What does a VPN mean? What does it do, and how does it work? What are the benefits of VPN? Here are the answers to all of those questions and more.
A VPN, or "virtual private network," is a service designed to protect your internet connection and online privacy. It creates an encrypted tunnel for your data, effectively preventing it from being intercepted or stolen. Additionally, a VPN hides your IP address, safeguarding your real identity and location from being tracked or identified by others. This allows you to safely browse the internet on public Wi-Fi hotspots, avoiding potential security threats and privacy breaches. In summary, a VPN not only enhances your online security but also ensures that your activities remain private.
A VPN works by creating a secure, encrypted connection between your device and a remote server. This allows your data to be transmitted privately without passing through your internet service provider. A VPN hides your real IP address and encrypts your internet connection, making your browsing more secure and private. This way, your online activities become safer and more confidential.
The primary purpose of a VPN is to encrypt your network connection. Combined with IP address masking, this enables a variety of everyday VPN use cases, including:
Cybercriminals can snoop on your private information, especially on public Wi-Fi. Whenever you travel, work remotely, or connect to an unknown network, use a VPN to protect yourself.
Thinking about sending a photo to a friend or a sensitive document to a colleague? Use a VPN to encrypt your internet connection for secure file sharing. A VPN can also help you enjoy faster speeds if you encounter ISP throttling.
ISPs, government agencies, and other snoopers can track and collect your sensitive data. Using a VPN can help you keep your data private and visible only to you. A VPN is also crucial for overcoming censorship and browsing the internet freely.
Looking for an easy way to stream without slowing down? A VPN is the easiest way to stop content-based restrictions. Simply connect to your VPN and stream your favorite content. It encrypts your streaming sessions and prevents your ISP from imposing speed limits.
DDoS attacks can compromise your system security and disrupt your online gaming experience through session lags and disconnections. Using a VPN to play games online can prevent DDoS attacks by masking your IP address.
While traveling, you can still enjoy your favorite services and content without interruption. Simply use a VPN to securely access your favorite services, such as streaming and bank accounts, by changing your virtual location.
VPNs aren't the only digital tools people use to increase their online privacy or change their online location. Other services, such as encrypted messaging apps, Tor, and proxies, are also popular. But VPNs have some key advantages:
First, a VPN encrypts your entire online connection. Every website you visit, app you use, or message you send while connected to a VPN will be protected from any potential bystanders. With an encrypted messaging app, only your messages are encrypted.
Second, Tor’s speeds can’t compete with VPNs. Tor randomly routes your traffic through more than three nodes. These jumps cause frequent lags and slow you down significantly. This is not the case with VPNs, which use secure tunnels to route traffic through a single server.
Finally, while services such as proxies change your online location, they do not provide any privacy or security benefits. But with a VPN, you get the best of both worlds. You can choose a server where you want to appear online, and your connection to any network can be protected with encryption.
There are hundreds upon thousands of VPNs to choose from, so how do you know which VPN to choose? Any VPN you consider should meet the following criteria:
All VPN companies promise to protect your privacy, but their
privacy policies tell a different story. Any reputable VPN
should have a no-logs policy. This means that they do not
monitor or keep any records of your online activities when you
use their VPN service.
And we maintain a strict no-traffic logging policy, verified
by independent audits
This might not happen very often, but if your VPN connection
goes down, you don't want others to suddenly see your IP address
and Internet traffic.
The VPN kill switch we offer prevents this from happening. When
your VPN connection drops, a VPN kill switch disables your
entire online connection so that none of your data falls into
the wrong hands.
We provide access to a high-speed global network of more than 3000 servers located in more than 100 locations. So, no matter where you are, a VPN server is just a tap or click away.
VPN protocols are constantly evolving, and each VPN protocol has
its own advantages. There are a variety of VPN protocols to
choose from, allowing users to optimize their VPN configuration
based on given needs and use cases.
That's why we offer a variety of VPN protocols, including IKEv2,
OpenVPN, and IPSec.
Gone are the days when people connected to the internet only
through desktop computers. Many homes now have countless
internet-connected devices, from cell phones to tablets,
laptops, game consoles, and even home appliances.
These devices are all vulnerable to privacy threats, so it's
critical that your VPN provider allows multiple simultaneous VPN
connections on your account.
Any VPN provider worth their salt will offer free VPN app access
and downloads with your subscription. Given how often users rely
on mobile devices to access the internet, this must also include
mobile VPN support.
OURFAST VPN provides user-friendly software for Windows, Mac,
Android, and iOS. So whether you're at home or on the road,
OURFAST VPN connection is available on your device.
Free VPN services have many drawbacks, including weak privacy protections and questionable data. Additionally, almost all free VPN services fall short in providing high-speed server access and basic VPN functionality. A good VPN provider won’t cost a lot, but it won’t be free.
Need help with something? Here are our most frequently asked questions.
A VPN is a cybersecurity tool that allows you to protect your digital identity and data. It also comes with many other benefits like fast VPN speeds for seamless browsing, sidestepping connection slowdowns, accessing your favorite content safely while traveling, and preventing cyber attacks like DDoS and Man-in-the-Middle attacks.
You are not completely anonymous with a VPN, but you can boost your online anonymity with a top-shelf VPN. With OurFast, you can encrypt your online traffic and mask your IP address to regain your digital privacy. By hiding your unique IP address, you can make sure your ISP and other third parties won’t be able to track your activities back to you.
A No Logs policy means your VPN doesn’t collect or store your data. You might think this is a given for a privacy-focused service, but unfortunately, it’s not. Some services monetize by keeping users’ logs and selling their data. If you want to enjoy a truly private internet experience, you need a VPN that has a strict No Logs policy, like OurFast.
A top-tier VPN won’t slow down your internet connection. It can even improve your speeds when your ISP is throttling your connection during streaming or online gaming. For example, PIA has ultra-fast servers, and uses the most efficient VPN protocols. This means that you can enjoy the online world at full speed, with no more stuttering or freezing.
You can run your VPN 24/7 as long as you have a VPN that has no bandwidth caps. Most VPNs have bandwidth restrictions, but PIA doesn’t. Use PIA to mask your online activities, and circumvent your ISP content-based bandwidth throttling. Stream, game, or browse the web privately as much as you'd like.
OurFast VPN offers 24/7 technical support and customer service via live chat. You can also submit a support ticket and a representative will contact you via email. Additionally, you can check out our comprehensive support portal to troubleshoot problems yourself.