According to a report by Varonis and RiskBased, approximately 4.1 billion data records were exposed in 2019 due to data breaches compared to less than 50 million in 2013. A VPN can do a lot to protect you from potential global cyber threats that have steadily risen since 2013. Given the recent major cyber-attacks on Sears and Target companies, the importance of digital safety and security has been magnified further.
Millions of people worldwide have now embraced Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to help them browse more discreetly, with reports indicating that currently, over 25% of all internet users have VPNs installed. However, the million-dollar question is, how far can a VPN go to avoid cyber-attacks?
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the best shot you have at accessing the internet more discreetly and safely. It keeps you anonymous to anyone snooping around your internet activity by encrypting your traffic through other secure remote servers. It keeps your web session, financial transaction, transmitted data, and personal information inaccessible by third-parties and safe at all times.
Types of VPNs Available
There are two broad categories of VPNs:
Remote Access
The Remote Access VPN allows users to connect to a private network and remotely access its services and products. This connection is usually beneficial when accessing sensitive data over public internet connections. In countries with regional digital restrictions, users can also employ VPNs to bypass such limitations.
Site – to – Site/ Router-to-Router
The Site-to-Site VPN, also known as Router-to-Router, allows secure connections between the same office networks with users at different locations. Organizations mostly use it to secure their data once transmitted from one source to another. It can only work when the two sources validate the connection.
How Do VPNs Protect Against Cyber-Attacks?
Provides Anonymity
Remaining anonymous when using the internet is a priceless element that internet users would appreciate since it protects you from fraud, identity theft, among other cyber threats. If organizations could channel the resources they employ to curb cyber-attacks to other beneficial endeavors; they would afford their businesses’ the edge they need to remain relevant and competitive in today’s volatile business world. If a hacker gets your IP address, they track its activities and develop a plan on how to approach and hack your system. A good VPN will mask your IP address, location, and other sensitive data to third parties.
Provides Safe Remote Access
With the current rise of people working from their homes’ comfort, it becomes even more crucial to have secure access to remote internet connections. While accessing your company’s information within the premises is way easier, doing so from home without taking extra precautions is just too risky. Using a VPN solves this problem instantly by automatically encrypting all traffic from the user’s end and the company’s web system.
Tunneling is another trick employed by a VPN. A VPN hides your data within other data packets when sending it via the internet to hide it from snooping eyes through a process known as encapsulation.
Secure Access to Cloud-Based Services
With most businesses now storing all data and other sensitive information in the cloud, hackers will try to steal it by employing various methods such as searching for any network vulnerabilities in your system. Installing a VPN will ensure that all your cloud-based data is safe and secure at all times from any cyber threats and attacks. When a VPN connection is active, it’s challenging for hackers to bypass the heavily encrypted internet connection and gain access to your data.
Final Thoughts
While VPNs will protect you from hackers and other snooping eyes, they won’t protect you from malware, viruses, or other physical threats. And even though a VPN is undoubtedly a vital