VPN – What is It and Why Do Armed Forces Use It?

VPN – What is It and Why Do Armed Forces Use It?

VPN

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VPN ,or virtual private network, is a term we hear more and more. This is understandable if you take into consideration the many varied benefits of using one. Not only does it keep your personal data safe, VPNs provide a secure path to the Internet that keeps others from tracking your usage, prevent the recording of your connection’s IP address, and can even “trick” networks into thinking you’re connecting from a country other than the one you’re actually located in at the time.

According to vpnmentor.com, a VPN has three main components to it: security protocols, encryption and servers. VPNs use a security protocol that protects any information that passes through the server. This protocol creates a secure connection and also influences the type of encryption the VPN uses.

Encryption goes hand in hand with the security protocol. This feature guards your data by encrypting it. So, even if a hacker or someone else gets a hold of your data, they won’t be able to decipher it.

And finally, When you use a VPN, your data first goes to the VPN’s server, and then the VPN sends it to the intended server. When you ping a server for a website, you constantly send data back and forth over that connection. If you insert a VPN in the middle, your request for the website goes to the server, but your data only moves between your device and the VPNs server which is an encrypted tunnel. Therefore, the intended server does not receive any of your information.This is how VPN users remain anonymous online and also how VPNs can change your location to unblock certain websites.

Anyone can benefit from using a VPN, whether it is to access content outside of your territory, protect your private information, or get access to cheap airfares.

Businesses use VPNs to connect remote data centers, and individuals can use VPNs to get access to network resources when they’re not physically on the same LAN (local area network), or as a method for securing and encrypting their communications when they’re using an untrusted public network.

All of those are great reasons for anyone to use a VPN, but this type of tool is especially handy for military personnel. According to privatewifi.com, whether it’s trying to watch Netflix from a foreign deployment base or forwarding a secure communication from a local national contact, a VPN can offer another layer of protection that soldiers can appreciate, no matter what type of connectivity work they’re doing.

Some of the best reasons for active duty military members to employ a VPN can include signing into sensitive accounts, especially while deployed to a foreign country, relaying sensitive communications to other soldiers or officials in the chain of command, especially with regards to the names or locations of contacts, checkpoints, or while submitting other detailed notifications.

It should be noted that there are military-specific VPN’s and that their functions may be somewhat different than those offered to everyday citizens. A specific VPN assigned for military use and communications may be monitored and archived for later evaluation and does not offer the same types of privacy that the civilian public has, this is to help the armed forces ensure mission readiness and security.

Whether it’s to keep others from prying into your Internet activities or to enable the legitimate use of websites that other countries censor, a VPN keeps your online behaviors private and your network use easy and efficient.