Connecting to any network is a very simple process and accessible to any type of user, regardless of their level of knowledge, although the processes of optimize and protect this connection they are not as prevalent among average users. Talking about VPN is talking about the possibility of improving our connection to the network, so it is interesting to know in detail what they are and how we can take advantage of them.
Therefore, we will first put you in context what VPN connections are, to tell you later. how can you configure them on androidbecause it is a fairly straightforward process.
What is a VPN connection
The explanation of what a VPN is is relatively straightforward. It is the acronym of Virtual private network. Translated into Spanish, virtual private network. These VPNs were originally used to connect branch offices, offices, or users to the same network with the same security, privacy, and other policies. In other words, VPNs are technologies that allow the local network to be extended, without the need for the members of the said network to be physically connected to each other.
When you connect to a VPN, your IP address is, for all intents and purposes, the one provided by the VPN. This opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to navigation.
When we connect to a VPN, all network traffic continues to go from our device to the ISP (Internet Service Provider), but from there it goes directly to the VPN server. What does it mean? That the IP address, for convenience, will be the one provided by the VPN server, with all that implies.
Examples? Imagine that there is a service in a country that we cannot access. When we connect to the network and go to the landing page, it is detected that our IP address is from a different country and access is blocked or directly not available. If we use a VPN connection and open a tunnel to another country, the IP will be that of the said country of destination, be able to access content that is not displayed in our country.
In some countries we cannot access certain services from our Spanish IP. By using a VPN with a connection in this country, we can bypass these blocks, among many other possibilities.
The most common case is the use of VPN connections in China, to bypass the blockade that exists there with basic services for the average European user, such as those from Google. Likewise, there are blocked pages, without going any further, in our country, which we can access if our VPN connection is linked to another location.
Beyond tampering with our location, VPNs have other benefits. For example, in companies that want to access the same private company and in which there are teleworkers, it is possible that that everyone is connected, without teleworkers needing to be physically connected to the local office network.
On the other hand, if the VPN is adequate, using it can add an extra layer of security. Therefore, if we are going to connect to a public WiFi network or just want to improve the security of our connection, it is not a bad idea to use them. Of course, keep in mind that it is 100% dependent on the VPN connection we are using, so not all of them can be guaranteed to be secure.
Before using a VPN connection, it is convenient to know what they are doing with our data, to avoid issues with our privacy.
Finally, pointing out that VPNs can improve our connection speed and security, among other things, it should be noted that In the case of free VPNs, remember that you don’t stop using a service, and that your data can be the way it is amortized. Using a VPN does not imply that browsing is anonymous, so it is advisable to know in advance how the VPN uses your data before using it.
How to set up a VPN on Android
Explained what a VPN is, as well as its advantages and disadvantages, we will explain to you how to set up a VPN on Android. The first thing we need to do is go to the section of Networks and Internet, which you will first find in the menu of your Android. If your mobile has a heavy personalization layer, it can be in the section of more, more connections, etc.
Whatever the phone, You will be asked for certain information to configure the VPN. This data will be provided by the VPN provider, so you just need to write it down.
- name
- VPN type
- Server address
- username
- Password
Once you have added the VPN profile, you will need to click on it when you want to connect. Otherwise, the profile will be configured in your settings, but the connection will remain the same as usual.
Fortunately, we use cell phones, and to talk about them is to talk about apps. The vast majority of VPNs have their own app, so we just have to install these apps and allow them to add their own VPN profiles. These profiles will appear reflected in the VPN section, already configured, without you having to do anything.
In our experience, there are several recommended VPNs, such as NordVPN, Express VPN, IPVanish, or Cloudflare VPN. It’s up to the user to choose between them, as well as to see what they can do for your connection.
