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Using a VPN is easier than many people believe:

• • Get a VPN: These days, you can choose between many different free and paid VPN service providers. It’s always best to select a VPN service provider located in a country that doesn’t have any data retention laws, such as Panama.

• • Download VPN software: Your VPN service provider of choice will offer a VPN software application that you can use to easily establish a secure VPN connection. Download it and install it just like you would any other application.

• • Launch your VPN software: Launch the downloaded VPN software application and log in with your username and password when prompted. From there, select any of the available VPN servers and connect to it.

All your internet traffic will now go through the VPN server, and your real IP address will remain hidden.

When you enter a URL in your web browser of choice, your device sends a request to your internet service provider, which then relays the request further until it reaches the final destination and the process continues in the reverse direction. All the parties involved, including your internet service provider, can see where the original request came from and trace it back to you.

A VPN makes you untraceable by establishing a virtual private network and enabling you to receive data across shared or public networks as if your computing devices were directly connected to the private network.

In other words, any requests your devices send first through a VPN provider before they reach the internet. The VPN provider hides your real IP address and encrypts your traffic, making it appear as if it was coming directly from its servers.