Table of Contents
Introduction
Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN offers a wide range of features that enhance your online privacy and security. With VPN encryption, advanced split tunneling, built-in ad blocking, a VPN router, and a kill switch, PIA ensures that your internet activities remain private and secure. In this article, we will delve into the various features offered by Private Internet Access VPN and how they can benefit you.
VPN Encryption
When you connect to Private Internet Access VPN, your connection is encrypted using a unique encryption key that is only accessible to your device and the connected PIA server. This encryption makes your data unreadable to ISPs, network administrators, and government censors who do not have the encryption key. They can only see that you are connected to a VPN server but cannot access the specifics of your connection.
Private Internet Access VPN uses the most secure encryption algorithms, similar to those used by governments, intelligence agencies, and militaries. You can further optimize PIA’s encryption settings to suit your personal needs, choosing between strong 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption.
Website Unblocking
PIA allows you to access the internet without any restrictions. Whether you are facing censorship or geographic limitations, Private Internet Access VPN enables you to browse your favorite websites and applications freely.
With a wide variety of VPN servers located across the globe, Private Internet Access VPN allows you to choose and connect to a server from a location without restricted access. This means you can bypass network blocks imposed by governments or ISPs, even when browsing the internet over restricted networks such as work, school, or public Wi-Fi.
Split Tunnelling
Private Internet Access VPN offers split tunneling, which allows you to tunnel your internet traffic through secure VPN servers. While some apps and websites may not be VPN-friendly, PIA’s split tunneling settings enable you to choose specific applications, websites, or IP addresses that should bypass the VPN tunnel.
With split tunneling, your device will access the internet from your original IP address when using the selected apps or sites, without disconnecting the VPN from other applications, websites, or IP addresses. This way, you can direct traffic through and around the VPN simultaneously, ensuring a seamless browsing experience.
Kill Switch
No matter how reliable a VPN service is, there is always a chance of experiencing low speed or connection timeout. This could be due to network congestion, server overload, faulty hardware, or other factors unrelated to your VPN service. In such cases, your device may reconnect to the internet without the VPN, potentially exposing your IP address.
Private Internet Access VPN offers a kill switch feature to mitigate this risk. When enabled, the kill switch shuts down your internet connection if the VPN connection is interrupted. This prevents your device from automatically switching to a public network, which could reveal your browsing activities and compromise your privacy. The kill switch feature is enabled by default in PIA, but you can double-check its status by visiting the “privacy” section under “settings” and selecting the “always” option for the “advanced kill switch.”
Corporate VPN
Private Internet Access VPN also caters to small businesses and corporations by offering a corporate VPN feature. This allows companies to configure their entire office network and protect their important corporate data against surveillance or theft. With PIA, the internet connection used by your teams is encrypted, ensuring the security and privacy of your business communications.
Additionally, Private Internet Access VPN allows you to exclude specific devices from your organization’s VPN connection. This flexibility ensures that you can tailor the VPN settings to meet the unique needs of your business.
Router VPN
To enhance your online privacy and security further, Private Internet Access VPN offers the option to set up VPN on your router. This is particularly beneficial as ISP routers are often unsafe, allowing your ISP to monitor your browsing history. By setting up PIA on your router, you can prevent snooping and ensure that all devices connected to your network are protected by the VPN.
Setting up PIA on your router also allows you to connect devices such as smart TVs, game consoles, and other devices that are typically incompatible with VPNs. This expands the protection to all devices in your home or office network, providing comprehensive privacy and security.
If you prefer not to set up PIA on your existing router, you can opt for a new router from Private Internet Access. These preconfigured routers, known as FlashRouters, come with the PIA VPN app preinstalled. Setting up these routers is hassle-free, requiring no additional configuration. Simply plug in the router, log in with your PIA credentials, and connect securely to the internet.
Conclusion
Private Internet Access VPN offers a range of features that enhance your online privacy and security. From VPN encryption and website unblocking to split tunneling, a kill switch, corporate VPN, and router VPN, PIA ensures that your internet activities remain private and secure. Whether you are an individual user or a business, Private Internet Access VPN provides the tools you need to protect your data and browse the internet freely.