How does a VPN work?
Traditional internet connection (without VPN)
When you visit a website, your PC, tablet, or phone establishes a connection with the servers on which the respective website is saved. Once the connection to the server has been established and the website contents have been downloaded, the third-party server also gets information about your IP address.
The IP address is a unique number that can be used to determine your place of residence and other private data. Note: The connection to the server is not always encrypted. This makes it possible for intelligence agencies, internet providers, or hackers to spy on your online activities.
Conclusion: Without a VPN, your PC, phone, or tablet establishes a direct connection to the server. Your IP address is transmitted to the server, and you are therefore not anonymous.
Internet connection using a VPN
If you use a VPN to connect to the internet, there is no direct connection to the web server. Your PC, tablet, or phone first connects to a VPN server, which then redirects all data to the website server. The website operator therefore only sees the IP address of the VPN server. The identity of the VPN user remains hidden.
In addition to the anonymization, your internet connection is also encrypted. Intelligence agencies, internet service providers, and hackers therefore have no chance of spying on you. Providers such as our No.1 VPN recommendation use military encryption technologies that cannot be decrypted as per the current state of the art.
Conclusion: A VPN server anonymizes and encrypts the connection between your phone, PC, or tablet and the server.
What are the advantages of a VPN?
The biggest advantage of VPNs lies in the fact that you can use them to surf the internet anonymously and securely. Through the anonymization, VPNs protect you from receiving a written warning.
Using a VPN is particularly advisable for users of file sharing and torrenting platforms. Just like the great Redtube scandal showed, one should always use a VPN when accessing erotic websites since this can quickly lead to a written warning, which can be very expensive.
VPNs also offer additional benefits for streamers. For instance, a VPN makes it very easy for you to access the desired content e.g., if you are on holiday and would like to access German content.
How do I use a VPN?
Using a VPN is relatively easy, even for non-professionals. You first need to select a VPN provider (overview of the best providers). Next, download and install the VPN software on your PC, tablet, or phone.
The installation only takes a few clicks. After the installation, open the program and click on “Activate VPN”. The VPN then connects to the VPN server and you can surf securely and anonymously.
How do I find the best VPN?
The VPN market is growing fast and so is the number of options. This makes it difficult to find the right VPN provider. Established all-round providers, such as our No. 1, are recommended for both beginners and advanced users. The software can be used on up to 7 devices simultaneously, whether it’s a PC/Mac, a tablet, a smartphone, or a game console.
Our test winner is compatible with almost all streaming providers. The data transfer is encrypted to the highest security standards.
