What Does a VPN Hide? 10 things you Didn’t Know!

A VPN will mask your IP address thus hiding it and will encrypt your online activity for maximum privacy and security.

What Does a VPN Hide?

It’s no secret that the internet is unsafe. Cybercriminals lurk around every corner, waiting to steal your passwords or infect your device with malware. With the number of cyberattacks on the rise, many people are looking for ways to protect themselves online.

A VPN (virtual private network) is an excellent solution for protecting yourself in this digital age. But what does a VPN actually do? What does VPN Hide? And why should you use it at all? We’ll explore these questions and more in this blog post.

 

What is a VPN?

A VPN is a virtual private network that allows you to connect to the internet via another country. By using a VPN, you are able to protect your identity and keep your browsing history safe from prying eyes.

A VPN, or “virtual private network”, is a service that encrypts all data that passes through it. This means that when you connect to the internet through a VPN, all data coming in and out of your device is encrypted so people can’t see what sites you’ve visited or what you’ve been downloading.

A VPN will also hide your IP address by giving you one of their own, so everyone else connected to the internet sees where they are connecting from instead of where you are really at. Along with encryption, there are many other benefits of using a VPN.

In order for someone to identify who is behind an IP address, they would have to be able to see the traffic on the network or have access to some kind of log or list which would track the user’s detail.

So, in short- A virtual private network creates a secure connection between your device and a server. It allows you to browse the internet without being tracked by your ISP or third-parties.

What does a VPN hide?

• Masks your IP address
• Hides your Location
• Encrypts your data thus protecting it.
• Hides your online activity
• A good VPN will hide itself

Also read BEST COUNTRIES FOR VPN SERVERS IN 2022 |TOP 3|

Some of the important FAQs :

Does VPN hide illegal activity?

No, if you are indulging in illegal activities, then using a VPN will not hide that. The Federal law enforcement agencies have many tools at heir disposal to track you down.

Does a VPN hide you from your router?

 VPNs hide your browsing activity from the search engine, your ISP, and also from your router, by encrypting your internet traffic. It basically masks your IP address, thus making it very difficult to track and identify you.

All encryption takes place before the data leaves your device, and only the VPN server has the decryption key.

Does a VPN hide you from Google?

While using a VPN, Google see the VPN IP address – your IP address given to you by your ISP is hidden from sight. Any search engine, including Google, cannot identify you.

Does a VPN hide your phone location?

Since a VPN hides your IP address by replacing it with it’s own, your location -which is linked to your IP address- also gets hidden. It effectively creates a separate tunnel for your data so it doesn’t mix with the regular traffic which is more susceptible to hacking and can be easily tracked.

Can a WiFi provider see my history if I use VPN?

Not if u r using a VPN

If you are using a VPN, you can anonymously browse the Internet, even if you’re connected to someone else’s WiFi.

Does a VPN Hide the Fact You’re Using a VPN?

Not really.

There are numerous ways ISPs and network admins can identify if you’re using a VPN. There are many technologies that enable ISPs and admins to spot the protocol because it has a unique signature.

Does a VPN Hide You on Company/School Networks?

A common usage of VPNs is to bypass firewalls at work and school. Since the service encrypts your traffic, it prevents network admins from seeing you’re unblocking restricted sites.

However, as mentioned earlier, the admins might be able to tell you’re using a VPN. They’ll be able to see that you’re running an encrypted connection since you’re connecting to an IP address with no DNS resolution,

So, in effect, using a VPN will hide what you do online on company/school networks. But it can’t really hide the fact that you’re using a VPN from the admins.

Does a VPN Hide You from Malware?

No, VPNs are meant to encrypt data and mask user IP address. They can’t detect nor prevent malware infections. Only antivirus programs can do that since they specialize in that.

So think again before downloading any files from shady sites just because you’re using a VPN!

If your VPN employs firewall, thus restricting your access to unsafe websites, then you can be prevented from malware attacks.

Since it also encrypts your traffic, Hackers won’t know what site you’re supposed to land on, so they can’t efficiently use fake sites infected with malware.

But, really, it’s much more safer and efficient if you use an antivirus software (like Malwarebytes).

Does a VPN Hide You from Your Government?

Not really, but it can make it harder for surveillance agencies to keep tabs on your online traffic.

You just need to use no-log VPNs (like CactusVPN). With no logs, there is no user data to hand over to the authorities.

Read in depth What Is VPN and Why Do You Need It?

Why you should use a VPN

VPNs were originally developed for the military and other government agencies to keep their communications safe. They’re still very much in use today by those same organizations.

However, as more people utilize the internet, VPNs have become a vital tool for protecting personal data from hackers.

In this day and age, it’s important to protect your information from potential hackers. In fact, the FBI reported that there were around 1 million victims of cybercrime last year alone.

With so many people at risk of becoming victims of cybercrime, VPN services are a great option to protect yourself online.

A VPN encrypts all your data before it leaves your device and sends it through a secure tunnel to a remote server. Then, once it’s received at the remote server, that data becomes decrypted for you to use on the other end.

This means that no one can intercept or read any of your sensitive data as it travels over public networks.

Why not to use a VPN

If you’re considering using a VPN to protect yourself online, it’s not uncommon for people to wonder if they really need it. If you use two-factor authentication and other methods to secure your accounts, do you really need the extra protection that a VPN provides?

The answer is that VPNs are excellent for additional security. The overall goal of a VPN service is to keep your data private and secure.

This way, even if your information does end up in the wrong hands, they won’t be able to access it without the correct credentials.

Some people think that by using two-factor authentication and other security measures, like long passwords with symbols and numbers (instead of just letters), they’re sufficiently protected online.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Two-factor authentication can be bypassed when an individual has physical access to your phone or another device.

And with hackers getting more sophisticated every year, it’s best to err on the side of caution when internet safety is concerned.

This is where a VPN comes in handy: It encrypts all of your data so that only the intended recipient can open and read it—even if their computer has been hacked!

Reasons why you might need a VPN

A VPN is a versatile tool, and there are many reasons why someone might need one. VPNs can be used to:

– Browse the internet without anyone knowing who you are (this includes your ISP and any hackers).

– Access regionally blocked sites when traveling abroad.

– View Netflix when living outside the United States.

– Protect and encrypt your data when connected to public Wi-Fi networks such as at Starbucks etc.

But let’s focus on the most popular reason for using a VPN: protection from cybercriminals online. If you use a VPN, all of your data will be encrypted and secured with strong protocols in order to keep it safe from hackers.

When you use unsecured public WiFi, your data can easily be intercepted by cybercriminals lurking nearby in coffee shops or libraries. And if you use unsecured public WiFi at work or in school, your data can also be intercepted by other people on that network.

A VPN encrypts all of your data before it leaves your device, making it impossible for anyone else to see what you’re doing online—even if they’re on the same network as you.

Conclusion

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a powerful tool that can be used to protect your online privacy, security and location. A VPN may seem complicated at first, but it’s actually very easy to use!

Make sure you understand the benefits and drawbacks of using a VPN before you make a decision. If you decide you need a VPN, make sure you know what to look for in a service provider to make sure you find the best one for your needs.