Virtual Private Network

What is VPN?

A virtual private network (VPN) create a private network across a public network, such as the Internet. It enables a computer to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if it is directly connected to the private network, while benefiting from the functionality, security and management policies of the private network. A VPN is created by establishing a virtual point-to-point connection through the use of dedicated connections, virtual tunneling protocols, or traffic encryption.

A virtual private network, or VPN, encrypts your information while you're online and can prevent other people from knowing your actual geographic location. Find out the best VPN service with the easiest installation for Chromebooks. One of the best tips for keeping your communication private and your data safe is to use VPN.

VPN stands for virtual private network, and while it can be used in a variety of ways, for the purpose of protecting your Chromebook, here's what you need to know: Any time you use a Wi-Fi connection that you do not for yourself know is secure, like at a coffee shop or in the campus quad, you should assume that someone could interfere with or intercept your information. VPN provides a layer of protection. A VPN prevents hackers, but also marketers (and possibly even the government), from snooping on your activity.

Most VPN services reassign a new IP address to your computer, which masks your actual geographic location and therefore hides some identifying information about you, your computer, and where you are. They also encrypt information that flowing between your computer and the Internet.

How Does VPN Work?

Using VPN requires nothing more than signing up for a service and enabling it on your computer. Some VPN services are free and others require payment or have a freemium model.

On Chromebook, I've found the easiest one to use and set up is Golden Frog's VyprVPN, although there are other services. VyprVPN Pro costs about $99 a year if you pay up front, or $14.99 per month if you pay monthly. The company offers other tiers and variations on the VyprVPN service. Look them over before deciding which one you need.

Bear in mind, you probably don't need VPN if you only use your Chromebook on properly secure Wi-Fi networks (in other words, if it's your own home Wi-Fi, make sure it's WPA2 secure), and you can pay for just a month here and there when you need it if you don't use public Wi-Fi very often. There are, however, other reasons people like to use VPN services, such as accessing websites that are otherwise blocked in their countries (Downton Abbey streaming party, anyone?).

Private Internet Access

We subscribe to a company called Private Internet Access to create VPN on some of our computers to mask our IP address from snooping eyes.

Windows

On Windows computers Private Internet Access provide download software to install that makes it easy to start up the VPN service to different points around the world.

Chrome OS

On a Chrome OS computer (Chromebook or Chromebox) the VPN has to be set up manually: