What will a VPN not protect you from?

While VPNs allow you to remain anonymous and circumspect, they do not provide you with immunity to online risks such as ransomware, phishing attacks, malware, or computer viruses. That's where antivirus software comes in.

Can you be tracked if you use a VPN?

In general, VPNs eliminate the possibility of tracking your activities. There is, however, a risk that your internet service provider will see that you are using a VPN if your VPN does not use obfuscation.

Will a VPN stop hackers?

In addition to preventing conventional hacking methods, a VPN prevents unwanted access to your network and data theft. However, a VPN is not a silver bullet and cannot guarantee that you will not be hacked. While a VPN can provide an additional layer of security, it is imperative to understand that it is not a substitute for other security measures, such as strong passwords and two-factor authentication.

A virtual private network (VPN) can be hacked like any other technology. However, the level of security a VPN provides depends on the specific VPN service and the protocols it employs to encrypt your internet connection. Generally speaking, VPNs use encryption to secure your internet connection and protect your online activity from being monitored by third parties, such as your internet service provider (ISP) or the government. However, the strength of a VPN's encryption can vary; some encryption methods may be more secure than others. In addition, other factors can affect the security of a VPN, such as how the VPN service authenticates and verifies users and handles and stores user data. Therefore, it is critical to research and carefully evaluate the security measures used by a VPN service before using it. It is also worth noting that no technology is entirely hack-proof, and there is always a risk of security vulnerabilities being discovered or exploited. To help protect yourself, you should use a reputable VPN service and take other steps to secure your online activity, such as using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication whenever possible.

How Secure is a VPN? From What Will It Protect You in 2023?

Sneak peek at security of VPNs

Given the threats like hackers, VPNs are imperative for a safer internet experience online. It all depends on the features a VPN has deployed to secure your connection. So, it is critical to do thorough research and compare different VPNs to find one that fits your specific privacy and security needs.

Utilizing VPNs must be considered in today’s modern world. Your ISP can track your current IP address and access your browsing history. Thus, it becomes inevitable to hide your online footprints, and even using incognito browsers cannot protect you.

Connecting to a VPN enables you to go through an encrypted private tunnel that changes your IP address to a new one. This VPN feature ensures you surf the internet privately without fear or worry that your ISP is spying on you.

Yet, despite this feature, you may wonder if a VPN connection is safe and secure. Moreso, you want to know other features a VPN provides to ensure a secure private connection as you surf the internet. This guide is well-prepared to answer these burning questions. Let’s begin.

Are VPNs secure?

The answer is a resounding yes! Utilizing a VPN encrypts your online data, giving you unrestricted internet access without fear of anyone prying on your internet activities. VPN masks your IP address, bypasses geo-restricted websites, protects your data from being sold or stolen, and more.

It is understandable if you think these features are too good to be true. However, considering the damage hackers and phishers can unleash if they have access to your data, VPN ensures your data is protected and enables you to access the internet undetected.

Some of the attacks hackers and phishers employ to access your online data include Doxing, Distributed Denial of Service Attacks (DD0S), and Man-in-the-Middle attacks (MITM). In summary, a VPN offers high-level security as you engage in online activities.

What VPN features are implemented to keep your connection secure?

While several VPN providers and services exist, some noteworthy features should be found in VPNs to keep your connection secure.

Up-to-date encryption standards

Encryption conveys the idea of ciphering text or data that nobody can read. The industry standard that many VPN services employ is the Advanced Encryption Standard or AES-256. VPNs that utilize 256-bit encryption take a lifetime to decrypt, thus ensuring a secure connection.

Employing robust RAM-only servers

This quality is common in most secure VPNs. When a VPN runs on Random-Access Memory servers, any information stored on such servers is temporal. Thus, once you switch off the connection, any stored data is wiped off, improving your security as you surf the internet.

Modern VPN protocols

The use of advanced and modern VPN protocols further secures your internet traffic. Ensure your preferred VPN protocol is either OpenVPN or IKEv2.

Availability of private DNS

When you operate your DNS, your ISP can collect information regarding your browsing habits and sell them to companies. So, when VPNs provide you with private DNS, it ensures your data is protected, thus providing better internet security.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

VPNs utilize 2FA to provide additional steps in protection from everyday hacks like brute forcing and credential stuffing. Many 2FA procedures require biometrics or one-time passwords from trusted devices.