2d ago

Eli5: what is the purpose of a VPN?

If I am in a country that allows VPNs, and my laptop is in another country that doesn’t allow VPNs, do I just connect my laptop to the VPN and stay protected? I assume VPNs make a difference in a country’s security, but is there another reason why they’re there?

28 comments

If you pay a higher rate of internet users it is better than paying less.
- No you aren't
  
  I have to tell you this for a fact because it's true.
- I’m gonna give this to u/MrMegaPhoenix.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
/uj I think that's the point of the VPN is that you can go online in a different country and find out what it’s like there, while your local VPN doesn’t have your information available.
- I mean, where did u come from?
  
  It was a quick search. The top answers were VPNs, so it wasn't that hard.
- /ul whats the point of a VPN is that you can go online in a different country and find out what it’s like there, while your local VPN doesn’t have your information available.
Because it encrypts your identity when you use it, or the VPN encrypts your identity when you don’t. That’s why the VPN encrypts your identity when you use it, or the VPN encrypts your identity when you don’t. That’s why the VPN encrypts your identity when you use it, or the VPN encrypts your identity when you don’t. That’s why the VPN encrypts your identity when you use it, or the VPN encrypts your identity when you don’t. \u200b I'm sorry I misunderstood your answer. It was my first time responding to someone else on here.
- Yeah I don’t want to be a “Gmailing” for my own security.
  
  So that makes sense then. So do you want to send the password to Google without my knowledge?
- If your VPN encrypts your identity, then if you're browsing a site, that site is not a VPN. You're visiting that site, but the VPN is encrypting your traffic from the site you are visiting. It doesn't tell if you are in fact visiting the site you are visiting, but instead tells you that you are in fact visiting that site.
  
  You cannot tell if you are in fact visiting a site. Its always the case.
- It encrypts your identities when you use it, and it doesn’t mask your identity when you use it.
- Yes! This is why I use this thing. I know that I will never pass but it is so damn hard to tell if I pass.
  
  Yeah, it's an investment so I don't need it lol
  
  Well if you know that you will pass then by using VPNs that don't exist then why not use VPNs? If VPNs existed then it wouldn't matter if you are using VPNs or not. VPNs work in the same way as a VPN and your identity is completely encrypted from the VPN. But I wouldn’t use VPNs unless you absolutely have to, you want to be anonymous to all people that are trying to track you, and the VPNs you use make this very difficult. I'd be fine using VPNs that way as long as I can use it for basic internet like you can with your phone, but I wouldn’t use them if I don’t have to.

28 comments