Data Encryption & VPN – What Is It All About?

Data encryption is also known as encipherment or encryption. It is the process of concealing information as data unintelligible or ciphertext to an unauthorized individual. On the other hand, decipherment or decryption involves the process of changing ciphertext back into its original format. Manual encryption has been used since the Roman period, but the name has been linked with concealing of information through electronic computers. Encryption is a basic to cryptology.

Computers encrypt data by making use of an algorithm, which is a set of instructions or procedures for performing a particular task to a block of data. A personal encryption name or key which is known to the transmitter of the message and its receiver is used to control the algorithm’s encryption of the data thereby, resulting in an original ciphertext that can be decrypted by making use of the key.

Since the year 1970s, two types of encryption were developed. Conventional symmetric encryption involves using the same key for decryption and encryption. Encryption keys picked at random and of appropriate length are known to be impenetrable. The ten key characters long that is picked from the 256 available ASCII characters could take 40 billion years to decode.

What’s A VPN?

It’s important to know that encryption and VPN are two different things. The latter is a process that the tool employs while the former is a tool.

A VPN is called a virtual private network; it’s a tool that deploys different protocols and makes use of different algorithms to ensure the privacy and secrecy of user’s data against any type of cyber threat such as snooping, spying or hacking.

You can get a VPN to access things online, and they are not costly. You can also get a VPN on a budget which is not more than you can afford. Apart from security and data privacy, VPN is also used for accessing censored content and restricted online content in certain regions.

The VPN services make use of anonymous IPs of other countries to help users mask their real location and access the restricted content easily. VPN is a technology for creating a secure connection to and from a less secure network using encryption and authorization. The advantage of using a VPN is that it provides an appropriate level of security to your system even when the underlying public network/ infrastructure is not much secure. VPNs are very robust, cheap, affordable, and much fast, as well. It makes the data access more secure and restricted.

What Does Data Encryption Mean Today?

Sixty-five years ago, it was easy enough to distinguish people who were trying to steal your data: they wore boots, walked in duck, and greeted you with a funny mustache movement. 

Moreover, there is no secret information that people are looking for, but your personal data. Some people think that they do not need antivirus and a VPN connection because they do not have anything sensitive on their devices, but it is generally very far from the truth because they have their own identity inside. You may not have a lot of money in your bank account, but you may have a lot of money, which means that someone could take a credit card in your name and put you in debt for thousands of dollars and euros before you notice it.

You may not be targeted directly, but if your information is already readily available, you will likely be more attacked than someone who accesses the Internet anonymously via a VPN.

What’s VPN Encryption and How Does VPN Encryption Works?

VPN encryption is a process that involves data transmitted through a VPN channel and changed into an indecipherable format. When a user connects to a VPN, the data request is transferred from the user’s computer to the VPN server in an encrypted format.

AS the data traverses from the sender to the receiver, it is encrypted by the sender, and when the data reaches the receiver, it gets decrypted by the receiver. Data is encrypted between the VPN Client and the VPN server, so there is no need to use the data encryption on the communication link between a dial-up client and Internet service provider.

After getting into the VPN server, the requests of the data are decrypted by an encryption algorithm or through a key exchange. After the completion of the decryption, the users will be able to browse their desire websites, stream, download, or do anything they want to do.

Throughout the whole decryption and encryption process that’s carried out by the VPN users and server, the entire user’s essential information such as logging details, credit card details, and much more, remain completely secured and encrypted.

Most Used Encryption Algorithms

Presently there are three types of algorithms that are used as a standard by most VPN service providers. They include the following:

1. RSA

RSA (Rivest Shamar Adleman) is encryption that was developed in the year 1978 and named after the initials of the 3 cryptographers who developed it. The RSA algorithm makes use of the asymmetric encryption system in which the decryption and encryption are performed by making use of a private key at the decryption level and a public key at the encryption level.

The symmetric encryption needs the same cryptographic key for the encryption and decryption process. The Open VPN protocol usually uses the algorithm.

2. SHA

Cisco developed this algorithm; the Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) is a data authentication algorithm that’s considered reliable and highly secure. The algorithm makes use of a different pattern of a valid TLS certification to validate requests. Any OpenVPN client does the authentication, and it’s very efficient that it can identify a little modification in the certificate.

3. AES

AES is a widely used encryption process in the VPN industry, and many major VPN providers apply it. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) makes use of the 128-bit and 256-bit block sizes. Though 128-bit AES encryption is more secure than the 256-bit, the universal agreement is that the 256-bit is the safest form of encryption.

Why Do We Need VPN Encryption?

Encryption is essential because it helps users to secure data and information so that the other party won’t have access to it. Businesses and organizations make use of encryption to protect their secrets and classified information.

Also, individuals make use of encryption to protect their identity against fraud, theft, and other cyber-crimes. Encryption implemented by VPN ensures you remain anonymous on the internet, and no one would be able to see your real identity and web activities.