VPN — Virtual Private Network, providing a connection "over" the regular internet. Simply put: with this technology, you can visit blocked resources or hide your location from websites. VPN services were invented to organize remote work so that employees could safely connect to the office network from home, during business trips, or work from different departments.
VPNs do not protect confidentiality, do not provide additional security and anonymity. When the VPN application is activated, the VPN server sees all network traffic — risks remain, but are transferred to the service or application owner.
When connecting to a VPN, the user must understand that they voluntarily provide their data to the application developers. And it is up to them for what purposes this data will be used.
The main danger of VPN is the high risk of data leakage. Some think that VPN only provides the ability to use websites unavailable in the region, but instead risk losing the data that is on their device.
In addition to data leakage, users may also face:
It is important to remember that VPN services should not be left on constantly, especially simultaneously with banking or shopping applications. When making purchases or transfers in mobile banking apps, VPN must be turned off. If the user nevertheless logged in, for example, to online banking, immediate measures should be taken to avoid leakage of important data and other consequences. You should update your credentials, set limits on bank transfers, and prohibit online payments.
Using VPN services is equivalent to giving your passport to the first stranger you meet. Remember that no blocked website will ever represent greater value than the security of your personal data.
According to Russian media, the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation is currently studying the need and specifics of using VPN services that are used in the country to access various prohibited websites and content. In connection with this work, the Ministry of Digital Development has already sent a specially formed questionnaire to many industry organizations with a requirement to fill it out within an extremely short time frame, after which to send it back to the department by return mail.
In the Russian information security community, it is assumed that the collection of information on this topic may be carried out so that in the future the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation and Roskomnadzor will have the opportunity to block all major VPN protocols and implement such services within the framework of a service that will be provided only by government bodies (for example, with mandatory preliminary authorization when using the "Gosuslugi" portal).
Roskomnadzor employees have repeatedly spoken throughout the current year and even published several news items that the list of VPN services whose work is blocked on the territory of Russia is systematically updated. In accordance with the current Russian Federal Law No. 126-FZ "On Communications", means of bypassing blocks on access to prohibited information and websites are a threat because their use "can contribute to unlawful activity in cyberspace".
There are many reasons why using VPN services can threaten your information security. That is why we advise using only proven solutions and always paying special attention to changes in the regulatory framework in this area.
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