What is a VPN? Definition to understand everything in 3 minutes

Today, VPN is everywhere. Many Internet users have in fact opted for this tool to protect them on the Internet and it is found in many business networks. However, too many internet users are still unaware of this software and do not really know what a VPN is. In this article, we will try to give you the clearest possible definition and explain how it works. We will also give you our selection of the best suppliers so that we can help you in your research!

In this first part, we will therefore look at what a VPN is, what definition we can make of it and how this tool works.

The meaning of the word VPN

Firstly, it is necessary to look at the word itself. As you might imagine, VPN is nothing more than an acronym. It stands for Virtual Private Network, i.e.Virtual Private Networkif we translate it into French.

It is therefore opposed to the “Common Network” which you go to when you normally go on the internet. This internet network is not secure and collects data about your connection. This is particularly the case for your IP address, your activities or your requests.

This information is held by your ISP (Internet Service Provider) because it is they who, when you try to access a site, redirect you to the desired site. He therefore has access to a large amount of information about you and which can be transmitted to advertisers, the government, etc.

Even worse, this information can also be recovered by malicious third parties if it is not well protected. In any case, it is dangerous for your personal data and it is better to use private VPN networks.

To summarize, VPN is software that encrypts all of your web traffic through its private and secure servers in order to protect you online and guarantee your anonymity.

How it works

If you use a VPN, instead of the traditional method to connect to the internet, the data is encrypted using a “tunneling” protocol. Before accessing the internet, you will go through a special server which will make all your data unreadable in some way. This intermediate network thus created prevents anyone from accessing the data and seeing what you do on the internet (applications used, sites visited, your communications, etc.).

In addition, the private server of the VPN to which you are connected will assign you a new IP address, masking yours as well as the location associated with it. This new IP address, whose location corresponds to the geographical location of the server you have chosen, is then visible on your device and it will appear on all websites visited. This process allows you to maintain complete anonymity online.

Opting for a private network will therefore secure your information before it enters the common Internet network and hide your identity.

L’installation

To benefit from this secure connection, you will need to install the tool on your device. To do this, you must purchase a Virtual Private Network subscription from a provider. This is when you will gain access to the software. Therefore, a few quick steps are necessary to validate your protection:

1. Download: You must go to the provider's website or the AppStore/PlayStore to download the application.
2. Installation: Installation is often very quick and creates a shortcut, regardless of your device.
3. Connexion: You will then be able to enter your account information in order to connect and access the interface.
4. Servers: Once this is done, you will have access to all of your provider's servers. The larger the network, the more possibilities you will have to simulate locations all over the world.

Once the connection is established with the server, your data and privacy will be fully protected. It's that simple. Note that VPN applications are available on many media such as computers, smartphones, tablets and even connected TVs or consoles.

What is a VPN used for?

Most often, using a VPN allows you to beanonymouson the internet andprotect your databy leaving no trace when connecting to the internet.

Safety

The main reason that often comes up when we ask Internet users why they chose to turn to a VPN is security. In fact, there is currently no software that can protect your online activities as well. However, when we know the number of dangers present on the internet and the number of malicious people who try every day to obtain information about users in order to sell it, we can reasonably say that the VPN is a good solution.

Thanks to quality encryption, powerful features and sophisticated protocols, your web traffic will be secure and you will be anonymous. You will then be able to browse without risking your personal information and confidentiality, even on public Wi-Fi.

VPNs are not just for safe browsing because the software has more than one trick up its sleeve. In reality, it allows you to benefit from many other advantages, for example in the context of streaming, downloading or geo-restriction of sites (censorship or blocking).

Le streaming

In the articles that define what a VPN is and what it is used for, streaming is one of the main reasons. In 2024, this is a very widespread activity and the Virtual Private Network is very practical in this context.

Why use a VPN for streaming? Quite simply because you will be able toaccess much more contentthan usual and all this without having to pay more. For example, if you have a Netflix account, you will be able to access the many films and series available on the American platform and no longer be limited to the French Netflix catalog.

But that's not all! You will also be able to access all foreign television channels, whether live or in replay. You may not know it, but there are many foreign public or free channels that broadcast films or even matches. So you can watch them for free and without any problem.

Using a VPN for streaming is very simple: you just have to connect to the server located in the country you want to unblock. For example, choose a server in the United Kingdom to watch BBC.

Unblocking censorship

Of course, this does not concern the entire population because not everyone lives in a country that practices internet censorship like China, Russia or even Iran. If this is your case or you are traveling to one of these territories, you will benefit from using a VPN.

If you want to know what a VPN can do for you in these countries, the answer is simple:bypass censorship. You can then protect yourself from government surveillance and continue to access sites blocked in those states. You will only have to choose a server in a country authorizing access to the platform or in question. By obtaining an IP address in another location, the blocking will no longer be effective.

These are the 3 main reasons to use this tool, but in reality a VPN can help you in many other contexts: access blocked online betting sites, download without risk, connect securely to gaming networks. Public Wi-Fi, save money on online sales sites, etc. It’s up to you to make your own definition of VPN!

The Best VPN Providers in 2024

To finish this article, we will quickly tell you about thebest VPN providersbecause despite what you may think, not all software is equal. Some suppliers offer tools that are not efficient enough to support you on a daily basis in all your activities. The choice of the Virtual Private Network is therefore essential.

ExpressVPN

Followingour test of the ExpressVPN service, we can say that it is one of the best VPNs on the market. If we strongly recommend it, it's because you will be able to benefit from optimal protection and the best speeds on the market to stream all the content you want and download quickly.

Plus, you'll definitely appreciate the fact that customer support is available via Live Chat every day, 24 hours a day! So if there is the slightest difficulty, you will always know where to turn.

Don’t hesitate to take advantage of the money-back guarantee available for 30 days to test the service for free!

Test ExpressVPN for 30 days

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is the provider that currently offers the best value for money, impossible to find cheaper for similar performance. And even if the connection speed is slightly less interesting than with ExpressVPN, the security is there. It also has a very large network of servers: more than 9,000 located in 90 countries and dedicated servers for certain activities, such as streaming or downloading.

CyberGhost will therefore be perfect for you if you are looking for a very good inexpensive VPN. If you want to know more about him, check outour detailed opinion on CyberGhost.

Discover CyberGhost

NordVPN

Finally, we wanted to tell you about NordVPN. For beginners who didn't necessarily know what a VPN was before reading this article, the provider offers an application that is very easy to understand and very intuitive. Its application has features aimed at strengthening your protection such as Double VPN and CyberSec.

Do not hesitate to test its application for 30 days with the “satisfied or refunded” guarantee.

Discover NordVPN

If, despite reading this article, you still wonder what a VPN is for or in what contexts it can be used, do not hesitate to ask us all your questions!