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VPN: Get to know it

In this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know about VPNs and what you can do with them.

NOTE: This article is about VPNs for protecting yourself on the Internet in general, not VPNs for companies that want to remotely access their own network.

You have no privacy online

Unfortunately, this is true.

Based on your computer or phone's IP address, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is able to see your activities online, what websites you visit, what you search for on Google and more. They can even share it with third parties, governments or advertising agencies. In addition, your personal information is attractive prey for hackers.

Maybe you take for granted that all your activity on the internet can be tracked. But if you don't, a VPN service is worth considering.

Introduction

You may already know what VPN is. Maybe you already use it, but want to know if you're doing it right. Or maybe you know nothing about VPN but have heard it's something you should use. In any case, you should consider very carefully whether VPN is also for you.

These days, and inevitably in the future, with the rise of globalisation and the dilution of privacy lines, you'll benefit greatly from a VPN connection. In this post, we'll go in-depth about what VPN is, why you should consider using it and what options it offers.

Interested in how your data is protected at Onlime? Read our security page.

What is VPN?

Below you have the clear, graphical explanation of the question: what is VPN?

In short, the illustration explains that with a VPN, you can prevent unauthorised people, whether automated surveillance tools, companies or hackers, from intercepting what you do on the internet.

This is possible because you connect to the Internet through an encrypted server that is virtually impenetrable to outsiders.

The longer explanation..
VPN is a network of computers connected in one way or another - usually over the Internet. Businesses use VPN connections to remotely control data centers and computers from locations other than the device's physical location. Private and individual users can use a VPN connection to gain some network benefits from other computers they are connected to - for example, encrypting and protecting information sent and received by your computer while connected to the Internet.

VPN protects your internet connection - It's a bit like locking your front door.

How it works

When you sit in front of your computer and connect to the internet, you usually do so through your broadband or telecom provider.

As soon as you are connected to the Internet, websites, other computers and anyone your computer is in contact with will know that you are connecting through a Danish provider. Using your IP (a unique number code that identifies you on the web), you can be defined as a person who is based in Denmark and that your provider is, for example, TDC.

A VPN connection allows you to connect to the Internet through one or more other computers. And therefore it is that computer(s) that defines where it looks like you are accessing the internet from. The way most VPN services work is that you install a small program on your computer where you can choose which country you want to connect to the Internet through.

For example, you can choose to connect to the Internet through a computer (a server) located in the Netherlands. The program will connect your computer to the one in the Netherlands before you can access the Internet.

This way you can be anonymous and the outside world will not know that you are in Denmark and that your provider is, for example, TDC.

VPN can hide the fact that you use TDC as your ISP, for example

The most important thing to know is that the connection via VPN is encrypted

A VPN connection is encrypted. When the connection is encrypted, it means that no one else can intercept what you are doing online, what websites you are accessing or what you are generally doing online.

If you don't use a VPN connection when you're on open or public Wifi, or on websites without encryption, your identity and whereabouts are completely visible.

If you use Google, Facebook, search on Youtube, watch the DR news or read articles on Politiken, it is even easier to intercept your movements, analyse them and use them, for example, to market products to you. And it's not just companies that know and monitor you, it's also the authorities - both Danish and foreign. You can avoid this by using a VPN to hide your movements on the internet - together this will give you a greater sense of not being constantly monitored. It's a protection of your privacy that in the globalised world is by no means respected.

VPN = The best way to protect yourself on the Internet. It prevents unwelcome intrusions into your computer and makes it virtually impossible to monitor your activity when browsing the web etc.

Why is VPN a good complement to backup?

It's all about feeling safe when using your computer and mobile phones. There are enough worries and one of the worst things that can happen when using electronics is that it breaks and you lose data that you have put many hours into.

You only realise how much you value the documents, photos and files you have on your computer when you realise they are lost. Then a chill runs down your spine and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Many people have done this, and it's only afterwards that they realise how valuable a good backup is.

Backup is about feeling safe when using your computer or mobile phone and knowing that nothing will happen to the content if something happens to the electronics.

VPN is also about security and having a sense of safety. About not feeling watched and ensuring your privacy when using the endless possibilities of the internet. This is why the two types of tools complement each other very well, so that in the long run you can secure yourself, your movements and your data in the best possible way. A lot of hours are spent using computers and nobody wants those hours, whether it is doing a job or searching for information on the web, to be wasted or exposed to inappropriate use by third parties.

If you have your backup with Onlime and also a good VPN, you're covered a long way.

Why you should use a VPN connection and what are the options?

VPN is not only a way to upgrade your entire Internet security, it's also a tool that can be used by any computer user. What you choose to use your VPN connection for is another matter entirely, as it can be used for many different things.

Usually, VPN users fall into one of the following categories:

This user has a responsibility to meet in terms of creative content and needs to be able to access their files on the go, both when working from home but also when they are out in the world.

While having access to their files, it is also important for this user to be able to use the Internet, for example in an Internet café with an open WiFi network, without fearing that they will be hacked or that their movements and work will be intercepted by unauthorised persons. This is one of the risks of using an open network.

They will always be able to turn on their VPN connection and therefore work in a totally secure environment, so their work is safe always and from everyone.

Whether they download material legally or illegally, they have no interest whatsoever in anyone, individuals, companies or governments, being able to intercept what they download or that a torrent program may be installed on their computer. VPN is the only way to make sure that nobody knows that you are now using a torrent client, whether it is for legal or illegal material that is being downloaded. And in any case, it's probably better to feel safe than to worry about being pulled over for something you're not in control of.

There is a lot of video material from all over the world on the Internet, both in terms of TV broadcasts, films and series streaming. However, many websites and services, such as Netflix, are region-locked, which means that you have to be located in, say, the US to view content that is exclusive to people in the US.

It may also be that you want to watch live football from India, but that the broadcast is only available on networks that require you to be located in India. With a VPN connection, you can connect through a US server, for example, and appear to be located in the US. In this way, you can access content that is exclusive to certain regions or countries around the world.

The internet is used widely for different things by different people, so of course it's hard to categorise people, so being a combination of the above shouldn't surprise anyone.

If nothing else, a VPN connection can be valuable, whether it's to protect yourself personally or to protect the information and work you do on your computer and on the Internet.

The most important thing to note is that you're well served by a VPN connection either way.

Free or paid service? Which is better?

As with everything else, you get what you pay for. This is also true when choosing a VPN service. There are plenty of free services out there, each promising you gold and green forests. But many of them are practically useless for various reasons.

When using VPN, it's natural that your internet speed will slow down by a percentage, as it will always take time to first connect to a server and through that to the internet.

If you use a free service, you can be sure that your speed will be slower, as services usually limit how fast you can connect to their servers as long as you use their free service.

Maybe you don't need the super-fast internet speed to search safely on Google or similar. But as soon as you need to take online backup, stream HD movies or similar, you can't be served with a slow internet connection. And if you don't have a fibre connection, which by default can give you light-speed speeds, but get internet over copper wires, then you're in trouble.

Therefore, paying for VPN is always recommended as it provides significantly better service. This usually includes speed, support and the assurance that your information won't be sold to third parties - if you use a free VPN service, they must be making money from something. Right?

Comparison of VPN services

There are many VPN services to choose from.

That's why it's important to have a good comparison to start from when looking for the best service for your needs.

A good place to start is this comparison from Bredbånd.dk.

See comparison

What is a good VPN?

The best VPN services offer a solid overall solution that includes good features, an easy user experience, multiple server locations (i.e. places where you can connect to the internet through such as the Netherlands, Germany, the US, etc.), high security protocols, good speeds and of course an affordable price.

Each service has its point of differentiation - some are minded about people wanting to abolish national borders when streaming video and TV shows, while others settle on higher security etc. At Onlime, we're very concerned about two things in particular: security and speed. More on our recommendation below.

When looking into a VPN server, pay particular attention to the following:

When you dive into the details of VPN services, you'll see terms like SSL/TLS, OpenVPN, PPTP, IPSec, L2TP and other VPN types. This is the way in which the information sent between your computer, the server and the internet is encrypted. That is, how it is secured against others compromising your information.

The most important thing to know in this context is that SSL is the most widely used way of encrypting data and generally the most secure. All protocols are secure and for the general user it is less relevant which protocol you use. If you are a business, then you will have some advantages of some protocols over others. However, all protocols are inherently secure and can be used by the general user. Most people use SSL anyway.

The number of servers that a VPN service offers is about how many different locations around the world that you can connect to the internet through. Most major VPN services have servers located evenly around the world. If you have a specific country that you want to access, this is where you need to pay attention.

Another very important thing to be aware of is the legislation in each country. There are several examples of US services that have freely given information about their users' behaviour to government and third parties. It is the law of the country where the server is located that applies when we talk about privacy policy. You should take this into consideration. We recommend Norway, for example, as they have one of the strictest laws in the world in this area.

When using a VPN service, the first thing to do is to trust that the service will not misuse the information that comes out of your journey through their service in any way. Your communications with the outside world may be secured from being accessed by others from the outside, but the individual VPN service can still log your activity - if they so wish.

Danish VPN services are required to log their users' behaviour through their service due to the so-called Logging Directive, which requires VPN providers to log data about users:

§ Providers of electronic communications networks or services to end-users shall record and store information on telecommunications traffic generated or processed in the provider's network, so that this information may be used for the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences.

The number of servers that a VPN service offers is about how many different locations around the world that you can connect to the internet through. Most major VPN services have servers located evenly around the world. If you have a specific country that you want to access, this is where you need to pay attention.

Another very important thing to be aware of is the legislation in each country. There are several examples of US services that have freely given information about their users' behaviour to government and third parties. It is the law of the country where the server is located that applies when we talk about privacy policy. You should take this into consideration. We recommend Norway, for example, as they have one of the strictest laws in the world in this area.

If that makes you feel insecure about using a VPN service, that's understandable. In that case, it's important that you find a service that provides a guarantee that they won't log your activity.

Some VPN services offer an extra feature that automatically ensures you won't download a virus or Trojan horse on the fly. It's a useful feature that you should check if it's included in the service you're currently looking at. It may not be essential for you because you know what you should and shouldn't click on, but it's always nice to have someone to protect you in case something does happen.

You might think that VPN is only for computers, but it's not. Many VPN services also offer apps for mobiles and tablets, so you're safe from intruders when browsing the web through the small screen.

Prices vary wildly, and it can be hard to keep track of what's the right buy. Getting the VPN is the first priority, and then it's a matter of what features you want, whether you trust the service, and all the other things mentioned throughout this article.

Some services are free, but we strongly recommend that you pay for the VPN as you have a much higher guarantee that you won't be taken advantage of as a free customer. Of course, you still need to be aware of the paid services' terms, whether they log your activity, etc. Most paid services you can try for free to see if it's for you.

A good VPN service is one that has the features you're looking for and at an affordable price. There are plenty of bad VPN services that can confuse you, so it's important to read some trustworthy reviews of each service.

We hope you've learned more about what VPN is and why you should use it. If you have any questions, you are always more than welcome to contact us.

This page is designed to inform about VPN as a complement to backup. Read more about Backup.