TECH

A Beginner's Guide to Using a VPN for Data Security

In a world where data breaches and cyber threats are more and more common, diving into one’s own personal security is a necessary — but oftentimes overwhelming — task. Thankfully, there are low maintenance solutions to ensure that you’re protected on all of your devices, such as VPNs or Virtual Private Networks. While such technology might seem complicated, it actually provides an easy and effective way to fend off predatory hackers. HYPEBEAST spoke with Laura Tyrell from the VPN provider NordVPN to get a rundown of what exactly a Virtual Private Network does, how the company’s new technology is pushing the boundaries of data security and her best advice for staying protected. Tyrell’s best tip? Don’t wait for a data breach to safeguard your activity and information.

For somebody who doesn’t know what a VPN is, how would you explain it in layman’s terms?
A VPN or Virtual Private Network is a tool that allows you to be more secure online. You can imagine it as a tunnel — a secure and encrypted tunnel for online traffic to flow. By traveling via a tunnel and not an open road, your data is invisible and unreachable to others. Whether you are using public Wi-Fi, going to a foreign country or want to secure your day-to-day activity online, you can trust VPNs to secure your data from being intercepted.

Why is it important to use a VPN? What does a VPN protect users from?
VPN encrypts your data and protects it from all prying eyes. Whether that would be your Internet service providers, who might track your internet traffic and sell your data to advertisers; hackers, who can exploit unsecure connections to get inside your phones and computers; or governments, that can demand logs of your online activity.

Why is it better to get a VPN sooner rather than later? What are some current events that show that a VPN is necessary for security?
We see that a lot of our customers turn to VPN after being affected by a data breach or any other cybercrime. However, we advise people not to wait and get protected before anything terrible happens. A recent study done by NordVPN highlights that developed countries are more vulnerable to cybercrime due to increased internet penetration, higher economies and urbanization levels. So, even though you might think that you are secure because you’re tech-savvy, you actually might be under a more significant risk.

How does NordVPN work?
NordVPN creates a tunnel to transmit your data to VPN servers securely. It uses AES encryption standard with 256-bit keys, which the NSA recommends to secure classified information, including the “Top Secret” level. This encryption standard is used and approved worldwide by governments, cybersecurity experts, and cryptography enthusiasts.
NordVPN recently announced NordLynx. Can you explain what that is?
NordLynx is a new technology, built around the WireGuard® protocol, which is considered to be “the future industry standard.” NordLynx is the fastest protocol, which provides our customers with amazing speeds, without compromising their privacy. After carrying out 256,886 speed tests, we can confidently state that the download and upload speeds can get up to two times faster with NordLynx compared to OpenVPN and IKEv2.

In simple terms, how has NordLynx improved VPN technology?
To put it simply, NordLynx is the absolute game-changer in the VPN technology. It’s the biggest and most significant technological advancement and a huge boost to the VPN industry. Going forward, the speed that NordLynx delivers will become the new normal and the new standard of a good VPN.

How does NordVPN and NordLynx differ from other VPN services?
NordLynx is the fastest VPN protocol existing today. It was the first VPN provider to implement WireGuard® on such a scale. However, it’s important to note that the user’s privacy still remains the highest priority and doesn’t suffer when high speeds are introduced.
NordVPN also stands out with its strong encryption, together with such advanced security features such as DoubleVPN, CyberSec, and others. At the same time, it is equipped with a very user-friendly interface that’s valued by VPN newbies.

Beyond offering protection for its users, how does NordVPN dedicate its services to social responsibility initiatives?
Our mission is to keep the internet free, so we started working with various non-governmental organizations and activists. This is our opportunity to give back to society, especially when so many actors threaten freedom of the internet. For example, we constantly provide emergency VPN accounts for journalists and activists during uneasy times.

Presented by NordVPN