Let’s Talk About Your VPN

I am on holiday for the next two weeks – some cold weather walking in the Lake District and the Cairngorms, whilst Diana stays back in the warm office – so it must be time to discuss VPN use again. The photo above is the view whilst I write this article.

A VPN – your own private internet

If you are unfamiliar with a VPN (Virtual Private Networks) or have heard the term banded about by your IT team or techy friends and have been shy to ask what it is – here is a quick “non-technical” explanation.

A VPN is a secure tunnel between your device and the resources you want to use across an insecure internet.

I am going to skip over all the hand-shaking, certificate swapping and authentication and cut straight to the point that not all internet connections you use are equally secure – a hacker, the service provider, the hotel clerk or person in the next room to you, etc., may be able to see what you are doing on a shared internet connection. That is why I am writing about VPNs whilst I am travelling. This week and next week I am connecting my computer to the internet via free resort internet connections and I have no guarantees that those networks are secure, hence I will be using my VPN.

A VPN in the real world

The likelihood of someone snooping on my internet use is very low – but it is not zero – and the various third parties involved in providing the free internet will probably be collecting information on your usage – and possibly selling it. “There is no such thing as a free lunch.”

I like my internet usage to be private. I work when I am away and I have even carried out emergency cyber-investigations for clients whilst travelling and that activity I’d like to keep to myself.

Wouldn’t you like your internet usage to be private when travelling or working away from your office?

VPN as a service

I use a number of VPNs. We have some set up on our own devices for Smart Thinking and Octagon Technology and I also subscribe to a VPN service. (I use CyberGhost and have done for many years and find their privacy and level of service very good but other services are available – many of them shilled by YouTube influencers – but do your own research or get advice if you are unsure who to use.)

Next

Quick and to the point this week. Next week I am going to look at a couple of other cyber-security issues when travelling.

Clive Catton MSc (Cyber Security) – by-line and other articles

p.s. There is just one article this week shared between Smart Thinking Solutions and CyberAwake.

Photo credit Clive Catton (www.clivecatton.co.uk)