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Every day, millions of users use our service to check their location – some for work purposes and some to ensure their safety and security on the Internet.

Did you know that every time you connect to the Internet, your computer is assigned a unique address on a network, better known as an IP address? An IP address is a unique identifier assigned to each device connected to the Internet that consists of four octets of numbers from 0 to 254, separated by the so-called "decimal point." The thing is that while your actual IP address is indicated, you cannot be anonymous online.

Hackers often use "anonymizer" services that simply change your real address to the IP of some other country. An anonymizer is a proxy server to hide or change the IP address, making your online activity untraceable. In the normal world, this program is called a VPN.

Short for "Virtual Private Network", a VPN creates a secure connection between you and the internet. It provides an extra layer of privacy and anonymity so that you can:

Hide your internet activity and location so you can't be tracked (especially on public WiFi networks) Bypass online censorship and surf the internet freely Download torrents safely and anonymously without losing speed Unblock streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ and others VPNs may seem complicated at first glance, but you don't have to be technically savvy to use them to their full potential. Among the more than 20 VPNs I've tested, my top recommendation for beginners is ExpressVPN because it's fast, secure, and very easy to use. You can even try it risk-free for 30 days!

In this article, I will explain how services like ExpressVPN work. I will also share my tips on how to get the most out of your VPN - even if you are an absolute beginner.

A VPN is an essential tool for protecting your privacy online. Without a VPN, third parties can easily access data about your online activity. Such data includes your browsing history, downloaded files, online banking data and passwords.

Even worse, your Internet Protocol (IP) address can be used to track your device. An IP address helps determine your real location, so it can be used to track you down in real life. This is similar to sending postcards in the mail, where anyone can read the message and see your name and address.

But when you connect to a VPN, your online activity is encrypted and your real IP address is masked. No one knows who you are or what you are doing, not even Internet Service Providers (ISPs), the government or hackers.

Now instead of postcards, you send an extremely secure personal message that can only be read directly by the recipient. The name and address of the sender will not be indicated. If someone else tries to view the message, they will only see encrypted information.

infographics on how vpn works Here's how a VPN encrypts your internet connection to maximize your online privacy What does a VPN hide? A VPN hides your real IP address and encrypts your internet connection. But what does it look like in real life?

Your search history is private. A VPN hides your search history and visited sites from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). The only thing your ISP can see is your encrypted traffic going to the VPN server.

You can change your online location. Your IP address gives away your physical location. With a VPN you can connect to a server in another country and access local content (for example, American Netflix, online news and torrent sites). Your online activities are anonymous. VPNs that do not log data ensure that no one will know about your online activities. This is ideal for those who like to download torrent files and use P2P networks.

Also, hackers care about technical security, so in most cases, professionals have an uninterrupted source of electricity and a solid door to the room where the computer is located. This is caused by the fact that the police, when they detect a hacker, before breaking into the room and making an arrest, turn off the electricity in the room so that the hacker does not have time to remove the "traces" of hacking from the computer.

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