the SafeIP application mentioned above and allows you to bypass possible restrictions for all services without exception, including news, antivirus updates, listening to Internet radio or music in special applications like Spotify that are not designed for use in a certain region.

Today, the use of VPN technology is becoming more popular than ever. Someone with its help gets access to blocked sites, someone tries to remain anonymous, and someone increases security on the network.

It would seem that there is no need to explain this abbreviation, although not everyone can clearly explain what it is, what it is for, and what are the advantages of using a VPN. Let's try to figure it out together.

VPN what is it?

If we describe the properties of Virtual Private Network in a technical language, then we get the following - the VPN process is a secure connection to a logical network that occurs over a private or public network. It's not very clear, is it? Well, I will try to describe this technology to you in a much simpler way. In fact, this is a private virtual network that allows you to save user data, getting rid of the geolocation of the client provider, which allows you to bypass blocking sites. At the same time, traffic passes through intermediate nodes, and it is almost impossible to decrypt data passing through the VPN.

VPN is a virtual private network that allows you to organize a secure tunnel, thanks to the movement of traffic through intermediate servers.

How a VPN works

Imagine a labyrinth where there is one entrance, but there are many more exit options. Imagine further that you are being pursued by, say, the Minotaur living in this labyrinth. Here you get on one of them, quickly running out through it, and the Minotaur, at a loss, does not know how to use it and where to look for its victim, thereby losing its lunch in the depths of the labyrinth. This is how a VPN works. One entrance, but then many variations of the exit, which cannot be tracked and do not know what is happening there, in the deepest bowels of the labyrinth. By the way, the closed part of the Internet - the darknet works on the same principle.

What is a VPN for?

A VPN makes the actual IP address invisible, allowing you to surf the web anonymously. Due to this, it becomes possible to download sites that are blocked in the host country. That is, using a VPN, all the doors on the Internet are open for you and there are no places where you would be forbidden to go. And yet, no one will know about it. In addition, it often happens that certain sites block access to content for residents from other countries. For example, on some American sites you can absolutely legally watch movies, however, only for US citizens. A great way to bypass these restrictions is to use a VPN.

Now a few words about security. Let's say you're in a shopping center where you have access to free Wi-Fi. This network is not secure, which means that by connecting to it, you risk losing your data or any confidential information, for example, about your additional income. It's just that an attacker will easily intercept your traffic in an unsecured network. Therefore, it is better to use VPN services in such places. Thanks to data encryption, it becomes almost impossible to intercept them, but even if this succeeds, the attacker will not be able to extract anything valuable from it.

In addition, VPN services have long been adopted by large and not so large companies. They use technology to remotely access the company's server for employees. This approach allows you to save a lot of money, plus increase the security of data transfer.

What is a VPN and how this technology works, everyone can find out. This does not require special knowledge and skills. First you need to decide on the service and download a small program that will take care of your traffic on its own. For an overview of the best VPN services, I suggest starting with the free options.

Tunnel Bear

Let's start with the Tunnel Bear. OS X, iOS, Windows, Android supported. Quite an interesting interface, where you are constantly accompanied by bears. They are there everywhere. Pretty acceptable conditions are provided in the free package. The free VPN in this utility is the following: 128-bit AES encryption and 500 megabytes of traffic. By following the developer's Twitter account and then asking for it, you can get an extra gigabyte of data for a month.

The program is easy to set up, we can say that the settings have already been made for you. First you need to download "Bears" and register an account. To do this, you will need to enter a name, email and come up with a password. After that, go to your mailbox and follow the link received from the "Bear". Well, then the matter is small, install the certificate and start using it. It is very easy to use the service on a computer: install the client, log in, and then select the activation point (USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, Australia or France) and enable tunneling. In general, this is the most creative approach to the execution of a technical program. There are bears everywhere and their growling. In a word - superinterface.

Windscribe

As with TunnelBear, support for all devices, mobile and desktop. A limited amount of traffic is provided for free. To use from a computer, you will need to download a VPN extension for your browser (for Chrome, Firefox and Opera). On Android and iOS systems, there are special applications that are downloaded from the store. You can choose the IP location yourself, or you can automatically select the most suitable one.

With the help of the Double Hop system, traffic passes through at least two servers before you receive it on your device. The system finds cookies and formats information from them that is sent to advertising companies or the site owner. There is also the possibility of replacing the real information sent by your browser with a fake one. And these are free tools. The free package includes country restrictions and traffic up to 10 gigabytes per month.

Hotspot Shield

This service is constantly updated, which every time makes it very convenient to use. In each new version, the functionality is expanded. This program is used for secure Wi-Fi connection. Also available on multiple platforms. From the main plus in comparison with other free programs, one can single out the fact that the traffic is unlimited. Well, the disadvantage is that you will have to endure for unlimited traffic by watching ads. Also on the official resource, the developer claims that he does not store or transfer data to anyone.

OperaVPN

This utility is built into the Opera browser and is available on personal computers, and has also been added to Android. By the way, about the last system - there are available functions for changing geodata, you can block ad trackers. Available countries include Canada, USA, Holland, Singapore and Germany. The list of countries in the future will, of course, increase.

I would also like to note that the service functions a little faster than its colleagues in the shop. Another plus is that everything is also free here and there are no traffic restrictions. As for the browser itself on the computer, it is enough to activate the checkbox provided for enabling / disabling. But there is one drawback, quite significant. This innovation in the browser is not a full-fledged VPN service. It follows from this that sites and services can easily find out your real IP address.

Hideme

Perhaps the best among all, despite its conditional free service. For a new user, one day of free testing is offered. Next, you already need to deposit money into the piggy bank of this developer, but, according to many experts, it's worth it. Let's take a look at their arguments. Firstly, the subscription fee for an annual subscription will cost you only 126 rubles per month of use, while for the rest it varies in cost from 5 to 10 dollars.

Secondly, there are no traffic restrictions. Thirdly, they have 74 servers in 35 countries around the world. While other similar programs mainly use the United States and a small part of Europe. There is no registration, which is also important. This allows you to completely preserve your anonymity, using anonymous bank cards or EPS to pay for the services of the service. This service has existed for more than eight years, and this also says a lot. Well, the funniest thing here is that if any of the government agencies need to pull out your data, then they will have to go to the court of the state of Belize, which is located in the Caribbean. Although there have been no such precedents for the entire existence of the service.

VPN for Yandex browser

Another browser that uses VPN is Yandex. Only here, unlike Opera, you will have to download the extension. There are many similar extensions, I suggest considering a couple of the most popular ones. Let's start with the ZenMate plugin. Equipped with modern design and easy to use. Due to the proxy server, it connects and the expanses of the Internet can be “wooled” without losing speed. The next extension is Hola Better Internet. It is considered effective due to the fact that for security it makes it possible to bypass IP blocking. It is also equipped with a clear interface that allows a beginner to get used to it without any difficulties.

Those who do not have enough functionality of the Tor browser and free VPN services can turn their attention to paid programs. They differ from free counterparts in a wider range of functions, more stable operation, and they have a much wider choice of servers. Yes, they do better in terms of security. Let's briefly go through the best, in my opinion, services.

speedify

Very good and interesting service. Provides a stable and fast connection to the Internet by combining several types of network connections. In practice, it looks like this: you have a laptop in which you simultaneously connected a modem and an Internet cable, and combined them using Speedify. So the speed has increased, and you don’t have to worry about a stable connection. It also encrypts transmitted and received data. The interface is quite simple and clear, which greatly simplifies the use.

Private Tunnel

This development belongs to the OpenVPN company, which is known for its products in the data protection market. In this service you will be offered eight servers located in six countries. Of the minuses, it is worth noting that the tariffs have traffic restrictions, unlike other paid programs. Well, the plus is that you can bind an unlimited number of devices. Anonymizer is supported on all platforms.

NordVPN

Provides servers in 20 countries of the world, there are even in Russia. The developer also tried to equip the service with a simple interface. It is worth noting that on their official website it is written that you should connect to the server closest to you so as not to lose data speed. To protect information, a secure socket layer (SSL) is used, using 2048-bit encryption. The double encryption function is used. This means that before you send information to the Internet, it is encrypted by two different nodes.

ExpressVPN

Against the background of its colleagues, it stands out with a loud statement that it is the fastest VPN connection among all. And according to the reviews of satisfied users, it seems that it is. The interface cannot be called simple, it already requires a professional hand to set it up. It does not store DNS query data or traffic-related data. In terms of cost, as well as in speed, it differs from analogues. It will cost you a little more than the rest. It is also worth noting that the technical support service is developed. It operates around the clock, there is even an online chat for communication.

How to set up a VPN connection

VPN settings differ depending on your operating system. There is a lot of material on the network on this topic, so it will not be difficult for you to find the necessary instructions. These settings relate to setting up corporate networks when you need to access a remote company server. When using the third-party services listed in this article, you will not have to make any additional settings. All the necessary settings will be performed by the program itself, you just have to turn it on.

Summing up the conversation about VPN, one cannot fail to say that with all the positive aspects, VPN also has its drawbacks. This is especially true for free services. The fact is that their development and maintenance requires funds, and if the owner provides it to the user for free, then he earns on something else. Perhaps on your personal data, including in which investment projects your funds are invested. Remember the proverb about free cheese and that the miser pays twice.