VPN或虚拟专用网络(Virtual Private Network)对于每个互联网用户来说都是一个非常有用的工具，无论您在网上花费了多少时间或在互联网上做什么样的事情。当您上网时， VPN可以为您提供更多的安全性和隐私性——这在当今的信息时代是很难获得的。
尽管越来越多的人使用VPN，但许多人仍不清楚其背后的技术。如果您想了解有关VPN 的概念及其(the concept of a VPN)用途的更多信息，这里有您需要了解的所有信息，以及如何利用VPN来保护您的在线活动。
什么是 VPN，它是如何工作的？(What Is a VPN and How Does It Work?)
如果您对 Internet 的工作原理有大致的了解，您可能知道您的 Internet 服务提供商 ( ISP ) 和其他一些组织可以跟踪您的在线活动。您浏览器的隐私浏览模式(private browsing mode)无助于保护您的数据并让您高枕无忧，而VPN可以做的远不止这些。
VPN是一种通过为您的数据添加额外级别的加密来保护您的在线活动的技术。它将您的计算机或智能手机连接到专用网络，允许您的数据通过加密的“隧道”。
它从您的设备传播到互联网上的其他点，通常在另一个国家，然后再进入公共互联网。您的数据始终处于隐藏状态。ISP所能看到的只是您已连接到专用网络。
当您将设备连接到VPN时，它的行为就好像它与VPN位于同一本地网络上一样。它允许您访问本地网络资源，即使您实际上是从不同的国家/地区访问互联网。您还可以像在VPN的位置一样浏览互联网。例如，如果您在美国境外使用基于美国的VPN，网站会看到您的在线活动，就好像它来自美国境内一样。
VPN 有什么用途？(What IS a VPN Used For?)
有些人将使用VPN与隐藏您的在线活动联系起来。实际上，VPN具有许多好处，可以帮助任何互联网用户的日常生活。以下是您可能想要开始使用VPN(VPN)的几个原因。
使用公共 WiFi 时保护您的连接(Secure Your Connection When Using Public WiFi)
当您在家中浏览互联网时，您的连接是通过受密码保护的路由器和专用WiFi网络进行的。但是，当您连接到公共 WiFi 网络(connect to a public WiFi network)时——无论是在咖啡店、酒店还是机场——您的流量不再受到保护。这些网络为所有用户提供开放访问，这使得拦截无线网络流量变得更加容易。
这就是为什么下次您决定连接到公共WiFi网络以发送电子邮件(send an email)或查看您的 Instagram(check your Instagram)帐户 时使用VPN是个好主意。(VPN)
收回您的在线隐私(Take Back Your Online Privacy)
您希望将在线活动保密的原因可能有很多。事实上，您的ISP可以跟踪您的活动和隐私问题，包括他们可以使用这些跟踪数据做什么、其他网站收集您的浏览数据和定向广告(targeted advertising)问题，以及洪流跟踪器(torrent trackers)和其他监控系统。
使用VPN是夺回您的在线隐私并阻止他人收集您的数据(stop others from collecting your data)的最简单、最有效的方法之一。
访问受地理限制的内容 (Access Geo-Blocked Content )
获得VPN(VPN)服务的最常见原因之一是访问受地理封锁的网站。有时，您会发现某些内容、流媒体服务或网站因您所在的位置而被阻止或访问受限。使用VPN是绕过这些限制的最简单方法。
如果您发现某些电影或电视节目在您所在地区的流媒体平台上不可用，这会很有用。从相应国家/地区 连接到VPN服务器可以轻松解决此问题。(VPN)
旅行时，您可能会发现自己身处一个整个网站和服务都被地理封锁的国家。例如，如果您想在俄罗斯访问(Russia)LinkedIn，则必须使用VPN或其他绕过地理限制的方法(other means of getting around geo-restrictions)。
绕过学校或工作场所的防火墙(Bypass Your School or Workplace Firewall)
在您的学校或工作场所使用互联网时，您一定会遇到管理层不希望您访问的被屏蔽网站。他们通过使用过滤所有 Web 内容并使您远离列入黑名单的站点的防火墙来做到这一点。
有许多解决方法可以帮助您绕过学校或工作场所的防火墙(bypass your school or workplace firewall)。最简单的方法之一是通过VPN服务。当您连接到VPN并开始浏览时，所有互联网流量都被加密，防火墙无法看到您在做什么以及您在网络连接上访问的站点。这样，无论何时何地，您都可以查看您想要的网站。
省钱购物(Save Money on Shopping)
除了从使用VPN中获得的明显好处外，如果您跳出框框思考，您还可以获得一些额外的好处。VPN可以帮助您节省购物费用。诚然，这确实需要一些时间和精力。
您可以使用VPN连接到世界各地的不同服务器并找到最便宜的价格。您可以省钱的东西包括流媒体服务、软件订阅计划、机票，甚至酒店。从理论上讲，您可以找到更便宜的价格。但是，请不要忘记，一些价格差异将由汇率和银行手续费来弥补。
你需要VPN吗？(Do You Need a VPN?)
虽然VPN(VPNs)有很多好处，但它们并非完美无缺。使用VPN的最大缺点是连接速度下降。由于您在数据到达正确的服务器之前将数据发送到另一个位置，因此您的VPN连接速度肯定会比您的常规互联网速度慢。
但是，如果这对您来说不是什么大问题，或者连接速度下降并不明显，那么使用VPN绝对是一个好主意。剩下的就是为您选择合适的VPN服务。幸运的是，那里有很多选择——从Windows 内置选项(Windows built-in option)、VPN Chrome 扩展(VPN Chrome extensions)、Mac 的最佳免费选项(free options for Mac)以及那里 最好的 VPN 应用程序。(the best VPN apps)
你以前用过VPN服务吗？你用它做什么？在下面的评论中与我们分享(Share)您的VPN体验。
What Is a VPN and What Is It Used For?
A VPN, or Virtual Privatе Network is an extremely useful tool for every internet user, no matter how muсh time you spend online or what sort of stuff you do on the internet. A VPN gives you more ѕеcurity and priνacy when you go online – things that are hard to come by in today’s information age.
Although more and more people are using a VPN, the technology behind it is still unclear to many. If you’re looking to learn more about the concept of a VPN and what it’s used for, here’s everything you need to know about it, as well as how you can take advantage of a VPN to secure your online activity.
What Is a VPN and How Does It Work?
If you have a general idea of how the internet works, you probably know that your internet service provider (ISP) and some other organizations have ways of tracking your online activity. Your browser’s private browsing mode can’t help protect your data and give you peace of mind, while a VPN can do more than that.
VPN is a technology that protects your online activity by adding an extra level of encryption to your data. It connects your computer or a smartphone to a private network, allowing your data to go through an encrypted “tunnel”.
It travels from your device to some other point on the internet, often in another country, before making its way to the public internet. Your data stays hidden the entire time. All an ISP can see is that you’re connected to a private network.
When you connect your device to a VPN, it behaves as if it was on the same local network as the VPN. It allows you to access local network resources even if physically you’re accessing the internet from a different country. You can also browse the internet as if you were based at the VPN’s location. For example, if you’re using a USA-based VPN from outside the US, the websites will see your online activity as if it was coming from within the country.
What IS a VPN Used For?
Some people associate using a VPN with the need to hide your online activity. In reality, a VPN comes with a number of benefits that can help any internet user in their everyday life. Here are a few reasons why you might want to start using a VPN.
Secure Your Connection When Using Public WiFi
When you’re browsing the internet at home, your connection is via a password-protected router and a private WiFi network. However, when you connect to a public WiFi network – whether it’s at a coffee shop, a hotel, or an airport – your traffic isn’t protected anymore. Those networks offer open access to all users, which makes it much easier to intercept the wireless network traffic.
That’s why it’s a good idea to use a VPN next time you decide to connect to a public WiFi network to send an email or check your Instagram account.
Take Back Your Online Privacy
There can be a number of different reasons why you’d want to keep your online activity private. There’s the fact that your ISP can track your activity and privacy concerns about what they can do with that tracked data, other websites’ gathering your browsing data and the problem of targeted advertising, as well as torrent trackers and other monitoring systems.
Using a VPN is one of the simplest and most effective ways to gain back your online privacy and stop others from collecting your data.
Access Geo-Blocked Content
One of the most popular reasons for getting a VPN service is to access geo-blocked websites. Sometimes you’ll find that certain content, streaming services, or websites are blocked or have restricted access based on your location. Using a VPN is the easiest way to bypass those restrictions.
This can be useful if you ever find that certain movies or TV shows aren’t available on your streaming platform in your region. Connecting to a VPN server from the appropriate country can easily fix that.
When traveling, you might find yourself in a country where entire websites and services are geo-blocked. For instance, if you want to access LinkedIn in Russia, you’ll have to use a VPN or other means of getting around geo-restrictions.
Bypass Your School or Workplace Firewall
When using the internet at your school or workplace, you’re bound to come across blocked websites that management doesn’t want you to access. They do this by using firewalls that filter all web content and keep you away from the blacklisted sites.
There’s a number of workarounds that can help you bypass your school or workplace firewall. One of the easiest ways to do it is via the VPN service. When you connect to a VPN and start browsing, all the internet traffic is encrypted, and the firewall can’t see what you’re doing and what sites you’re visiting on the network connection. This way you can view the sites you want no matter the time and place.
Save Money on Shopping
Aside from the obvious benefits you get from using a VPN, you can get some extra perks if you think outside the box. A VPN can help you save money on shopping. Admittedly, it does require some time and effort.
You can use a VPN to connect to different servers across the world and find the cheapest prices. The things you can save money on include streaming services, software subscription plans, flight tickets, and even hotels. In theory, you can find cheaper prices for everything. However, don’t forget that some of the price differences will be covered by exchange rates and bank fees.
Do You Need a VPN?
While VPNs come with many benefits, they’re not flawless. The biggest downside of using a VPN is a connection speed drop. Since you’re sending your data to another location before it reaches the right server, your VPN connection speed is bound to be slower than your regular internet speed.
However, if that’s not a big problem for you, or if the connection speed drop isn’t significant, using a VPN is definitely a good idea. All that’s left is to choose the right VPN service for you. Luckily, there are plenty of options out there – from a Windows built-in option, VPN Chrome extensions, best free options for Mac, and the best VPN apps out there.
Have you used a VPN service before? What did you use it for? Share your VPN experience with us in the comments below.
