What is a VPN and What Does it Actually Provide?!
By: David Koff
Tags: Tech, Privacy, How To, Security, Technology

So What Does a VPN Service ACTUALLY Offer Consumers?

I’m so glad you asked. Especially since I’d just mentioned that we’d be talking about this only a few sentences ago. Reputable VPN services can and do offer solid protections for consumers who wish to take advantage of any of the benefits below…

Benefit #1: Protecting your ISP from having access to see the websites where you surf. Right now, your Internet Service Prover (or ISP) has the ability — if they wish — to track where you go online. That includes documenting every website you visit while connected to the Internet via their network. Yeh, I know: it’s totally creepy. That information can be sold for advertising purposes and it can also be provided to the authorities (courts, cops, and more) for certain legal purposes. Who’s interested in giving away their browsing habits to ANY third party?!? Not me, buster.

So, if you’d like to hide your browsing habits from companies like Comcast, Cox, and AT&T in the US; Orange S.A., Telefonica, and Sky in the EU; and Vodaphone or Airtel in India… then, yes: browsing while using a VPN will definitely prevent your ISP from having access to this information. Instead, your ISP will only be able to see that you’re logging in to a VPN but… nothing else. Pretty nice, feature, I’d say. For those of you who are visual learners, here’s a graphic of what implementing a VPN looks like:

Just remember, even though your ISP won’t be able to see your browsing information, the VPN service you decide to trust most certainly WILL be able to see it. Therefore, it’s important to choose a VPN service that protects your safety, security, and privacy. I covered my tips on how to pick a reputable VPN in this episode of my newsletter, so give that read.

Benefit #2: Bypassing your ISP’s efforts to prioritize or restrict certain content. In some countries, certain ISPs prioritize or restrict certain websites or content. T-Mobile, for example, slows down Internet speeds for users who wish to stream video. In the US, Comcast decided to intentionally slow down Netflix for all of its users, a super shitty move. Netflix bowed to the pressure and paid Comcast extra money to end the practice.

However, if you’re using a VPN service, then guess what? Your ISP can’t see which websites you’re visiting online and, therefore, can’t decrease your speed because you’ve chosen to visit a particular website that they don’t like. Thanks, VPN!

Benefit #3: Bypassing the blocks that your ISP or country uses to prevent access to certain websites. Let’s say you live in a repressive country that doesn’t allow access to things like, I don’t know: a free press, women’s rights, LGBTQIA rights, or even pornography. Using a VPN can, in some cases, allow you to bypass those restrictions and surf more comfortably to any website that you might choose for yourself as a free-thinking human. FREEEEEEDOM!!!!!

And, while it’s true that some countries (cough, cough, CHINA) can simply block access to known VPN providers, VPN providers constantly add new servers with new IP addresses, making this cat-and-mouse game forever playable. And endlessly fascinating.

Benefit #4: You can suddenly stream data from another country’s video-on-demand service. The BBC in the UK offers a ton of really cool programming that’s 100% free. So does the CBC in Canada. And if I were online in the UK or in Canada, I’d be able to stream that content freely and easily. However, because I’m geographically located in America, I can’t stream video from those websites to my computer. Ditto, if I’m a paying Netflix customer in the US but am traveling abroad and want access to Netflix’s sweet, sweet American show library. So, yeh, that’s a bummer.

However, if my VPN service offers me the ability to connect to one of their servers in, say, London or Toronto, well… guess what?! I’m now virtually in the UK or Canada and all of that free content is now available to me. Ditto, if I’m traveling abroad in the EU and want access to my paid Netflix account back in the States: I can just connect via my VPN to a US server and presto… I’ve suddenly gained access to the shows I’m already paying to view.

It’s worth noting: some video-on-demand services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and others block VPN services from accomplishing this. But, again, VPN servers are being added all the time, so just make sure you pick a VPN that offers a free trial. That way, you can test the access you need before you commit to a yearly purchase.

The Summary

Here’s a great video from Tom Scott (a lovely and funny YouTube personality) who digs into this topic with fun, clarity, and a wee bit of sass. That’s because he’s British and having sass is socially acceptable there. Enjoy:

And that’s a wrap for today, everyone. Thank you again, for reading and for being a subscriber/follower. Please: let me know your thoughts & questions in the comments section and

As always… surf safe.