Imagine for a moment that you are browsing the internet, knowing that you are completely invisible, that your data is wrapped in an impenetrable fog. Multiple hops in VPNs are designed to address these increased security and anonymity needs.
Multiple hops in VPNs are much more than a simple journey from one server to another. They are a complex ballet of encryption, redirection, and anonymization, transforming your connection into a virtual dance that is impossible to follow for intruders. Unlike a traditional VPN, which simply connects you to a single remote server, multiple hops in VPNs use a series of intermediate VPN servers to obfuscate the trail.
Imagine a spy attempting to trace your online movements. They would be faced with an apparently endless series of VPN servers scattered around the world. With each hop, your data would be encrypted and sent in a different direction, making your online trajectory impossible to trace. You would be a digital ghost, slipping through the cracks and leaving spies frustrated and perplexed.
Each time you switch from one VPN server to another, your IP address changes, making any attempt to identify you impossible. How your data is transferred is through various protocols. A protocol is a set of rules and conventions that allow different devices or systems to communicate with each other in an organized and secure manner. Multiple hops use certain protocols. To give you an example, let’s take the two most well-known ones:
- OpenVPN is a open source VPN protocol. It uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) symmetric encryption algorithms to encrypt data. When you connect to a VPN server, OpenVPN establishes a secure connection by creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and the VPN server. Data is then sent through this tunnel, protecting it from praying eyes.
- IPsec uses encryption algorithms such as AES and also DES (Data Encryption Standard) or 3DES (Triple Data Encryption Standard). IPsec works by wrapping IP packets in secure wrappers, called tunnels, which are then transmitted through the network. At each end of the tunnel, the data is decrypted and routed to its destination.
The benefits of multiple hops in VPNs go beyond protecting your privacy. They also allow you to bypass geographical restrictions, streaming services. You could be sitting in Paris and appear to be in New York, London.
Let explain how it actually works.
Imagine logging into a website on the other side of the planet. Your request starts with a first hop. Your traffic is encrypted and sent to the first VPN server, perhaps located in Paris. This VPN server decrypts the traffic, examines it, and forwards it to a second VPN server, maybe in London. The second VPN server does the same, decrypts the traffic, secures it with its own security settings, and passes it on to a third VPN server, perhaps in New York.
This process repeats over and over again, each hop masks your original IP address and adds a new layer of encryption. Traffic weaves through continents, making it impossible to track or decipher it. Finally, once your traffic reaches the last VPN server, it is decrypted and sent to the destination website, like a sealed letter that finally reaches its recipient.
But beware, nothing is perfect. While multi-hop VPNs are an advanced method to improve your online security, they are not without limitations and considerations. They can be complex to configure and can cause increased latency, which can affect your connection performance. Moreover, they depend on the reliability of VPN service providers and there is always a potential for de-anonymization, although small.
And remember, you are responsible for your own online security.
