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Can VPN prevent hacking?

5 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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If you’re interested in theVPNindustry, you’re probably in for the privacy andsecurityfeatures, but is it possible thatVPNcan prevent hacking?

We’ve grown accustomed to various specialized tools that can give your devices thesecurityboost they need. However,antivirus,firewall, andantimalwaresoftware seem to be more popular in results when there’s a query regarding hacking.

Although we can all agree that the aforementioned utilities generally do a great job at keeping your device secure, there’s one kind of tool that’s missing from that list:VPN software.

World-class 24/7 support with 83% for a 3 years plan and 3 months free.

Amazing connection speed with 35% off and 3 months free for the 1-year plan.

Best security protocols with 83% off and 2 months free for a 2-year plan.

Can VPN prevent hacking?

Can VPN prevent hacking?

Before investing in premium services, many users wonder whetherVPNcan prevent hacking or not. Well, the simple answer is yes,VPNscan prevent hacking by throwing you into a pool of anonymized identities.

The more elaborate answer depends on your online activities. If you’re generally cautious about things you do online, aVPNcan help you greatly improve thesecurityof your devices.

On the other hand, if you’re reckless and engage in questionable activities, aVPNmight not be more efficient than, say, a calculator app. Jokes aside, aVPNalone isn’t going to shield you forever from all the cyberthreatsout there.

How does a VPN prevent hacking?

If you’re wondering about the mechanics behind aVPN‘s hacking protection, you’re in for a ride. First of all, you need to understand that aVPNwill anonymize your connection, making it nearly impossible to pinpoint you online.

All the traffic that leaves your device is encrypted and routed through a secure server, where it’s virtually invisible. Everyone who would try to intercept your traffic would only see a bunch of gibberish.

So basically, it all comes down to encryption. If theVPNdoes a great job encrypting your traffic, attackers should have an extremely difficult time targetting you with a cyberattack.

However, certain hackers might not necessarily look for a single target and launch web site-wide attacks. If this happens, aVPNwon’t do much to protect you.

Long story short, aVPNcan protect a hacker from revealing your true identity and hit you with a targeted attack. However, aVPNwon’t protect you if you access a compromised website and get hit by a wide range attack.

Can VPN protect you from viruses?

Here’s another dilemma thatVPNcustomers ponder upon, whether or not aVPN can protect against viruses. While someVPNservices might offer malware-blocking features, these don’t do great against fully-fledged viruses.

NordVPNandPrivate Internet Accessoffer proprietary malware-blocking capabilities. However, these features only protect you against domains that are known to host dangerous content, such as malware or spyware.

Private Internet Access

If you’re using aVPN, download a sketchy file and pray it won’t infect your device, you might jeopardize the well-being of your system in no time.

To put it shortly, aVPNcan’t save you from viruses.

Does VPN prevent Remote Trojan attacks?

Remote Trojan attacks are a special breed of cyberthreats. An attacker sends you a file that injects itself into your system and acts as a backdoor.

All an attacker needs for a RAT to work is a working connection and to know yourIP address.

After establishing the connection, a RAT can be used to harvest data from your PC, and even perform various actions such as popping your optical drive open, shutting down your monitor, or disabling your input devices.

One may think thatVPNs hide your IP address, rendering RATs pointless since the attacker wouldn’t know your IP address.

But in reality, once a RAT has been deployed, it collects information from your PC, including your real IP address, sends it to the attacker, and keeps the connection awake no matter what.

So the answer to the original question is no, aVPNwon’t do much when it comes to Remote Access Trojans.

A VPN can’t prevent hacking by itself

VPNsare, indeed, amazing tools that can boost thesecurityof your computer in so many ways. They can help you anonymize your identity, secure your connection, and even prevent hacking.

However, as far as hacking prevention is concerned,VPNscan’t do wonders all by themselves and they work to a certain extent. Using aVPNto prevent hacking might prove pointless if you engage in sketchy behavior on the basis or are careless with your device’ssecurity.

All things considered, if you’re thinking of investing in aVPNto curb hacking attempts, you also need to do your part for it to be effective.

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More about the topics:Cybersecurity,VPN

Vlad Constantinescu

Vlad might have a degree in Animal Husbandry and Livestock Management, but he’s currently rocking anything software related, ranging from testing programs to writing in-depth reviews about them.

He spent 3-4 years as a software editor at Softpedia and another year as a VPN specialist before he landed his current job as an author at Windows Report.

In his free time, Vlad enjoys playing guitar, doing jigsaw puzzles, researching cybersecurity, and even having a good read on rainy days.

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