Basically asking if the client encrypts all data beginning from the user to the server actually hosting the vpn, or does encryption only occur after connecting to the server?
Clients that implement HTTPS already encrypts their communication with the server, VPN just encrypts the already encrypted packets and send them out from a different egress point.
Basically asking if the client encrypts all data beginning from the user to the server actually hosting the vpn, or does encryption only occur after connecting to the server?
Generally speaking, the VPN encrypts data from your actual PC, all the way to the VPN server. I run a small VPN business myself, and we this is exactly how our VPN network works. So in my instance, when you connect to the VPN, your computer sees something like a new network interface. It uses this new network interface to send all data to the Internet. This particular new network interface “next hop” up is the VPN server itself, giving the appearance of skipping your ISP and the entire Internet overall. This “skipping” is actually the encryption/tunneling process, whereas all the middle hops are removed due to their inability to pierce the encrypted traffic.
Hope that helps!
Many VPNs use the IP ports associated with HTTPS (e.g. 443, 8080) but don’t generally use HTTPS encryption. Consumer VPNs are more likely to use OpenVPN or WireGuard for encryption.
Very informative- thanks!
Any thoughts on how to prevent vpn providers from knowing what websites we visit? I’m thinking about chaining two vpns but I know there are downsides for that. TNX for your input!
Ahh I see but technically it’s not skipping the isp connection because you still have to leave your home network and access the internet via your isp’s demarcation point and connect to say their dns to even find the vpn server you’re trying to connect to. So all data is encrypted even while passing through your isp connection?
I didn’t say VPN uses HTTPS.
Ahh I see but technically it’s not skipping the isp connection
Depends on how you view things. I would say that technically it is skipping your ISP connection, in that your ISP has no knowledge of or how you are using your data. All they can see is data is flowing between you and your (hopefully trusted) VPN provider. So from an information and data construct point of view, the data transport is above the layer that your ISP can view.