How do VPNs Work?
Ever used a VPN before? If yes, what did you use it for?
This article will provide you with insights into the world of encryption using VPNs.
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. But before we go any further, let’s take a pause and understand how the internet works.
A network is the interconnection of various computing devices in a specified area to share information and resources among each other. There are various types of network models, such as Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network, etc., and they are all designed to enable communications between devices.
The internet is a global network that joins all computing devices in the world and enables each device to share resources with others. Whenever you query a website for information, the website communicates with the server, which can be several kilometres away and networking enables this communication to be possible.
Get Akefe Samuel’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Inasmuch as networking has allowed communication to occur between devices, information is at risk of being stolen by hackers, and this has given rise to the initiative of a VPN.
Imagine a scenario where you want to deliver an unsealed letter to your family via a postman. The postman will be able to view the letter, because it is not sealed. But when you take a step further and place the letter in an envelope, it increases the level of security and thus prevents the postman from reading it.
A VPN works similarly, and it does this through a method called encryption, which is the process of transforming readable data into unreadable data using algorithms and keys. This information is then sent over a tunnel to the desired destination, after which it is decrypted by the receiving device. The original data is called a “plaintext” and the encrypted data is called a “ciphertext”.
VPNs provide a secure pathway for your data to be sent, without interceptions from intruders, and it is often used in Wide Area Networks (WAN).
A message from our Founder
Hey, Sunil here. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading until the end and for being a part of this community.
Did you know that our team run these publications as a volunteer effort to over 200k supporters? We do not get paid by Medium!
If you want to show some love, please take a moment to follow me on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram. And before you go, don’t forget to clap and follow the writer️!
