FAQ explains how a VPN works and why they are not always the best solution.
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:18 am
VPN services create a 'virtual connection' to other networks, but they don't always work as expected. — Photo: Anders Engelbøl/Freeimages.com
VPN services create a 'virtual connection' to other networks, but they don't always work as expected. — Photo: Anders Engelbøl/Freeimages.com
I purchased a VPN, but I can't use it to watch movies on the streaming belarus whatsapp list or access some websites. I get an error saying that it can't connect to the server.
I wanted to know why this is and how to solve it. – Franklin
In fact, Franklin, this type of problem is not uncommon with the use of “VPNs” aimed at daily browsing.
There are cases where using these services can be beneficial, but they are often unnecessary and cause more problems than they solve.
VPN solutions have been getting a lot of attention lately, largely thanks to the influencer marketing campaigns used by several services in the market.
“VPN” is an acronym for “virtual private network” or “virtual private network”. The technology was created to allow companies and organizations to create “tunnels” within the Internet to connect computers anywhere in the world to their internal network.
For security reasons, internal company networks typically block connections from the Internet.
If an employee needs to access the company network via the internet – either because they are traveling or because they stayed at home for some reason (as happened a lot during the Covid-19 pandemic) – all access would be blocked.
Instead of forcing the company's internal network to accept internet connections (which generates many complications), the VPN solves the problem by creating a “tunnel” within the internet.
It's as if there were a physical cable connecting the remote computer to the company's headquarters, but everything is done via software. Since the computers "think" they are connected to the same physical network, the connection between them is authorized.
In other words, a “traditional” VPN is used to access a company’s internal website or service that would be completely unavailable on the internet to anyone except those inside the VPN itself.
“VPN” services designed for everyday browsing do not have this purpose. They are only capable of accessing the same websites that are on the internet for everyone else.
From this perspective, they are more like a proxy service (a connection intermediary). The only parallel with a VPN is that they use the same secure “tunnel” principle to do this intermediation.
Since your connection is now intermediated, the VPN receives the data that would normally remain with your internet provider. Your provider only “sees” that you are using the VPN service, but will not know anything about the network traffic that is being transmitted.
Check out some consequences of this intermediation:
Slower access: Using a VPN adds an extra intermediary to your connection. This will usually cause more access errors, slowdowns, streaming crashes, and other issues of the sort. Streaming videos over the internet is expensive, so providers seek partnerships to optimize access and reduce costs – in some cases, there are servers in larger cities and capitals to meet local demand. Using a VPN, your connection tends to take a longer and slower route.
Changed IP address: Since your internet access will be mediated by the VPN, any website or service will only see the VPN's IP address, not yours. This can benefit your privacy and unlock content that is unavailable in Brazil, since you can use IPs from other countries. However, international access may be slower and the websites you access may also block the VPN to protect the regional content lock. In other words, you may experience more connection errors.
VPN services create a 'virtual connection' to other networks, but they don't always work as expected. — Photo: Anders Engelbøl/Freeimages.com
I purchased a VPN, but I can't use it to watch movies on the streaming belarus whatsapp list or access some websites. I get an error saying that it can't connect to the server.
I wanted to know why this is and how to solve it. – Franklin
In fact, Franklin, this type of problem is not uncommon with the use of “VPNs” aimed at daily browsing.
There are cases where using these services can be beneficial, but they are often unnecessary and cause more problems than they solve.
VPN solutions have been getting a lot of attention lately, largely thanks to the influencer marketing campaigns used by several services in the market.
“VPN” is an acronym for “virtual private network” or “virtual private network”. The technology was created to allow companies and organizations to create “tunnels” within the Internet to connect computers anywhere in the world to their internal network.
For security reasons, internal company networks typically block connections from the Internet.
If an employee needs to access the company network via the internet – either because they are traveling or because they stayed at home for some reason (as happened a lot during the Covid-19 pandemic) – all access would be blocked.
Instead of forcing the company's internal network to accept internet connections (which generates many complications), the VPN solves the problem by creating a “tunnel” within the internet.
It's as if there were a physical cable connecting the remote computer to the company's headquarters, but everything is done via software. Since the computers "think" they are connected to the same physical network, the connection between them is authorized.
In other words, a “traditional” VPN is used to access a company’s internal website or service that would be completely unavailable on the internet to anyone except those inside the VPN itself.
“VPN” services designed for everyday browsing do not have this purpose. They are only capable of accessing the same websites that are on the internet for everyone else.
From this perspective, they are more like a proxy service (a connection intermediary). The only parallel with a VPN is that they use the same secure “tunnel” principle to do this intermediation.
Since your connection is now intermediated, the VPN receives the data that would normally remain with your internet provider. Your provider only “sees” that you are using the VPN service, but will not know anything about the network traffic that is being transmitted.
Check out some consequences of this intermediation:
Slower access: Using a VPN adds an extra intermediary to your connection. This will usually cause more access errors, slowdowns, streaming crashes, and other issues of the sort. Streaming videos over the internet is expensive, so providers seek partnerships to optimize access and reduce costs – in some cases, there are servers in larger cities and capitals to meet local demand. Using a VPN, your connection tends to take a longer and slower route.
Changed IP address: Since your internet access will be mediated by the VPN, any website or service will only see the VPN's IP address, not yours. This can benefit your privacy and unlock content that is unavailable in Brazil, since you can use IPs from other countries. However, international access may be slower and the websites you access may also block the VPN to protect the regional content lock. In other words, you may experience more connection errors.