They’re sometimes touted as the Swiss Army knives of online privacy—handy, multifunctional tools for greater online security and freedom. But are VPNs truly as safe as they claim to be, and how do they work? In this article, we’ll unravel the truth about VPN protection, dive into the key features of secure VPNs like Avira Phantom VPN and compare them with other security tools. You’ll also learn exactly how far a VPN can take you in extending your online defences—and where it might fall short.
What is a VPN, and is it necessary?
It stands for “virtual private network,” but what exactly is that? Imagine sitting at the airport and wanting to fire off work emails and finish some online shopping. Compare these two scenarios:
You go online without a VPN: Your computer first connects to your internet service provider (ISP), and they will redirect you to the website you’ve chosen. Everything you do online passes through your ISP’s servers, so they know all about you. They can also log everything you do and hand this over to third parties like advertisers or government agencies.
Who hasn’t been tempted by a quick browse on free Wi-Fi? These public networks are convenient but unencrypted and can be teeming with vulnerabilities. Here are four popular methods used to gain access to your data, including passwords, banking details, and credit card numbers:
- Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks occur when a malicious third party positions itself in a communication channel to intercept and steal personal information. Attackers can install software on a computer, eavesdrop on a local network, or cunningly redirect data to pass through a node they control.
- Packet sniffing software can allow hackers to intercept and log data travelling over a free Wi-Fi network. These data streams are called ‘packets’ and can be downloaded and saved. Think of a sniffer dog with an insatiable nose, working relentlessly to find your data ‘parcels’.
- Session hijacking occurs when attackers use cookies to exploit a security vulnerability and take over your internet session. Cookies are tiny files saved on your device by your browser when you land on a web page. By taking control of your browsing session, hijackers hope to fool websites into thinking they are you so they can steal your personal information and passwords and even use your online accounts.
- Malicious hotspots quickly set up and masquerade as legitimate Wi-Fi networks. They’re designed to trick you into logging in. When your device is connected, hackers are on hand to steal your personal information.
Thankfully, there’s a different possible scenario. Here’s what happens when you use a VPN: Your internet traffic is redirected through a remote server, which helps hide your IP address (your device’s unique identifier) and works to encrypt your internet traffic. A VPN is a secure, private tunnel through which your digital communications run. This helps keep your data safer from prying eyes, and thanks to high-level encryption, third parties will be unlikely to read it even if they can intercept it! With a VPN, you’ll feel like an online phantom. You’re far less visible online, and your activities are less likely to be traced back to you, your device, and your location. That’s frustrating for cybercriminals, advertisers, and snoops, but great news for your online safety and privacy. Remember: Always use a VPN on public Wi-Fi—it’s the essential shield for your online privacy.
How safe are VPNs really?
The short answer: It depends on the VPN. You’ll be sending your data to a third-party server, which takes a leap of faith, so choose wisely! A high-quality VPN from a reputable provider can offer excellent security, helping to shield your internet activity from prying eyes by encrypting your data and masking your IP address. But not all VPNs are created equal. Free or poorly managed VPNs can even put you at risk by logging your data, selling it to advertisers, or failing to secure your connection adequately. It’s important to remember that VPNs are as safe as the provider you choose—and that no VPN (or any solution) can guarantee absolute security. Reputable services come with transparent privacy policies and strong security features. Cybersecurity specialists Avira were founded in Germany nearly 40 years ago and continue to offer a broad portfolio of anti-malware and identity-protection solutions, including VPNs, that can provide strong protection against third-party tracking and censorship.
What makes a VPN secure?
To ensure that your VPN is up to the task of helping protect your online activity and identity, make sure that you tick off these critical features:
- Strong encryption protocols: VPNs should come with AES-256 encryption, considered the gold standard in online security. The 256-bit key size creates many possible combinations, making it nearly impossible to guess the correct key. This type of encryption is widely used by governments, military, and financial institutions, so it should be up to the task of helping secure your online shoe shopping!
- No-logs policy: Like your ISP, a VPN provider can access, sell, or give away the data you share while you’re connected to its network. Look for companies that offer a transparent or zero-log policy. This helps protect your identity if there is a data breach and ensures that your provider isn’t using or selling your information.
- Internet Protocol (IP) address and DNS leak prevention: The primary purpose of any VPN is to disguise a user’s IP address, but VPNs can sometimes have flaws that result in a device’s actual IP location and DNS queries (the websites you visit) being leaked outside the VPN tunnel.
- Two-factor or multifactor authentication (2FA or MFA): Secure authentication adds an extra layer of security when logging in to your VPN account. In addition to a password, you’ll need a PIN or other method to verify your identity (like a fingerprint or key via a security app).
- Multi-platform support: A good VPN should help protect you on all your devices—including your smartphone or laptop. Free Avira Phantom VPN is available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
- Kill switch: This security feature automatically disconnects you from the internet if the VPN connection drops, helping to prevent accidental exposure. Upgrade to premium Avira Phantom VPN Pro for this additional safeguard.
- Transparent pricing and a trusted reputation: Many VPN providers now exist thanks to growing awareness around online privacy. If you opt for a free service, make sure the company is reputable and check the small print for their data policies to make sure you’re not paying in unexpected ways. Paid subscriptions should be clearly priced and offer premium security and support. For a premium experience, consider subscribing to Avira Phantom VPN Pro: Choose your VPN server from a wide range of countries (so you can mask your IP address with a specific location) and free yourself from data limits—a necessity for streaming fans.
What types of VPNs are there?
VPNs come in various flavours, each tailored to specific needs. Let’s explore the most common types so you can decide what’s right for you.
Site-to-site VPN
This type connects entire networks (like offices in different locations) rather than individual devices. It’s popular in corporate settings for securely sharing resources between branches at multiple sites. These VPNs are complex to implement and manage.
Ideal for: Large businesses with many locations.
Remote access VPN
Designed for individual users, this VPN allows users to access their company’s network from anywhere (even public areas) and work as if they were in the office. It also helps ensure the privacy and integrity of sensitive information because employees can access and share company files remotely.
Ideal for: Individual users in off-site locations.
Cloud VPN
Built for cloud-based services, a cloud VPN lets users securely access resources stored on cloud platforms. It’s easily scalable as needs grow. The VPN connection encrypts traffic between the networks, with one VPN gateway handling encryption and the other handling decryption.
Ideal for: Businesses that rely on cloud computing.
SSL VPN
If there isn’t enough company IT equipment to go around, this type of VPN allows staff to use their private devices to work securely from home or other locations. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) VPNs became the backbone of the ‘corona economy’ as companies struggled to cope with the sudden work-from-home demands of lockdown during the pandemic. This VPN operates via web browsers, allowing users to securely access specific applications or services without installing particular software. All that’s needed is usually an HTML-5-capable browser to load the company’s login page where users must enter a username and password to gain access. These browsers are available for virtually any operating system.
Ideal for: Employees who use private devices to access corporate files and networks.
Double VPN
For the ultra-cautious, a double VPN routes your traffic through two servers instead of one, adding an extra layer of encryption. Beware that this approach may slow your connection.
Ideal for: Anyone seeking maximum privacy.
Should you use a secure VPN and what are the benefits?
A good VPN offers many advantages as it enhances both privacy and freedom (and, yes, that does sound like a contradiction but bear with us). Safety first, they say, so let’s start with secure and more private browsing: By replacing your IP address with a ‘dummy’ address you become virtually untraceable to websites, advertisers, your ISP, and even governments trying to track you. By helping to encrypt your data and hide your identity, a VPN can keep you safer on unsecured public networks and helps protect you against cybercrime like identity theft, doxing, and DDoS attacks. A VPN also helps make it possible for remote workers to access company resources, even when they’re not on site.
Now, what about the freedom you’ve been promised?, A VPN lets you dance virtually around the globe to easily change your location with a click so you can access your favorite videos, websites, and apps when you’re at home or on the move.A VPN can also protect against ISP throttling. Some ISPs slow down your connection for bandwidth-heavy activities like streaming or if you’re using file-sharing services like P2P (Peer-to-Peer). A VPN can prevent this by making it difficult for your ISP to see what you’re doing online.
So, should you use a VPN? If you’re serious about your security and privacy, yes, definitely. Even if you have nothing to hide, don’t intend to do your online banking on public Wi-fi, and don’t work remotely, you might not want to be watched and tracked. And if you’re in any line of work that involves sending sensitive information, then protecting your data, identity, and information sources with a VPN is vital.
How does a VPN compare with other security solutions?
There are many options to choose from, and all promise greater privacy. Can you forego a VPN after all? Let’s pit it against these standard solutions in a security showdown.
Private browsing vs VPN
Private browsing, like incognito mode, only hides your browsing history from others who might use your device. Your ISP can still see what you’re doing online. So, potentially, can advertisers and hackers. A VPN encrypts your traffic and masks your IP address.
Privacy winner: VPN
Proxies vs VPN
Both a VPN and a proxy server mask your IP address by sending your internet traffic through a server first. That’s where the similarities end. Proxies don’t encrypt your data, leaving it vulnerable to being tampered with or intercepted. VPNs generally offer additional security, like DNS leak protection, and they tend to be faster.
Privacy winner: VPN
SSH tunnels vs VPN
SSH (Secure Shell) tunnels are more complex to set up than a VPN because they need to be manually configured for each application. They only encrypt traffic for specific applications, while a VPN encrypts all a device’s traffic.
Privacy winner: VPN
SD-WANs vs VPN
Software-defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WANs) are corporate-level tools for managing network traffic across multiple locations. They promise superb security but are considered overkill for individual users compared to the simplicity of a VPN.
Privacy winner: SD-WAN is a useful business tool but too complex for individual users
Firewalls vs VPN
Firewalls and VPNs are cybersecurity tools designed to help protect your data and network, but they work differently. Firewalls monitor and filter traffic at the network’s edge to help protect it from outside threats. VPNs help create a secure, encrypted connection between your device and a remote server. Both tools complement each other. So, a VPN can work with a firewall to ensure that encrypted data can flow smoothly and to help protect against unauthorised access.
Privacy winner: Joint winners, as both tools can be used together to encrypt and monitor data traffic.
What are the limitations of a VPN?
While it may be an impressive, multi-skilled knight in helping to defend your honour, data, and identity online, even a VPN has chinks in its armour. Please remember these shortcomings and complement your VPN with additional protection (and always click responsibly online too).
- Slower performance: VPNs can slow down your internet connection due to the encrypting and rerouting of data traffic.
- No protection against malware: VPNs can’t protect your computer from outside intrusion by viruses or malware. You’ll still need antivirus software. Solutions that bundle protection, performance, and privacy tools are ideal—like Avira Free Security, which includes antivirus, VPN, and more.
- Increased data usage: It’s inevitable. Any service that requires you to stay online for access will use up some of your data. A VPN will use 5-15% additional data by most estimates. That’s because a VPN encrypts original data packets and wraps them in a separate packet when sending them to the VPN server.
- No complete anonymity: VPNs can’t remove the cookies already stored in your computer, so the websites where these cookies came from can still identify you (unless you clear your browser’s cookies). Also, logging into online accounts can still unmask you—your Google account will expose your identity to Google, for example. Find out more about how you’re tracked online with this guide to anonymous browsing.
- Blocked by some services: Some websites and streaming platforms actively block VPN connections, which can be frustrating.
- Reliability is provider-dependent: A VPN is only as safe as the company running it. A shady provider might log or misuse your data, or the VPN could use out-of-date encryption protocols and leak IPs.
- Can’t negate human error: Sadly, users who behave unsafely online will still put themselves at risk of data theft and malware. Never let a VPN give you a false sense of bravado! Don’t click on unknown links or attachments and beware of phishing
No VPN can offer complete protection, but you can help: Choose a reliable VPN provider and be proactive about every aspect of your online security. Install (and update) reputable anti-malware and keep your own behaviour in check by rigorously following all online security tips.
Connect to hotspots more safely. Help shield your privacy online with Avira
256 Advanced Encryption Standard (AES-256). Multiple server locations worldwide. Part of an extensive portfolio of solutions by born-in-Germany online security experts. There are many reasons why Avira Phantom VPN is a trusted choice—plus, it’s free. Get yours for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, and consider upgrading to Avira Phantom VPN Pro to help free yourself from data limits.
VPNs are powerful tools for enhancing your online security and privacy, but they’re not a magic bullet against online threats and scams—nor a complete cloak of invisibility. Respect their limitations and always combine your (secure and reliable) VPN with other security measures for optimal protection.