VPN: The secret weapon for protecting your data? Let’s separate fact from fiction!

You’ve probably seen advertisements for “VPNs” while watching videos on YouTube; this abbreviation, which stands for “Virtual Private Network,” has become ubiquitous in recent years.

Everywhere, we’re sold on the merits of VPNs: security, anonymity, online freedom… But what do these promises really hide? Should we really trust VPNs?

That’s what we’ll explore together in this article.

First, we’ll clearly explain what a VPN is and how it works.

Then, we’ll take a close look at what VPNs promise in terms of security and anonymity.

Finally, we’ll answer the question: Do we really need a VPN? We’ll indicate the situations in which the use of a VPN can be justified.

1. What is a VPN?

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service that creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote VPN server. Your device’s VPN client forwards requests to the server to execute them on its behalf. The server then forwards the responses back to the client.

These requests can be destined for machines on the same local network as the server or for websites, for example.

When the server makes a request to a website on your behalf, the website cannot know that it’s ultimately you who will receive the response.

There are two types of VPNs:

1. Public VPNs (free or paid), often used for security reasons and to bypass geographic restrictions.

2. Corporate VPNs, typically used to securely access company data remotely.

2. Security, anonymity… Should we really trust VPNs?

VPN service providers promise us security, anonymity, and online freedom, but the reality is much more nuanced.

VPN and Security:

1. VPNs do not protect against malicious websites, phishing, or malware. They do not replace antivirus software or a secure browser.

2. Free public VPNs are dangerous. They are usually unreliable, even malicious, and it is advisable to avoid them. For more information, please refer to Top10VPN’s study.

3. The encrypted tunnel protects your data up to the VPN server. Once your data reaches the server, it is decrypted and sent to its final destination. If this destination is an insecure website, for example, your data could be compromised.

4. The majority of websites today use the HTTPS encryption protocol, rendering the use of a VPN unnecessary.

VPN and Anonymity:

When using a VPN, it is important to remember that you are not completely anonymous. Although your IP address is masked, VPN providers may keep logs of your activity and sell them to third parties.

Some providers claim not to store user data (a “No LOG” policy) in order to gain trust, but it is often difficult to verify this in practice.

Moreover, VPNs do not protect against “browser fingerprinting”, a technique used to identify you via your browser.

Furthermore, VPNs do not protect against cookie tracking, which can also be used to track your online activities.

3. Do we really need a VPN?

A VPN is not essential for everyday use; except in the following 3 cases:

1. To securely access your company’s data remotely. Your computer will be connected to the company’s local network as if you were present on-site.

2. To access insecure websites from public Wi-Fi, although it is not recommended to connect to such networks for security reasons.

3. To bypass geographic restrictions and access websites and services blocked in your region, although this method is not 100% reliable due to detection and blocking measures implemented by some sites to prevent access by VPN users.

Now you know almost everything there is to know about VPNs to decide whether or not you need them. If you decide to use one, be extremely cautious about false promises from providers and avoid free VPNs. If you are interested in setting up a corporate VPN, we recommend seeking assistance from a professional who can help you choose the solution that best fits your needs.

See you soon,

The Puces et Pixels Team.