Virtual personal networks allow secure internet passage

By Philipp Lagge Jul 11, 2010, 11:25 GMT

Munich - Sometimes it takes a tunnel to provide safe passage from point A to B. The same applies to the internet.

The solution is a virtual personal network (VPN) for sending secure data packets. The technology is especially popular for people who want to access work computers from home or for university students who need secure access to their academic network.

However, VPN is also gaining popularity among private users. Gamers, in particular, are enjoying the opportunities it creates. Many people also appreciate the privacy it offers against prying eyes.

VPN creates an encrypted connection between a remote computer and an existing network, says Gunnar Troitsch of Chip, a German computer magazine. The VPN essentially integrates the remote computer into the network, letting it operate as if it were on site.

Additionally, data packets sent between the two are safe from snooping, thanks to encryption.

VPN provides significant advantages over unprotected communications via the internet, says Jens Toelle of the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics (FKIE).

'Users can view the VPN connection as a tunnel leading them through the unsecure space of the internet.'

University students enjoy the technology to access library holdings or more powerful university computers, says Mark Perseke of Netzwelt, an online German magazine. The VPN software installed on the remote computer, also known as the client, provides the user with a new IP address, making the other computer essentially a guest of the university network.

The client must also know the address of the server, which is either publicly accessible or available via a private, individualised key - the more standard practice.

But Troitsch says private users are starting to embrace VPN, especially because of the way it can be used to link gamers together into one network.

'Gamblers spread across the whole world can come together on one network via VPN to play, and without a lot of technical fuss.'

Software needed to set up a VPN is usually available as freeware online, says Troitsch. It's important that the server and client use the same software. Larger firms and universities tend to have custom VPN software, adds Perseke.

'Normally, users just have to enter a password and the server name once to get a connection.'

Troitsch notes there are a variety of VPN solutions available for people just starting to experiment. 'The basic version is free and so intelligent that it can usually jump past the usual VPN hurdles by itself.'

Both computers need to be online to make a connection, says Troitsch. The VPN client operates in the background, using very few server resources.

One technical hurdle comes if a person tries to set up a client on a laptop since the client will have to recognize the IP address of the network with which it wants to connect.

A VPN network generally allows the client to perform all functions available on the physical network. But limitations can crop up if the client device has some shortcomings.

'VPN truly allows more opportunities than remote access via internet protocol or web services,' says Troitsch. Nonetheless, only the most ambitious user will want to set up a server and client from scratch, says Perseke. One must look at the kind of work to be performed before deciding whether that work is worthwhile.

Setting a VPN up by oneself will also mean knowing how to work with firewall settings to make sure external devices are recognised and that connections can be made.

Once the server is set up, any network-attached storage device around the world can communicate with it via VPN, says Troitsch.

'A user can open his laptop in a hotel room, set up the VPN connection and play music from his home computer,' he says.