What is a VPN on iPhone? Why you should never be without it on your iPhone

What is a VPN?

A VPN on an iPhone is a Virtual Private Network, which provides a secure and private internet connection by encrypting your online data and hiding your IP address. It is important to always have a VPN enabled on your iPhone as it protects your online privacy and security, ensuring that your personal information, browsing history, and online activities remain private and protected from prying eyes, hackers, and online threats.

Basically, a VPN provides layers of security and privacy for all of your daily online activities. This means you can browse the internet anonymously and safeguard all your personal data.

What is a VPN on an iPhone?

n the present day, our reliance on smartphones and tablets has surpassed that of traditional computers. From shopping to chatting and searching, we perform various activities on our mobile devices, sending sensitive personal information over the internet. While we may assume that our data is protected, there is always a risk of it falling into the wrong hands. To avoid exposing your financial details such as bank and credit card information, it is crucial to ensure the security and privacy of your online activities.

The Virtual Private Network service encrypts your traffic between your IOS devices and the internet. It protects your data.

Installing a VPN app on your iPhone provides an added layer of security by encrypting all data transmitted to and from the device. This protects sensitive information such as banking details and personal identity from potential cyber criminals and data snoopers.

With a VPN service on your iPhone, your device’s IP address will be concealed, ensuring that the websites you access are unaware of your location. This enhances privacy when browsing the internet.

One of the reasons to get a mobile Virtual Private Network on your iPhone is to ensure that you have a secure internet connection.

Using Public WIFI

Have you ever logged into a café’s free Wi-Fi using your phone due to a weak cellular signal or to save data usage?

The issue with public Wi-Fi hotspots, even those requiring a password, is that they are not secure. A password can be easily obtained, leaving the connection vulnerable to hacking. As a result, any data transmitted over that connection, including yours, can be accessed by skilled cybercriminals.

So setting up a secure VPN on your iPhone device ensures that, no matter how you connect to the internet, the information you send will be secure (encrypted).

A mobile VPN

A VPN not only secures your online activity but also protects your privacy from entities such as your ISP, Google, and websites that track your browsing behavior. If you have ever utilized the “private browsing” mode in your web browser to compare prices without being tracked, then using a VPN would be a suitable solution.

Having a mobile VPN ensures constant privacy while browsing, with only you being aware of your internet activity. Note that a mobile VPN provides a higher level of privacy compared to browsing in incognito mode.

Some Benefits of VPN

An additional advantage of using a mobile VPN is the ability to access unrestricted content. When traveling overseas with your device, censorship may prevent access to popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, or news websites. A mobile VPN enables you to overcome these limitations.

Additionally, paid video subscription services may not be available in certain locations. By using a mobile VPN, it is possible to bypass these location restrictions by connecting to a “home” server, such as one in the U.S.

Do I need a Virtual Private Network on my iPhone?

The quick answer is yes, you should. We’re hearing lots of discussions about VPNs and their benefits for both individuals and businesses. People are getting more concerned about their privacy and data security, and already have a VPN app installed on their desktops or Android phones. However, the same couldn’t be said about iPhone users – many of them still have what may be called “the Apple syndrome,” and believe they are safe because they use IOS software.

So if you own an iPhone, it’s about time you take some steps to protect your online traffic. With a Virtual Private Network, it’s never been easier to secure your iPhone! we will recommend the software we use to secure all our devices:

If you care about your privacy & not share your information

Too many privacy skeptics claim they aren’t worried that someone might be watching them online because they don’t do anything illegal or embarrassing. Therefore, they claim they have nothing to hide.

People who think that way are often unaware that their ISP can see what websites they visit. Or that online platforms collect data about them and sell it to advertisers so that they can use targeted ads. Not to mention cybercriminals. who can use this personal data for tailored phishing attacks against you and people close to you? The right VPN provider will protect you from anyone tracking your online activities. When you connect to a remote VPN server, your data is

What does a VPN do on an iPhone?

Even if the iPhone is super-secure, it can’t stand up alone to threats that lurk behind public Wi-Fi networks. A VPN connection secures your online traffic and data against eavesdropping, constant ad-tracking, Wi-Fi spoofing, and cybercriminals, whenever you’re connected to public Wi-Fi networks.

You need a VPN service: NORD VPN

When you enable a VPN service, your traffic travels through an encrypted tunnel. Your traffic gets encrypted before it leaves your device. A VPN service also hides your IP address, so hackers or other third parties can’t see what you are doing or what data you send through the web.

How to choose a VPN provider

Now that you’re completely convinced that you cannot have an iPhone without the use of a Virtual Private Network on your iPhone, you need to pick a VPN provider. You’ll soon realize that there’s no shortage of options — some are free, and some have monthly service charges. While using a free mobile VPN may be tempting, they usually have some limits which can frustrate you.  But free mobile VPNs are a good way to try a VPN service in order to select which one you want to buy.

How do you narrow the field? Here are some questions to consider as you research mobile VPN providers:

Is the connection secure?

What encryption method does the VPN provider use? A good VPN will likely use 256-bit encryption and a stronger protocol like OpenVPN (more on this in a second), while a free service may use a lower level of protection. Some free VPNs don’t actually use any encryption at all: these might be good for unblocking content, but they’re not good for security.

Is the VPN provider logging your activity?

If your number one goal for a VPN is privacy, then you want to make sure that the service you choose does not keep a log of your activity. Check the privacy policies of the products you are considering and see what you are comfortable with.

How does the company make money?

With a subscription-based VPN, you know how the company makes its money. With a free VPN, you can’t be sure exactly how the company is making a profit. You might just have to deal with a lot of ads in your browsing experience, or they could be selling your personal info to advertisers, which defeats at least one purpose of using a VPN.

How fast is the connection? How many servers does it have?

Will the VPN slow down your internet experience dramatically? If a service has fewer servers in fewer locations, you may have to share bandwidth with other users, and you may not always have access to the VPN when and where you need it. A lot of subscription Virtual Private Network applications offer a free trial to test these functions.

Do they have a usage limit?

Some free services might limit your daily or monthly usage. Some VPN providers offer a free tier that offers limited use and gives you the ability to upgrade to a subscription with unlimited use.

About NORD VPN

Securing your iPhone: What to remember

So, how can you access the best VPN for iPhone? You can get a VPN on your iPhone and establish a secure connection between your device and the internet without any technical background. Your data will be redirected through an encrypted tunnel to keep your connection secure.

The Nord VPN iOS app does exactly that and more. Here’s a checklist of what to consider:

• Lots of servers. Nord Virtual Private Network for iPhone lets you choose from more than 5200 servers in 60 countries. A vast network of servers and modern VPN protocols guarantees better speeds and a stable VPN connection.
• 24/7 customer service. Our award-winning customer support agents are there for you anytime you need help. Just drop us a line!
• Secure connection. Nord VPN uses the AES encryption protocol with 256-bit keys so that no one can decrypt your data.
• User-friendly interface. Our iOS app is nice to look at, but more importantly, it’s incredibly easy to use. Download, log in, click the “Quick connect” button and you’re done!
• Threat Protection Lite. Nord VPN’s Threat Protection Lite, available on its mobile apps, can block malicious ads and block access to malicious websites.

How do I get a VPN on my iPhone?

You can either configure a VPN on your iPhone manually or download the app and let the installation wizard do everything for you. However, the former option takes more time and you can’t use extra features in the Nord VPN app. Here’s how to get a VPN on your iPhone with a couple of clicks:

1. Go to the App Store and type “Nord VPN”.
2. Tap the “Download” button.
3. Open the app and tap “SIGN UP” to create a new account or “LOG IN” if you already have one.
4. If you don’t have an account yet, you will be transferred to the Nord Account website to create it.
5. Once you sign up, you will be brought back into the Nord VPN app to choose your subscription.
6. A notification will appear. Click “Agree & Continue”.
7. Click the “Quick Connect” button, which will connect you to the fastest server available.
8. When connecting for the first time, you will be asked to allow the Nord VPN app to add VPN configurations to your device and confirm your choice with a fingerprint (if you’re using Touch ID feature).

What is the VPN option in the iPhone settings?

You can notice that there is a VPN option available in the iPhone “Settings” section. However, it is not an in-built free VPN. This feature still needs to be configured manually by adding remote server info.

To do this you should:

1. Go to “Settings.”

2. Choose “General.”

3. Go to “VPN & Device Management.”

4. Choose “VPN.”

5. Tap “Add VPN Configuration” and add all the data required.

However, it is way easier to use the Nord Virtual Private Network app you can set it up in a few seconds and get connected with a single click. Moreover, it provides you with top-notch security and privacy.

Want more control over your VPN?

The second option is to manually set up the VPN on your mobile device, which obviously requires a bit more time, effort, and knowledge. This approach is best suited for someone who wants more control over the VPN experience, including the ability to choose a specific protocol and customize settings.

What are the different VPN protocols?

If you opt to go the DIY route and set up the VPN manually, you will have to choose which VPN protocol you want to use. So, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different options that are available — how they operate and their strengths and weaknesses.

OpenVPN

One of the most popular and recommended protocols, Nord VPN is a highly secure, highly configurable open-source platform that can use AES 256-bit encryption and is especially good at bypassing firewalls. OpenVPN works on all of the major operating systems, including Android and iOS. However, it is not natively supported on any platform, which means you have to add it to your mobile device via a third-party client (we’ll explain how to do this in the next section).

PPTP

Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol is a common protocol supported by most operating systems. It was developed by Microsoft and others back in the 1990s. This protocol is fast, but it’s considered to be one of the least secure options available today — which is probably why it is no longer natively supported by iOS. We do not recommend the use of this protocol, so we did not include it in the setup sections below.

L2TP/IPSec

L2TP stands for Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol. On its own, L2TP is a tunneling protocol that does not provide any encryption, which is why you’ll generally see it mated with IPSec encryption. Together, this duo is pretty easy to set up and is supported natively on many devices. It provides good security, but there is some concern that the NSA has successfully cracked it. Because it uses a single port (UDP port 500), it’s also easier to block and not as good at bypassing firewalls as OpenVPN. Plus, because it’s a two-step process of conversion and encryption, it’s not as fast.

IKEv2

Developed jointly by Microsoft and Cisco, Internet Key Exchange version 2 also lacks encryption on its own and must be used in tandem with IPSec. It is a fast, secure protocol that is especially good for use on mobile devices because it can move from one connection type to another (i.e., cellular network to Wi-Fi) and still maintain a secure connection. IKEv2 is not as widely supported as the others on this list, but it is supported natively on iOS, Blackberry, and Windows.

IPSec

IPSec can also be used on its own and is natively supported on iOS devices.

SSTP

Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol is a proprietary Microsoft protocol that can provide a very secure connection and is good at bypassing firewalls, but its compatibility is limited to Windows devices.

How to set up OpenVPN on your mobile device

We’re devoting a special section to configuring OpenVPN because walks the line between using your VPN provider’s client app and doing a manual VPN setup based on the protocols your phone supports. As we mentioned above, OpenVPN is not natively supported on any mobile platform, so you do need to install a third-party software application on your mobile device.

Before you do

Make sure that your VPN provider supports the OpenVPN protocol (they probably do). From your provider’s website, you will need to download the needed OpenVPN configuration files for the servers you want (they will have the extension.

Nord VPN to your mobile device. Make sure you know where the files are saved. You may be able to download all of your provider’s configuration files in one ZIP file or just download the specific ones you want.

(Android devices do not have the native ability to unzip a file, so you would need to use a file manager program.)

The next step is to download the official OpenVPN Connect application to your mobile device — either OpenVPN Connect for Android or OpenVPN Connect for iOS. During setup, you will need to import the configuration files and enter the login credentials for your VPN service. The OpenVPN website provides setup instructions for both iOS and Android, and your VPN provider probably offers these instructions as well.

How to manually set up a VPN on an iOS device

iOS devices natively support the L2TP, IPSec, and IKEv2 protocols. To configure a VPN on your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > VPN > Add VPN Configuration > Type. Here you can select IKEv2, IPSec (by itself), or L2TP (which includes IPSec encryption, even though it doesn’t say so).

       Then you need to fill in the required fields, which include the server address you want to use from your VPN provider, your account name and password, and a remote ID (for IKEv2) or pre-shared key (for L2TP or IPSec). If your VPN provider supports these protocols, you should be able to locate your remote ID or key in your account/customer profile. Then hit “Done” to connect. You will need to repeat these steps for every server you want to set up.

How to manually set up a VPN on an Android device

Android devices natively support L2TP/IPSec but not IKEv2. To set up L2TP/IPSec, go to: Settings > Wireless & networks > More > VPN

Click the + sign to add a VPN and fill in the required fields, which include the server address you want to use from your VPN provider, your user name and password, and a pre-shared key. Then hit “save.” You will need to repeat these steps for every server you want to set up.

Get a secure connection

If your mobile device is an indispensable part of your daily life, then a VPN is an invaluable tool to protect your sensitive data, safeguard your privacy, and provide open access to the internet. Whether you’re a tech-savvy do-it-yourselfer or a tech-wary “just give me an easy app” kind of person, there’s a mobile VPN solution for you.

Now that you’ve read this guide and are armed with the tools of knowledge about all things related to mobile VPNs, it’s time to arm yourself with the tools of protection.