VPN

[Xanders]

I know that VPNs allows me to access restricted websites by my country and encrypts my connection.

But I still don't understand how it works I've spend a few weeks googling so many guides and explanations on how it works but I still don't get it. I've recently set up a VPN as requested by a friend for security reasons a bypassing region locks.

When I'm connected I can see that I'm connected through 2 connection one which is the my modem and another which is the VPN through the internet over Lan Connection 2. I still wonder how is my data goes through the VPN before coming to me as I visit and download form various websites. Does it still come through my ISP modem or the VPN ?

Another is my download speed is 200 KBps, but my rainmeter network measuring tools shows over 300-700 KBps This is where my mind left my brain. 

[PersocomLover]

Let me see if I can explain some things. The way "The Internet" is delivered to your computer is by a series of "hops" (other servers passing data to the next stop). Servers along the way can see some of the data transferred (IE metadata). 
A VPN is a connection to a specific server that routes your data so it appears all requests come from there rather than your computer. This traffic is all encrypted in a way that only you, the website you are visiting, and the VPN can see your data. So make sure the VPN is trustworthy before signing up to use their service.
The data is still going through your modem like normal, just when you are using a VPN it has to make an extra stop (and maybe a longer trip depending on where the VPN is located) so your download speed will ALWAYS be slower than without using a VPN, but that's the cost of security.

Hopefully I helped explain some things.

[Xanders]

Ok that does clear up my mind a lot thanks for answering, i did some searching around the internet that i should not trust them 100% completely although i paid for them.

[JohnFlower]

That's right. Even if you host a VPN on your own server in a data center somewhere, there is still no guarantee that your traffic will not be monitored by the likes of the server supplier and the suppliers ISP.

I find that images best describe a VPN:

WITHOUT VPN

WITH VPN

Source: seedboxgui.de

[HeavenlyClassic]

that pic works well [:

[slick1109]

Nice explanations and images.

 

It is my understanding that your own ISP should only see that you are connecting to one Ip Address (the VPN Server) because your Internet connection is simply being used to connect back and forth with the VPN Server.  The actual websites you are visiting while using the VPN Service are actually using the Interenet connection and IP Address of that VPN Server and then being transferred back to you via an encrypted tunnel using your own Internet connection.

 

They can add a layer of security for you, but (as mentioned above) they do usually slow down your Speed becuase you are resticted by the speed of the VPN Server's Internet connection as well as the obvious delay in sending that information through the vpn server before going back to you.  The other problem is that you have no idea if the VPN Server you are connecting to is keeping LOG Files of your activity.  Even if they tell you they dont, there is no way for you to really know.