There are many different VPN types, but we’ll focus on consumer VPN here — that’s the one NordVPN offers. When you download client-based VPN software to your device, it does most of the work for you — you only need to log in and connect.
However, it’s helpful to know how a VPN works to understand the service better. Here’s what’s going on behind the scenes:
- When you connect to a virtual private network service, it authenticates your client with a VPN server.
- The server then applies an encryption protocol to all the data you send and receive.
- The VPN service creates an encrypted “tunnel” over the internet. This secures the data traveling between you and your destination.
- To ensure each data packet stays secure, a VPN wraps it in an outer packet, which is then encrypted through encapsulation. This is the core element of the VPN tunnel, keeping the data safe during transfer.
- When the data arrives at the server, the outer packet is removed through a decryption process.