Virtual private networks (VPNs) are not used exclusively by end consumers, but many companies have also been adopting them in recent years. One of the most common reasons companies use a VPN is to protect themselves from cyber threats. Business owners believe that using a VPN can reduce the risk of malware, viruses, data breaches, and other cybersecurity issues. So, can a VPN really protect us from cyber threats?
How connected are VPNs and cybersecurity?
Before we begin, let’s answer the most popular question of all: what is a VPN? A VPN is a service that encrypts your data and hides your IP address by bouncing your network activity through a secure chain to another server thousands of miles away. This obscures your online identity, even if you are connected to public Wi-Fi networks, and will allow you to browse the Internet safely, securely and anonymously.
While it is useful for cyber threat protection, a VPN is not a foolproof cybersecurity solution. In fact, it won’t stop malware from reaching your computer or any other computer on a company’s network. VPNs aren’t designed to search for or remove malware. They are simply designed to create a secure virtual private network while using a public network. You can certainly continue to use a VPN, but don’t expect it to protect you from all the cyber threats out there.
But here are 5 cyber threats that a VPN protection can handle:
External hacking threats
Attackers trying to steal information from your computer will have a hard time taking action while using a VPN. Typically, cybercriminals find it difficult to steal data from computers connected via a VPN that makes use of military-grade encryption technology.
Therefore, if you use a VPN and connect your device to public Wi-Fi, you won’t have to worry about external attacks. A hacker will not be able to steal credit card details, passwords or other sensitive information. The service will securely route your traffic through an encrypted tunnel to an external server.
However, it is important to remember that VPNs take care of network connections and cannot guarantee the physical security of your devices. That is why, in addition to VPNs, it is advisable to increase cybersecurity through a combination of strong identity checks, passwords and protocols 2-factor authentication.
Spyware
There are many reasons why a hacker may decide to spy on your online activity, including data theft for financial gain, targeted advertising, and many others.
Most internet users are used to cookies, but they are not aware of spyware, and if they do, they may not understand the potential damage this type of malware can cause to a computer.
While a VPN can’t stop your computer from downloading spware, it can hide your location, preventing senders from tracking your online activity. With the best VPNs, you’ll also get access to anti-malware and ad-blocking software to keep you safe while browsing. Additionally, some providers provide anti-spyware software that cleans up any remaining malware left on your computer after a download
Phishing
Through phishing activity, hackers usually recreate websites with the http or https protocol, deceiving most users who will be tricked into entering their personal data, such as username and password to access a bank account. To avoid such a scenario, you should use a VPN while browsing.
When choosing which VPN service to use, choose one that offers excellent privacy and security protection while online. Use a VPN with a malicious website detector to identify links to websites that could compromise your security.
With a VPN, malicious actors cannot monitor your online traffic and direct you to their website via browser hijacking. The private network connection isolates your network connection, limiting any attempts to hijack your browser, keeping your browsing session safe.
Finally, another type of phishing attack is that paid by sending emails to various users. Often the messages seem legitimate and tempting, but once the victims visit the site reported in the e-mail message, they end up, as mentioned above, sharing their personal information with malicious people. A VPN creates a private channel that doesn’t allow malicious actors to track your email address for phishing purposes.
Cryptojacking
The rise in popularity and value of cryptocurrencies created an opportunity for illegal activities to thrive in this ecosystem. With the cost of mining digital currencies steadily rising and beyond the reach of many, malicious people have come up with ways to profitably participate in the process without incurring huge costs. The new fraud of the moment is known as cryptojacking.
To understand cryptojacking, you need to know why it’s so important to do it in the first place: Coin mining is a very expensive and time-consuming process, and involves the use of expensive computer equipment and huge amounts of electricity. Therefore, the more devices you have, the faster you can extract coins. Due to cost constraints, however, most people cannot pay the huge electricity bills that come with it, nor can they aspire to purchase the right equipment. These constraints lead cyber criminals to engage in cryptojacking.
Cryptojacking can happen in two ways. In the first case, the infection is carried out via phishing tactics in which malicious emails are used to install an encryption code on a device. Once a victim downloads an attachment or clicks a link in the email, they execute a code which eventually downloads the encryption script to the computer. The computer owner will never notice that the script is running in the background.
In the second case, malicious attacks are performed on the victim’s web browser to undermine the cryptocurrency. Attacks are generally fileless as they do not involve copying files to disk. Furthermore, it is difficult to ascertain any signatures of the attack.
It is important to note that in both cases the code serves the hacker’s interests, as it solves complex mathematical problems (mining) and transmits the results to the cybercriminal’s server without the victim noticing.
VPNs can prevent such an event. They mask your IP address and prevent attackers from targeting your devices. With a good VPN, most cryptojacking protocols will be neutralized.
Ransomware
Since the first half of 2020, ransomware groups have been viciously attacking the corporate sector. Cybercriminals have learned of some intrusion vectors and exploited them to the detriment of most businesses. Specifically, the criminals use RDP endpoint unsecured, phishing emails, and corporate VPN devices to gain access to corporate networks.
In 2020, RDP was the most popular intrusion vector used by hackers to access Windows computers and install ransomware and other malware. Cybercrime groups always scan the internet for RDP endpoints, then brute force attacks on systems looking for their credentials.
Although VPNs are also an attack vector, with frequent patch, the risks of ransomware attacks can be significantly reduced. Patching fixes security vulnerabilities and bugs to improve performance and security. Additionally, VPNs can also mask users’ IP addresses and encrypt internet traffic to minimize the chances of phishing, which is another vector of ransomware attacks.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN is a tunneling service designed to create a private and secure network over a public network, such as the Internet. When you subscribe to a VPN service, you will be able to connect to the internet using a virtual private network. All traffic to and from this private network will come encrypted. In other words, the VPN service will create a safe environment in which to browse and use the Internet.
The VPN service will essentially mask your Internet (IP) address in the process. Your online activities will still leave a traceable IP address, but it will not be yours or your company’s other IP addresses. In fact, all your online activities will show the IP address of the VPN service.
Additionally, as traffic is encrypted and routed through the VPN tunnel, potential attackers will not be able to steal your personal information and data.
How does the VPN protect you on the internet?
A VPN can protect you from cyber threats in several ways, one of which is by encrypting your traffic. Unencrypted traffic is a common risk factor for cyber threats. When you use the Internet, you will send and exchange data with other websites or online apps. If this traffic is not protected, it could be intercepted by hackers and used for nefarious purposes. A VPN will encrypt your traffic so this isn’t a problem.
In addition to encrypting your traffic, using a VPN will hide your IP address and this will help avoid numerous cyber threats that can occur if the IP address is exposed. After identifying your IP address, a hacker could conduct a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack against it. Through this type of attack, a personal or corporate private network would be overloaded with requests, so much so that it could go offline. By using a VPN, neither hackers nor anyone else will be able to see your IP address and conduct certain types of malicious attacks.
Furthermore, a VPN can also be used by Android and iPhone smartphones in order to have protection even on the move and to be able to surf the Internet safely wherever you are, especially when you are traveling.
How to choose a VPN?
Here are 8 tips that will help you understand what to look for in a VPN and how to choose the best one:
- Know the qualities of each VPN provider
- Trust only paid VPNs and be wary of free ones
- Check which devices are compatible with the VPN program
- Find a VPN with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- Make sure your most important geographic locations are covered, i.e. the VPN provider has servers in different countries
- Choose a VPN provider with prices that match your budget and support your preferred payment method
- Look for a VPN with reliable customer service
- Make sure the provider has a money back guarantee