What is a VPN?

VPN stands for “virtual private network” – a service that protects your internet connection and privacy online. It creates an encrypted tunnel for your data, protects your online identity by hiding your IP address, and allows you to use public Wi-Fi hotspots safely.

Why do you need a VPN?

No one likes to be watched and tracked – even if they have nothing to hide. That’s why you need to step up your privacy game. Here are a few more reasons why you need a VPN:

You use public Wi-Fi regularly

By definition, VPN is your best friend when using public Wi-Fi. Hackers have many methods to steal your data on public hotspots, but using a VPN means that you can stop worrying about that. Therefore, people who want to browse in full privacy should use a VPN to secure their connection.

You need to mask your location

People working in countries with limited freedom of speech rely on private internet connection for their work. Sometimes, their lives might depend on it. Someone who lives under an authoritarian regime should use a VPN to hide their IP address and ensure extra security for their sensitive messages.

You want to access blocked content

One of the most popular things a VPN is used for is content access. If using streaming services and social networks while abroad is important to you, a VPN can help. It changes your IP address and redirects your connection to the internet through a remote server.

You want to avoid tracking and surveillance

Government agencies track and collect your browsing activity, messages, social posts, and other private data. A VPN protects you from that by encrypting your traffic and hiding your IP address. Use it at home, at work, and on the go to enjoy non-stop protection.

You’re an avid gamer

People who like gaming online have to deal with DDoS attacks, bandwidth throttling, and content restrictions. Luckily, you can forget about all of these problems with NordVPN. If you’re serious about gaming and want to enjoy a stable and safe connection, you should use a VPN.

You want to encrypt your data

Using a VPN is a good idea even when browsing from your home. VPN encryption is important when you want to protect your internet traffic and minimize your online footprint. This way, your internet service provider won’t be able to sell your entire browsing history to the highest bidder.

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How does a VPN work?

When you download VPN software to your device, it does most of the work for you — you only need to log in and connect.

However, it's useful to know how a VPN works to understand the service better. Here’s what’s going on behind the scenes:

1. When you connect to a virtual private network service, it authenticates your client with a VPN server.
2. The server then applies an encryption protocol to all data you send and receive.
3. The VPN service creates an encrypted “tunnel” over the internet. That secures the data traveling between you and your destination.
4. To ensure each data packet stays secure, a VPN wraps it in an outer packet, which is then encrypted through encapsulation. That is the core element of the VPN tunnel, keeping the data safe during transfer.
5. When the data arrives at the server, the outer packet is removed through a decryption process.

While the technology behind a secure and private VPN is complicated, using it doesn’t have to be. Read on to learn how to set up a VPN on your PC, Android phone, or Apple device.

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Setting up a VPN connection

While more and more internet users join the VPN protection trend, many people still believe that using a VPN service is somewhat close to rocket science. While some digital security tools can be confusing, top VPN service providers design their apps to be easy to use.

This means that with NordVPN, you can start a VPN connection with just one click. Once you set up your NordVPN account and download an app for your device, all you have to do is:

That’s it – you can now enjoy a fully encrypted VPN connection! To have more control over your VPN experience, you can explore the servers’ list and the Settings section.

It doesn’t matter if you use a Mac, an Android tablet, or a Windows laptop. We strongly believe that people shouldn’t struggle to protect their home network and mobile devices. However, if you prefer to configure your VPN manually, you can. We have multiple manual set-up tutorials in our Help Center.

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