b'Webwaves WebwavesIan James ASEG Webmasterwebmaster@aseg.org.auVPNsOver the past few years there has been a surge in remote work, leading to a rise in the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). These networks haveFigure 1.Google Trends data on VPN. Upper = global data, lower = Iran.enabled secure remote access to an employees workplace network overWhy use VPNs? VPNs route your internet traffic through the internet. Furthermore, the growinga private server so it can sometimes concern over online privacy andSome of the most common reasonsresult in slower internet speeds. This security has also contributed to theirinclude: can be particularly noticeable when increasing usage. VPNs offer users astreaming video or downloading large method of protecting themselves whileProtecting your online privacy by accessing the internet by routing traffichiding your IP address and otherfiles.through a private server. identifying information. This canSome VPN providers keep logs of help to prevent online trackingusers internet activity, which can be Figure 1 shows the Google Trends data forby third parties, including youra privacy concern. If a VPN provider VPNs in the last five years. This illustratesinternet service provider (ISP) andkeeps logs, it means that your internet Google search popularity and is scaled soadvertisers. activity could potentially be traced that 100 is the peak popularity of the term.A VPN can help you access geo- back to you.A steady increase in interest is observedrestricted content by routing yourWhile there are free VPNs available, over time, with various peaks that matchinternet traffic through a server locatedthey often come with limitations, such global events, including a small peak atin another country. This can be usefulas slower speeds and fewer server the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War and afor accessing content that is blocked inlocations. Paid VPNs can be expensive, large spike in September 2022 that can beyour region, such as streaming services,with prices ranging from a few dollars seen on both the global and Iranian chartssocial media platforms, and newsto over $10 per month.and correlates with the protests againstwebsites. Users can still be tracked through the government. Public Wi-Fi networks are notoriouslydevice fingerprinting and tracking insecure and can be easily hacked.cookies. A user profile can be built What are VPNs? A VPN can help to secure yourbased on browser and device connection and protect your sensitiveinformation and details about internet A VPN establishes a private and secureusage can still be tracked by cookies on connection between two or moreinformation, such as passwords and credit card details, from beingthe users computer.devices over the internet. Generally, VPNs are used to encode internet trafficintercepted by hackers. Common VPN providers include, and safeguard users online privacy byIn some countries, the governmentinalphabetical order:obscuring their IP addresses and othercensors the internet, blocking access identifiable data. By using a VPN, ato certain websites and services. A VPNExpressVPN (https://www.expressvpn.users IP address is replaced with the IPcan help you bypass this censorshipcom/)address of the VPN server, effectivelyand access the internet freely. Mullvad (https://mullvad.net/)masking their location and identity. ThisIssues and misconceptions about VPNs NordVPN (https://nordvpn.com/)imposes a barrier to bad actors trackingPrivate Internet Access (https://www.a users online activity. While encryptionSome of the most common issues andprivateinternetaccess.com/)is regularly implemented, it is not anmisconceptions around the use of VPNsProtonVPN (https://protonvpn.com/)inherent part of a VPN connection. include: Surfshark (https://surfshark.com/)43 PREVIEW APRIL 2023'