My "Tech" question isn't a technology tidbit, but I'm not sure where to post it, and I know you guys have the answer.
What is a VPN, and why would I need one?
Isn't Google or Firefox "private browsing" the same?
VPN is an acronym for a Virtual Private Network.
Any query you send out online, like loading a web page in your browser, sends your IP address to that website.
(The webpage that loads into your browser has to know where to go when it is sent from the server.)
They know exactly where, and can easily find out, who you are. This is dangerous because a profile on you can be built up by anyone that wants to do it. Anyone.
Are you into hairy ape porn ?
Someone monitoring your IP will know about it.
Want to make your own fireworks for the forth of July ?
(Pyrotechnics is a respectable profession, but) now you've just been added to about 20 Domestic Terrorist Watch-lists.
Do you visit political websites ?
You've just been added to hundreds, possibly thousands of junk mail, ad network, and cold calling lists.
Are you getting the picture ?
A VPN sits between you, and the final destination of your query, and routes all your queries through the VPN's servers. That way, the queries you send out use the IP of the VPN instead of sending yours.
With VPNs, you get what you pay for. With free VPNs,
you are the product.
Private browsing is totally misnamed and offers no protection, whatsoever, online. All is does, is to keep someone with physical access to your machine, from viewing your browsing history.
Ex. More than one person uses the same machine.