For all our readers who want to find out interesting details about VPN straight from the source, we decided to interview Igor Zagradanin. An expert in the technology and software industries, he focuses on VPN and proxy technologies as one of his main fields of expertise.
Could you tell us something about yourself?
Having graduated in English, writing was the next logical step for me. However, writing for the internet is not something you could learn overnight as it requires mastering various subtleties and details.
When I got to learn more about the internet itself, I realized how limited it was in terms of information exchange and censored content. That was the moment I knew I wanted to shed light on this issue and started researching and writing about the best ways to circumvent internet censorship.
So basically, my mission is to write on the web – about the web and how we can make it better. I was fortunate to become a part of the GeoSurf project, which supports free internet and allows me to
What is VPN and why do people use it?
As most people who use VPNs already know, VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It is one of the most effective ways for people to share data across the web but with the benefit of using a private network.
The first VPNs were used by international corporations for communication and sharing files between remote locations. But as time went by, regular users started to discover the benefits of VPNs and incorporated them into their daily web browsing activities.
Nowadays, according to statistics, most people use virtual private networks to access restricted entertainment content and social media networks.
For example, I remember spending some time in China with my friend. She wanted to use her Instagram account but couldn’t because most social media are blocked there. Long story short, I helped her connect to her account through a VPN and post some amazing pics.
What is the difference between a VPN and a proxy server?
I could see that one coming. Actually, this is a question I’ve been getting a lot lately.
Let’s start by listing the similarities between these two. Both VPNs and proxies are used to enhance online privacy since they basically allow you to access the internet anonymously by hiding your IP address.
However, a proxy server is more oriented toward basic online activities such as accessing geo-restricted content or anonymous browsing. When you connect to a proxy, you basically just connect to a server located in another place that makes you appear as if browsing from that place.
Still, proxy servers have come a long way since their inception and nowadays they are being used for business purposes as well. For instance, quite a few companies use them to monitor internet ad placement, scrape the web, or complete other important tasks.
On the other hand, while a VPN offers the same benefits as a proxy, its main advantage is the encryption it uses to protect users’ data. So, you get that extra benefit which makes more people opt for a VPN.
There’s been a lot of hype around VPNs lately and for a good reason. What are the main benefits of using a virtual private network?
Exactly. Since 2013, almost a quarter of all global internet users have accessed the internet through a VPN each month. Can you imagine how many people that is?
But more importantly, this says a lot about the benefits of using a VPN over a regular internet connection provided by your internet service provider.
First and foremost, a VPN connection enhances security since the data is encrypted and travels through a secure tunnel. There is also the fact that it allows people to browse the web anonymously.
Next, virtual private networks allow companies and people to share files and access information remotely, which greatly improves the productivity within a company.
Finally, VPNs are widely used to boost network performance and bandwidth as well as to unblock websites and bypass internet filters.
What are the different VPN protocols and which one is the best?
There are quite a few VPN protocols such as PPTP, SSTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN.
In general, most experts recommend OpenVPN as the most secure and flexible solution. It is less vulnerable to malicious attacks, more difficult to block, and it can bypass almost any type of firewall.
However, it is not easy to set up as the process can be rather technical.
What are the main benefits of a mobile VPN?
What we know as a traditional VPN connection fixes the user’s endpoint to a single IP address, so every time the user changes their Wi-Fi hotspot, the VPN tunnel breaks and the connection needs to start from scratch.
As our need to access information online while on the go is only increasing with time, mobile VPNs are a true game-changer. In this type of connection, the tunnel is not tied to a physical IP address but to a virtual (or logical) IP that sticks to the mobile device.
That way, the user can wander around the city while maintaining a stable connection.
What are some key considerations for those who want to use a VPN solution?
Well, the first thing you need to figure out is why exactly you want to use a VPN. If it is for personal use, most VPN services will do the job, though you shouldn’t compromise your own online security under any circumstance.
And that leads us to the fact that you should never use free VPN services. The reason for this is very simple – would you offer your professional service for free? Probably not.
Free VPNs are highly insecure and prone to hacking attempts. Also, they can keep track of your activities and use your sensitive data to steal your identity, which is a huge issue nowadays.
