When you connect to the internet you are given an IP address which can be used to identify you and locate you geographically on the map. Even after you disconnect from the internet, you can be tracked by the data you leave behind linked to that IP address. CyberGhost VPN is a free virtual private networking (VPN) service that allows you to hide your IP address, surf the web anonymously, access the blocked sites in your country, hinder the websites from tracking you and more.
CyberGhost VPN is an important tool for protecting your privacy. CyberGhost VPN replaces the externally visible IP address, which users have received from their internet service provider (ISP) when connect to the Internet, with a CyberGhost VPN IP address. The CyberGhost user shares this IP address with a number of other users. This procedure ensures that the CyberGhost VPN IP address should not be assigned to one particular CyberGhost VPN user. In the free CyberGhost VPN service, you are assigned an IP address located in Germany. But if you are using their paid service, then you can choose from a list of servers located in the USA and European countries.
Here are some of the possible uses of the CyberGhost VPN :
- Protect your privacy on the internet.
- Block website owners from tracking you and identifying you, in order to server advertisements.
- Get access to censored/blocked websites in or outside your country.
- Check and see how a website presents itself if you access it from Germany or USA.
- Investigate as a journalist without bothering about goverment agencies spying on you.
- Access dating or matrimonial sites without leaving any traceable evidence.
You can download and install CyberGhost VPN from its website. The downloaded installer contains everything you need to get started including OpenVPN files. After the installation, you are shown an option to create a free account. The free account does not require your e-mail address, just your username and password. As it does not ask your email address, how would you recover your password in case you lose it? They have figured it out. It gives you a PUK code to be used in order to recover your lost password.
Behind the scenes, CyberGhost VPN installer sets up a virtual TAP Network adaptor in your Windows system which is to be used to tunnel the internet traffic. This is required for Open VPN to work properly. In the next window, you are shown the main CyberGhost VPN window. Here you have to click on the big Connect to VPN button. First time you try to connect to the VPN, it would ask you to identify the computer as the free service for one account can only be used from a single computer. After this, you are randomly connected to a VPN server. In the following snapshot, it connects to a server located in Rostock, Germany.
The green thumbs-up graphic at the corner means you are anonymous, secure, your connection is encrypted and your actual IP address is hidden behind a VPN server’s IP address. Similarly, the black icon in the notification area changes to a green color icon indicating that you are connected to a secure VPN server. The VPN connection is 128-bit encrypted and makes sure that nobody can eavesdrop on your internet activities.
The free CyberGhost VPN service allows you to use 1 GB of network traffic per month. While the paid CyberGhost service allows you a 40 GB of network traffic per month. Both the free and premium traffic utilized by you can be seen in the CyberGhost VPN window. In the same window, you can access some video portals and watch online TV shows or movies that are usually accessible only to people located in the US. There is also an Anispy module which protects you from malicious sites and spyware – but it is available only in the paid premium service.
You can download and install CyberGhost VPN from http://cyberghostvpn.com/en/product/download.html.