Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Surfshark and by How.com.vn staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Surfshark is a team of cybersecurity experts based in the Netherlands. Surfshark is focused on developing humanized privacy & security protection solutions to secure people's digital lives. Founded in 2018 as a VPN (Virtual Private Network), Surfshark has quickly managed to become one of the leading brands in the VPN industry and today offers a variety of security products and solutions. The company’s mission is to humanize digital security, creating a world where having full control of one’s digital life is accessible to all. Today, Surfshark’s software solutions secure the digital lives of users in 100+ countries. Its core product is one of the TOP 3 VPNs globally, trusted by millions of users around the world.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 4,706 times.
If you've seen the "VPN" menu on your phone and wondered what it does, you've come to the right place. This How.com.vn guide will teach you what a VPN is, how VPNs work, and how to use a secure VPN to browse privately on an iPhone or Android phone.
Things You Should Know
- You can use a VPN on any phone to encrypt internet activity and hide your IP address.
- VPNs let you browse the internet privately, even hiding your activities from your ISP, employer, school, and the government.
- Installing a VPN on your phone is easy—just sign up with a VPN service (we like Surfshark), install their app, and tap "Connect."
Steps
How a VPN Works
Download Article
When you connect your phone to a VPN, you're creating a tunnel. Everything you do on the internet goes through this tunnel instead of its usual route. Think of a river with two types of crossings—a bridge, and a one-lane tunnel just for you. If you take the bridge, people in other cars can see you. If you take the tunnel, your trip is hidden from other travelers.
The VPN server encrypts your activity in the tunnel. Encryption makes everything you do completely hidden from anything outside that tunnel, preventing interception by hackers, overzealous network admins, and even your ISP.
Your IP address is replaced by the VPN server. Usually, when you visit a website on your phone, the site's owner can see your IP address. If you connect through a VPN, your real IP address stops at the end of that tunnel—websites and servers on the other side of the tunnel can only see the IP address of the VPN server. This helps keep you anonymous on the internet.
How to Use a VPN on Your Phone
Download Article
Subscribe to a reputable VPN service. To choose the best VPN, consider your needs. You definitely need a VPN that works on your mobile platform (iOS or Android) and fits your budget, but also one you can trust. Rather than entrust your private data with a free provider with no accountability, opt for a VPN with a no-logs policy backed up by privacy audits, fast servers, and an easy-to-use app like Surfshark.
Install your VPN provider's app. Once you create an account with Surfshark (or your preferred VPN service), download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store, launch it, and sign in with your account.
Tap Connect and follow the on-screen instructions. If you're using Surfshark, you'll be prompted to add the VPN configurations to your settings—tap Allow when prompted. These settings are crucial for creating the VPN tunnel that encrypts your internet activity.[2] Once you're connected, you can browse privately!- Most VPNs, including Surfshark, make it easy to change your location in seconds. Just launch the VPN app and select your preferred country to connect.
- To disconnect from the VPN, just open the VPN app and select Disconnect.
Expert Q&A
Tips
- If you subscribe to iCloud+, you can use Apple's iCloud Private Relay feature to encrypt your web browsing in Safari.[3] However, unlike a VPN service, iCloud Private Relay only works on Safari and isn't available in all regions.Thanks
References
About This Article
Is this article up to date?
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.
- - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
- - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
- - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
- - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.
