Is using a VPN legal or illegal? This particular question is not easily answered with a simple yes or no. In most instances, it’s actually legal for you to utilize a virtual private network to access the internet. On the other hand, there are some instances where the activities you engage in a particular country where you connect could make using a virtual private network illegal.
For the most part, it seems crazy to consider that over the previous years, a number of nations have actually started passing laws that ban the use of VPNs or virtual private networks. In particular, China has begun fining its people that uses virtual private network.
With such rules, it just makes sense why a lot of individuals ask whether a virtual private network is legal or not. Not to mention that the concept behind VPNs is to mask your internet activity adds to the doubt.
So with that said, make sure to stay tuned in this article because we will tell you whether using a VPN is legal or not.
Read on!
How Does VPN Work?
For a normal VPN user, what is actually happening when you link to a VPN can be quite confusing, and sometimes suspicious. You may be utilizing a virtual private network service to avoid stalking eyes away from your browsing activities, but what’s actually going on under the hood? How do you exactly know that VPN services are reliable?
Well, for the most part, virtual private networks have been around for many decades. Long the mainstay for large companies especially banks to aid link employees spread out across the nation; VPNs are basically private tunnels between a server placed in a particular place and your computer.
Are VPNs Safe to Use?
Except for Iran, virtual private network use is actually legal everywhere all over the globe. Moreover, there are no limitations in place on how you can utilize your private network service. See, most virtual private network services will give you different approaches to secure your identity while you are linked as a way to ensure that you will stay anonymous and secured.
Even though the use of virtual private network is completely legal, any illegal activities performed online will remain illegal. It doesn’t matter whether you utilize a virtual private network or not. For instance, while a virtual private network may cover your tracks and keep your activities hidden from your internet service provider, torrenting unsanctioned copyrighted material while utilizing a virtual private network is illegal.
With but a few exceptions (such as Iran), VPN use is legal everywhere in the world. Furthermore, there are no restrictions in place on how you can use your VPN service. Most VPN services will provide various methods to secure your identity while you’re connected as a way to guarantee you’ll stay safe and anonymous.
Connecting to the internet with a VPN
When you link to a VPN, you are routing your PC’s connection through ha server placed in a particular place. You will then access the internet from that particular server. If you do this, then that particular remote server you have linked to will assign you a new IP address.
Throughout this process, you are still linked to your main internet service provider, and the data transmissions will then be heavily encrypted, which are normally AES or SSL encryption. Nonetheless, when you are linked to a virtual private network server, then the said layers of security mean that your internet service provider won’t be able to see your activates, beyond determining how much data is being downloaded and uploaded.
Understanding Remote Servers
It is also crucial to comprehend that remote servers you are linked to may be accessing the internet through a varied internet service provider than just your own. For instance, if you are located in Washington D.C., then using Comcast, and you link to a virtual private network placed in New York, then you might begin observing ads for Giant tickets on sites you visit, rather than advertisements for Redskins games.
Of course, this is not really a problem. The virtual private network service you are utilizing is paying the internet service provider for internet connectivity to that particular server. And for the most part, any traffic passing through there, which include your own is just part of their great deal.
Connecting to the Internet without a VPN
If you link your computer to the internet, you’re essentially gaining access directly through an ISP or Internet Service Provider’s network access point. This is the technology that all internet service providers own and maintain that gives you the privilege to access to the internet.
If you connect to the internet, your internet service provider assigns an IP address to any device you utilize to link to the modem it gives to you. In certain instances, the IP address you are given with by your internet service provider belongs to that modem alone.
Linking a Router to a Modem
Now, when you link a router to your modem, that particular router can then assign a local IP addresses for you, all of which fall under the primary modem. That’s why, even though difference devices may have various local IP addresses, your internet service providers actually see all of this traffic coming through the IP address given to you.
Essentially, your internet service provider can see all of your web browser activities when you are linked to its network. Even though most internet service providers come with particular defences in place to guarantee that its network protection professionals don’t snoop on your web browser activities and steal your sensitivity information, it is certainly not impossible for them to do so.
Additional Security Measures
That’s why; additional security measures which include SSL authentication and encryption are very handy. SSL also exist on most secured sites out there to guarantee that even your internet service provider won’t be able to see everything you do. Such secure sites are denoted with the letters “https” at the beginning of the URL that usually comes along with a padlock sign.
In such instances, you don’t need to get anxious about some wayward internet service provider stealing your crucial and sensitive information. All in all, your activities and what websites you visit are all easily tracked by your internet service provider.
Moreover, certain activities may trip certain protocols your internet service provider has in place and trigger some alerts. This can include engaging in heavy download and upload activities and accessing websites that are illegal in your nation
Final Thoughts
All in all, using VPN is not only legal but using one is actually suggested in order to improve security and maintain internet privacy.
By utilizing your virtual private network for activities that are certainly illegal is you will run the risk of getting into trouble especially by the law. If you want a recommendation, then we highly recommend EXPRESSVPN because it is a great VPN service provider that is trusted even in those nations where VPN usage is normally hard.
The only factor you must consider is whether you are utilizing a virtual private network in nation that literally bans the use of VPNs. Now, if you’re a foreigner in that particular nation, then you can normally utilize a virtual private network without worrying. On the other hand, local citizens must think twice whether their local laws will scold them.
Overall, the answer to whether using a VPN is legal or not, is that it is absolutely legal except for countries that practically bans them.