Virtual Private Network (VPN)

What is a VPN: A Tunnel Between You and the Internet

Imagine that you’re walking down the street with a sign that says “Hi, this is me, from Moscow, I live at this address, and here’s where I’m going!” This is how a regular internet connection works. Websites, internet service providers, and curious administrators can see your IP address, which gives them information about your approximate location, device, and even what you’re doing.

Now, imagine a different scenario: You get into an armored van with no windows, drive through an underground tunnel, and then get out somewhere in Berlin. There’s no trace of the route, no visibility, just the fact that you got out. This is a VPN, or Virtual Private Network, which creates a secure tunnel between you and the internet.

Your path now looks like this:

You → VPN server → Website

Instead of going directly to the website. The website sees the server instead of you. And everything you do is encrypted — as if you were talking in a code language that no one on the road understands.

 Why is this necessary?

• To hide your IP and “move” to another country (virtually).
• To protect yourself in public Wi-Fi, where your traffic can be easily intercepted.
• To bypass blocks and watch things that are “unavailable in your country.”
• To make the internet more yours — without surveillance or geo-restrictions.

A VPN is not a crutch or a fashion accessory. It is a tunnel, a mask, and a shield all rolled into one.

How VPN Differs from Proxy and TOR

When you start to understand privacy, it feels like there are a bunch of “adapters” around: VPN, proxy, TOR… All of them seem to “hide”, but each in their own way.

So, VPN is not a proxy or TOR. It’s a completely different kitchen.

• A proxy is like forwarding a letter. You write a letter, send it to an intermediary, and he already passes it on to the recipient. The recipient thinks that the letter is from the intermediary. But this whole exchange is not protected – anyone can read what’s inside the envelope.
• A VPN is a personal courier. And in a helmet. He takes your package, encrypts it, gets into an armored van and drives along a secret route. No one knows where it came from or what’s inside. It’s just a destination, that’s all.
• TOR is like a tourist with multiple stops. You want to go from A to B, but you’re going through Helsinki, Oslo, and Riga. Each leg of the journey takes you through a different country. It’s a random journey, with random people. It’s slow, but it’s anonymous. TOR is for those who want maximum anonymity, even at the cost of speed.

VPN works at the system level:

• Everything your phone, laptop, browser, or app does goes through the VPN.
• A proxy only has a browser or a separate program.
• TOR only has what works with its network.

So a VPN is more than “hide your IP.” It’s about redirecting all traffic, putting on a digital hood, and moving through the internet invisibly. If you want to find what’s better – VPN or Proxy feel free to check our article.

How Does a VPN Change Your IP and Why Does It Work?

An IP address is like a digital passport. Websites can “see” where you’re from, who your ISP is, and even guess your city. YouTube shows you local ads based on your IP, and Netflix shows you regional catalogs.

Now, imagine you’re connected to a VPN in Amsterdam. What happens?

The website thinks, “Oh, we have a user from the Netherlands. Let’s skip it.”

But you’re sitting in the Moscow region, drinking tea. This is how a VPN changes your IP: it simply substitutes its own IP, masking yours.

 At a technical level:

• The VPN server “opens” a connection to the website on its behalf.
• And everything you send to it is encrypted and hidden inside the channel.
• Externally, you “move” — even Google thinks you’re abroad.

Where does it work?

• Geo-blocking: if a website is only available in Europe, a VPN in Europe solves the problem.
• Prices: some stores and services display different prices depending on the country. By changing your IP, you can see the “European” or “American” price.
• Content: videos, news, and apps that are “not available in your country” suddenly become accessible.

What does the website see?

Only what the VPN server transmits. And the site doesn’t know where it got the data from (as long as the VPN doesn’t leak). That’s why a VPN is not just a “security technique”. It’s a location switcher, a digital biography editor, and a freedom tool. And it all starts with a small change—your IP.

Where is a VPN Useful, and Where is it Useless?

A VPN is like a Swiss knife. There are many blades, but not every one is suitable for every situation. Sometimes it is the perfect solution. Other times, it is a useless burden.

Where it works perfectly:

• Public Wi-Fi in cafes or airports. Everyone is on the same network, and any student with a laptop can “eavesdrop” on other people’s data. A VPN is like an opaque envelope: no one knows what you’re transmitting.
• Bypassing blocks. If a website is blocked in your country but open in another — a VPN with the right location opens the door for you.
• Remote work. Many companies provide a corporate VPN so that you can “join” the office network even if you are in another country.
• Streaming and content. Want to watch a movie that is only available in Canada? Change your IP and you are there.

Where a VPN won’t save you:

• If the site asks you to enter a phone number. The VPN has nothing to do with it — the number will still be “local,” and it will be checked.
• If the VPN itself is banned. Some sites block the IP ranges of popular VPNs. Netflix, PayPal, and Booking are all capable of doing this.
• If the site looks at more than just the IP. Sometimes, the service can detect you based on your User-Agent, browser language, or suspicious behavior.

Who needs a VPN all the time?

• Those who work with sensitive data.
• Journalists, human rights defenders, and activists.
• People who often connect to Wi-Fi outside their homes.
• Or simply those who don’t like being followed.

 And who needs it occasionally?

• Tourists to access “forbidden” content.
• Students to read an article that cannot be downloaded from Russia.
• Viewers who want European Netflix.
• VPN doesn’t have to be always on. The key is to know when it really helps.

Types of VPN: From Free to Corporate

Just like coffee, VPN has gradations: instant, capsule, grain, and professional coffee machine. It may sound the same, but the difference is immediately noticeable.

• Personal VPN, this is what you put on your phone, laptop, and browser. An ordinary user, one account, one server. Suitable for traveling, streaming, and anonymity.
• Work or corporate, issued by companies. Connects you directly to the office’s internal network, as if you were physically there. Access to databases, servers, and CRM. Netflix doesn’t work here, but Excel flies.
• Browser VPNs, they are built right into the browser: for example, in Opera or Firefox. They work only within a tab, not the entire system. It’s convenient, but limited.
• VPN on a route, it works at the network level. Once configured, everything connected is automatically “in the tunnel.” It’s suitable for smart TVs, set-top boxes, and even Wi-Fi-enabled refrigerators.

Now let’s talk about money:

• Free VPNs:
  • It’s tempting: you don’t pay, you work.
  • But they limit your speed, insert ads, or, even worse, sell your data.
  • They often have a small number of servers and a “dirty” IP.
• Paid VPNs:
  • They work reliably.
  • They have many servers in different countries.
  • They often bypass streaming blocks (Netflix, Hulu, BBC).
  • There is support and applications for everything.

So VPN is not one product. It’s a whole market. And like with coffee – the main thing is to understand what you like: a turka, an automatic machine or capsules.

What VPN Does Not Do (Although Everyone Thinks It Does)

VPN has a bad reputation of a magic wand. They say, connected – and you are the #1 Hacker, invisible, Superman in a hood. Alas. VPN is not magic, but transportation. It just carries your traffic by a different route. Everything else is a myth.

• VPN does not make you anonymous like TOR. TOR is built on chaos and confusing routes. VPN is a straightforward tunnel. The server knows who you are. And if it is not honest, it also remembers.
• VPN does not protect you from viruses. You can be under a VPN and download a Trojan from a left-wing site. Or click on a phishing link. VPN here in no way saves. It’s not an antivirus and not a mother.
• VPN does not hide you from social networks. You go to Instagram and like photos of friends – even if from the IP of France, Instagram still knows that it’s you. VPN does not wipe cookies, does not change the account.
• VPN does not bypass two-factor authentication. If you’re in a different country, the security system may require you to verify your identity. You’ll have to search for your number, remember your passwords, and go through unnecessary steps.