19216811.liveWRVS4400N User Guide
10
Why do I need a VPN?
Planning Your Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Planning Your Virtual Private Network
(VPN)
Why do I need a VPN?
Computer networking provides a flexibility not available when using an archaic, paper-based
system. With this flexibility, however, comes an increased risk in security. This is why firewalls
were first introduced. Firewalls help to protect data inside of a local network. But what do you
do once information is sent outside of your local network, when e-mails are sent to their
destination, or when you have to connect to your company's network when you are out on the
road? How is your data protected?
That is when a VPN can help. VPNs are called Virtual Private Networks because they secure data
moving outside of your network as if it were still within that network.
When data is sent out across the Internet from your computer, it is always open to attacks. You
may already have a firewall, which will help protect data moving around or held within your
network from being corrupted or intercepted by entities outside of your network, but once
data moves outside of your network—when you send data to someone via e-mail or
communicate with an individual over the Internet—the firewall will no longer protect that
data.
At this point, your data becomes open to hackers using a variety of methods to steal not only
the data you are transmitting but also your network login and security data. Some of the most
common methods are as follows:
1) MAC Address Spoofing
Packets transmitted over a network, either your local network or the Internet, are preceded by a
packet header. These packet headers contain both the source and destination information for
that packet to transmit efficiently. A hacker can use this information to spoof (or fake) a MAC
address allowed on the network. With this spoofed MAC address, the hacker can also intercept
information meant for another user.
2) Data Sniffing
Data “sniffing” is a method used by hackers to obtain network data as it travels through
unsecured networks, such as the Internet. Tools for just this kind of activity, such as protocol
analyzers and network diagnostic tools, are often built into operating systems and allow the
data to be viewed in clear text.
3) Man in the middle attacks
Once the hacker has either sniffed or spoofed enough information, he can now perform a “man
in the middle” attack. This attack is performed, when data is being transmitted from one
network to another, by rerouting the data to a new destination. Even though the data is not
received by its intended recipient, it appears that way to the person sending the data.
These are only a few of the methods hackers use and they are always developing more. Without
the security of your VPN, your data is constantly open to such attacks as it travels over the
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