Do I Need VPN On My Laptop

Can I Use A VPN To Watch Netflix/hulu/youtube/other Streaming Content From Another Country

In most cases, yes. Streaming websites such as Netflix and Hulu geo-lock some of their content to specific countries. However, the geo-lock is simply limited to IP addresses associated with that country.

Many VPNs will allow you to choose which country you wish to run your IP address from. This is usually as simple and straightforward as selecting the country you wish to appear to be browsing from via a dropdown menu.

Getting A VPN To Work Over Hotspot The Right Way

As mentioned, your smartphones VPN can only protect the phone itself, not other devices that use it to connect to the Internet. Fortunately, you dont need to do much else after you connect your smartphone to a VPN.

Simply use a VPN on the device you want to connect to the mobile hotspot, and youre set.

Careful with your data usage. Browsing the Internet on a laptop tends to use up more data than using your phone directly, for example. Adding two VPN connections to the mix can also increase data usage.

Read more: How VPN Influences Data Usage & How to Optimize VPN Usage

Finally, make sure your VPN provider supports multiple connections on a single subscription. For example, ExpressVPN is a great all-around VPN solution that supports five different devices on the same account.

Looking for a provider that supports even more simultaneous connections? See our in-depth look at the best VPNs of 2020.

Finding The Right Solution

Whether you operate a large enterprise with multiple locations, or manage a small team of freelancers who enjoy working out of coffee shops you need a VPN to ensure your business data does not fall into the wrong hands. Email and cloud storage accounts, with their potential to be compromised, are a constant target for hackers. But by using a VPN, security can be reclaimed.

OpenVPNs mission is to connect your world securely by providing a more safe and secure experience online. OpenVPNs Access Server has been downloaded by more than 50 million people worldwide since inception, becoming the de-facto industry standard. Access Server was created for small-to-medium sized businesses, but also has the capacity to scale into the thousands. So no matter the size of your organization, and no matter what your end goals are for your business, Access Server can help you get where you want to go.

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What Is A VPN And Why You Need One

The best VPNs can help secure your web traffic against snoops, spies, and anyone else who wants to steal or monetize your data.

Have you ever connected to a public Wi-Fi network and wondered if someone, somewhere might be able to see your online activity? It’s an entirely reasonable concern, considering the forces arrayed against your privacy. With a virtual private network , you can protect your information from prying eyes and regain a measure of privacy online.

What Does It Mean When A VPN Service Talks About Simultaneous Connections

The term “simultaneous connections” generally refers to the number of devices that can be connected to the VPN service and talk to the internet at once. For example, when I was driving across the country and working in my hotel room at night, I often had both my MacBook Pro and iPad connected to the internet.

I used the MacBook Pro for writing, keeping the iPad open to do searches and find supporting information. Both of these were connected to the internet at one time. This was possible because the VPN service I was using allowed up to three connections to open at once.

This is also a good way to provide support for more than one family member on a single subscription. Generally, there’s no good reason for a VPN provider to allow less than two or three connections. If your provider only allows one, find another vendor. We gave extra points in our;VPN directory;to those vendors who allowed three or more connections.

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Advantage : Prevent A Digital File

Advertising networks such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter are constantly collecting information about you through your online traffic. With this information, they can show you tailored ads but more importantly, they are free to sell this information to a third party. By encrypting your data using a VPN these networks will have a harder time collecting information on you. They will also have less influence on what you see online

How To Set Up A VPN On Windows

Once youve created a VPN profile, you might need to configure your Windows VPN settings.

• Go into Settings -> Network & Internet -> VPN.
• Select Windows for your VPN provider.
• Fill in the details for Connection name, server name or address, VPN type and the type of sign-in info.
• You have the option to add a username and password for added security, which we would recommend.
• At this point you also can select Advanced Options to edit the connection properties, clear your sign-in info, or set up a VPN proxy.
• Select Connect and enter your password if youve set one.

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How Does VPN Work

Let’s start with the basic idea of internet communication. Suppose you’re at your desk and you want to access a website like ZDNet. To do this, your computer initiates a request by sending some packets. If you’re in an office, those packets often travel through switches and routers on your LAN before they are transferred to the public internet through a router.

Once on the public internet, those packets travel through a bunch of computers. A separate request is made to a series of name servers to translate the DNS name ZDNet.com to an IP address. That information is sent back to your browser, which then sends the request again through many computers on the public internet. Eventually, it reaches the ZDNet infrastructure, which also routes those packets, grabs a web page , and sends all that back to you.

Each internet request usually results in a whole series of communication events between multiple points. The way a VPN works is by encrypting those packets at the originating point, often hiding the data and the information about your originating IP address. The VPN software on your end then sends those packets to the VPN server at some destination point, decrypting that information.

One of the most important issues in understanding the limits of VPNs is understanding where the endpoint of the VPN server resides. We’ll talk about that next.

What Does VPN Stand For

VPN means virtual private network.

• A VPN is virtual because its created digitally there isnt a physical cable that reaches from your device directly to the VPN server.

• A VPN is private because it encrypts your data and hides your IP address.

• A VPN is a network because it creates a connection between multiple computers your device and the VPN server.

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The Best VPN For Pc By The Numbers

Avast SecureLine VPN brings you unbeatable privacy and security with the convenience, speed, and reliability you can expect from the global leaders in cybersecurity. Protect up to five devices at once with a single account.

• 256-bit AES encryption: Secure all the internet traffic coming to and from your device not just your browser, but your games, streaming, other apps, and more with the same heavy-duty encryption used by banks around the world.

• 55 locations in 34 countries: No matter where you are, youll enjoy a super-fast, super-stable VPN connection with our high-speed servers spread out all around the world.

• 2 GB per second: Every single one of our servers can handle speeds of up to 2 Gbps, with average speeds of 450-600 Mbps, even under peak demand.

• 5 devices at once: Protect up to five Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices at once, in any combination, with just a single account.

What Is A VPN And Why Would I Need One

Chris Hoffman is Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. He’s written about technology for over a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Chris has written for The New York Times, been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations like Miami’s NBC 6, and had his work covered by news outlets like the BBC. Since 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read nearly one billion times—and that’s just here at How-To Geek. Read more…

Justin Duino is the Managing Editor at How-To Geek. He has spent the last decade writing about Android, smartphones, and other mobile technology. In addition to his written work, he has also been a regular guest commentator on CBS News and BBC World News and Radio to discuss current events in the technology industry. Read more…

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, allows you to create a secure connection to another network over the Internet. VPNs can be used to access;region-restricted websites, shield your browsing activity from prying eyes on public Wi-Fi, and more.

These days VPNs are really popular, but not for the reasons they were originally created. They originally were just a way to connect business networks together securely over the internet or allow you to access a business network from home.

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What Is A Software VPN

Software VPN is a term for using a VPN client installed on your device, which allows it to establish a connection to a remote server. The encryption processes and such are handled on your device.;

While many devices have inbuilt VPN clients, you can install third-party VPN clients like Surfshark. That way, you dont need to make any additional investments into hardware, and all the server and service maintenance is taken care of by the service provider.;

Software VPN provides many incentives for small businesses and individual users:

• An economical intranet replacement for those who use online solutions for data storage and sharing;;
• Securing connections when traveling;
• Overcoming geo-blocking via access to multiple VPN servers
• Easy and fast deployment by untrained users
• Often allows securing of a home/office via installing VPN on an existing router;

Why Should You Use A VPN Connection

Your ISP usually sets up your connection when you connect to the internet. It tracks you via an IP address. Your network traffic is routed through your ISP’s servers, which can log and display everything you do online.

Your ISP may seem trustworthy, but it may share your browsing history with advertisers, the police or government, and/or other third parties. ISPs can also fall victim to attacks by cyber criminals: If they are hacked, your personal and private data can be compromised.

This is especially important if you regularly connect to public Wi-Fi networks. You never know who might be monitoring your internet traffic and what they might steal from you, including passwords, personal data, payment information, or even your entire identity.

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Create A Profile In The Windows 10 VPN Client

Here’s how to set up and connect to a VPN through the Windows 10 VPN client:

1. On your Windows 10 desktop, right-click the Start button and select Settings from the menu that appears.

2. In the new window that pops up, click Network & Internet then select VPN from the list of connection options on the right side of the screen.

3. Click Add a VPN connection.

4. This will take you to a configuration screen. Under VPN provider, click the dropdown menu and select the option that says Windows .

5. In the Connection name field, type out the name you’d like to give this particular connection. Try to create one that you’ll easily recognize as a VPN connection. If, for example, you’re using ExpressVPN and want this connection to be the one you use to connect to a New York server, name the connection something like “ExpressVPN, New York server.”

6. In the Server name or address field, type the actual address of the server you’re connecting to. Your VPN service will be able to provide this information. Generally it will look like a website URL, with an alphanumeric string of five or six characters followed by the name of the VPN service you’re using.

7. In the VPN type dropdown, you’ll be asked to choose a protocol like I mentioned above. Select whichever one your VPN service uses.

Read more: How to identify a good VPN: 3 features to look out for

9. Click the Save button. You’ve now created your VPN profile, and all that’s left to do is to connect to it.

How To Move A Current VPN Subscription Onto A New Laptop

VPNs usually allow users to connect between 5 – 10 devices at once.

If you are already subscribing to a VPN service, chances are you are entitled to use your VPN on a number of devices simultaneously. So, If you have just purchased a new laptop, simply head over to your current VPN’s website, log in using your credentials and download the VPN software you require. When it finishes downloading, install it, and enter your credentials. Now you are ready to start using your VPN on your new laptop.;

Remember that you can use your VPN on a laptop, desktop, mobile devices, and tablets – all at the same time – with a subscription to any of the VPNs in this guide.

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Nordvpn Serious Security And Safe Streaming

Platforms Supported: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, Routers, Chrome, Firefox | Compatible Devices: Android TV, Nintendo, Raspberry Pi, Amazon Fire TV, Chrome, Roku, Firefox | Unblocks Netflix: Yes | Also unblocks: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer | 5,498 Servers | 59 Server Country Locations |

NordVPN was one of the first to introduce AES 256-bit encryption and now its new security protocol NordLynx has boosted its speeds to make it one of the best VPNs for laptops.;Take a look at our comprehensive NordVPN review for more information.

NordVPN also has a couple of advanced tricks up its sleeve:

• Double VPN gives you extra security
• Onion over VPN enables you to covertly enter the anonymous Tor browser
• Built-in malware blocker to protect you against unwanted infections.

Cost: Starting at $3.71/month

Why Is It Important To Hide Your Ip Address

Your IP address is a unique set of numbers that identifies your device when you connect to the internet. Just as the postal service uses street addresses to deliver mail to the right people, IP addresses ensure that internet traffic gets sent to the right computers.;

Your IP address links your device to your ISP as well as to your general geographical location. This is how content streaming platforms do geoblocking restricting content by region. Based on your IP address, you can see only the content thats available to viewers in your part of the world.

A VPN masks your actual IP address by showing the public internet the IP address of the VPN server youre using instead of your own. This prevents anyone from finding your IP address. Some VPNs cluster multiple users under one shared IP address, which further anonymizes your internet activity.

Pair that IP masking with encryption, and your online activities are kept fully private from ISPs, hackers, and government surveillance. A VPN protects you in many ways.

AVG Secure VPN enhances your privacy by masking you and other VPN users behind a single shared IP address. This makes it extremely difficult for anyone to link your web activity back to you, since multiple users are sharing a single IP address at any given time. Its just one of the many ways AVG Secure VPN keeps you safe online.

So whats a VPN used for? Lets find out.

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The Predecessors Of The VPN

Their efforts led to the creation of ARPANET , a packet switching network, which in turn led to the development of the Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol .

The TCP/IP had four levels: Link, internet, transport and application. At the internet level, local networks and devices could be connected to the universal network and this is where the risk of exposure became clear. In 1993, a team from Columbia University and AT&T Bell Labs finally succeeded in creating a kind of first version of the modern VPN, known as swIPe: Software IP encryption protocol.

In the following year, Wei Xu developed the IPSec network, an internet security protocol that authenticates and encrypts information packets shared online. In 1996, a Microsoft employee named Gurdeep Singh-Pall created a Peer-to-Peer Tunneling Protocol .

A Word Of Caution About VPNs

With a VPN, it’s true your ISP may no longer have access to your browsing data, but the VPN provider now does. Some VPNs even sell that data to third parties, just like your ISP may or may not do, so in that way you could be right back where you started. That’s why you should be especially cautious of “free” VPNs. Those services still have to make money, and chances are your data is the primary revenue source. That said, the VPN’s terms may be more favorable to your privacy than, say, Comcast’s. However, if you want to play things safer, you’re better off paying for a VPN.

Some paid VPNs still log user data, which just means any subpoena would pass from your ISP to the VPN provider. That said, it’s likely be harder for law enforcement to get that data if your VPN isn’t local to your country.

In summary: If you’re concerned about privacy for any reason, using a VPN is a great option — just make sure you read the fine print of the VPN provider you go with. And don’t always take their word for it — some VPN providers claim they don’t keep logs on user data, but third parties have discovered evidence that they actually do.

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