A VPN can basically encrypt and therefore secure the data while surfing. However, the user is far from being anonymous. So what's behind the myth of being able to move invisibly online?
Pitfalls when using the Internet
Anyone looking for a VPN in Germany will quickly find what they are looking for online. Hardly any VPN service provider guarantees such robust digital privacy security as NordVPN. With our neighbors alone, the provider has more than 240 servers at 2 server locations. In total it offers over 5,200 servers around the world. This means you can easily connect to the Internet from Austria via a VPN tunnel. The user has the option to purchase a static dedicated IP address. Or he relies on extra security and chooses a double VPN. But whatever he decides – is he really anonymous online?
From here it gets a little difficult. The computer generally connects via the Internet provider ; However, the VPN tunnel then ensures that the user's data is encrypted. So far, so anonymous. However, the regular user subsequently stumbles over many a pitfall, which means that the meaning of the word anonymous is no longer tenable.
Let's take a closer look. In general, the IP address of a connection is used to link it to a device in order to identify it. If this person sends unencrypted data over the Internet , in addition to the name resolutions of the websites (DNS request), search queries, log-in data and much more can be viewed. However, the VPN provider now sets up a “tunnel” with which the sent and received data packets are encrypted and the user receives a different IP address, that of the VPN server.
VPN providers like NordVPN use this technology to protect data accordingly. But the user is still not really anonymous. On the one hand, there are state-of-the-art tracking methods that are not focused on finding out the IP address. Finally, users also leave other information online that can be used to identify them. This includes the screen resolution used, cookies, which browser is used with which browser extensions and much more. Although the user is not known by name, he leaves traces.
On the other hand, people are “creatures of habit” who often buy in online shops , visit social networks and always use the same browser. All of this can be used as an identification option despite the VPN because it always has the same features. For example, if real names are stored when shopping.
So are VPNs useless?
Definitely not that. Finally, they encrypt the data packets and ensure that third parties do not “just” come into possession of important information. However, they do not help people achieve 100 percent anonymity online. These don't even exist. The simple fact that the user always uses the same applications out of ignorance or convenience and human automatisms makes him identifiable. This can be exploited for advertising purposes. Nevertheless, a reliable VPN is already a good measure to be safer and more private online.
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