It's not that we're recommending that you succumb to excessive paranoia: the provider can follow you, but it is unlikely that they will do it on their own. Yes, operators cooperate with "authorities", yes, operators record logs, but until the moment when you really commit illegal actions on the Internet, no one will be watching you.
This, as a rule, is not needed by anyone, plus it requires a lot of money. Only what is commercially profitable for operators is quickly calculated from the logs: for example, data that you often visit the website of another provider. Try to do this, and, perhaps, the next day your telecom operator will call and ask if you are satisfied with their service.
They connect to the VPN, among other things, to speed up and secure the connection - users do not like the fact that theoretically anyone can monitor normal traffic and see what files you downloaded, where you went and why. But let's figure out what your ISP sees when connected via a virtual private network.
By confidential information we mean not only correspondence with other users, but also visited sites, downloaded files, search history.
What the provider will see when connected to a VPN:
When connected to a VPN, the provider will not see your confidential information.
What the provider won't see:
Of course, a virtual private network does not guarantee 100% anonymity on the network, but it provides a high degree of protection and confidentiality of information. The provider may understand that the user is using VPN technology, but what exactly you do, where you go, what you look for, write, send and download, will remain a mystery to him.
The provider does not store all your traffic, but mirrors it into the SORM servers (technical means of operational search measures), which are controlled by the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Due to the huge volume of traffic passing through the Internet provider, it can be assumed (since there is no reliable information about SORM in the public domain) that the data storage period on these servers is not so long.
The telecom operator only processes your traffic, classifies it and keeps logs about it. For example, the provider knows that on March 31 at 10:10 a user with the login mrcore turned on the computer, went to the Internet, connected to the kremlin.ru site, transmitted 2 GB traffic to it, and disconnected at 11:00. The content entropy was 99% (this term means that the data was transmitted in encrypted form). The operator is obliged to store these logs for 3 years and provide them to the FSB authorities by accessing their databases.
Conclusion
Your ISPs know when you are using a VPN. However, they don't know the websites you are accessing or what you are doing online, as the VPN encrypts your data. Using a VPN is a great way to prevent your ISP from intercepting and viewing your online activity.
This, as a rule, is not needed by anyone, plus it requires a lot of money. Only what is commercially profitable for operators is quickly calculated from the logs: for example, data that you often visit the website of another provider. Try to do this, and, perhaps, the next day your telecom operator will call and ask if you are satisfied with their service.
They connect to the VPN, among other things, to speed up and secure the connection - users do not like the fact that theoretically anyone can monitor normal traffic and see what files you downloaded, where you went and why. But let's figure out what your ISP sees when connected via a virtual private network.
By confidential information we mean not only correspondence with other users, but also visited sites, downloaded files, search history.
What the provider will see when connected to a VPN:
- VPN connection: The provider will see the connection to the VPN server, but will not know what you are doing on the network. The information is encrypted and is not available to the ISP.
- Server IP address: the provider will be able to understand that some data is going from the user to the VPN server, but the further route of the data packets is unknown to him.
- Traffic usage: the provider can find out the amount of received and sent information, but not its content.
- Connection Time: The ISP will see when you are connected to the internet and logged out.
- VPN Protocols and Ports: The provider will understand that a VPN is being used because it will use the ports and protocols that are specific to VPNs.
When connected to a VPN, the provider will not see your confidential information.
What the provider won't see:
- the sites you have visited,
- the files you downloaded
- what have you posted on social media,
- search history.
Of course, a virtual private network does not guarantee 100% anonymity on the network, but it provides a high degree of protection and confidentiality of information. The provider may understand that the user is using VPN technology, but what exactly you do, where you go, what you look for, write, send and download, will remain a mystery to him.
The provider does not store all your traffic, but mirrors it into the SORM servers (technical means of operational search measures), which are controlled by the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Due to the huge volume of traffic passing through the Internet provider, it can be assumed (since there is no reliable information about SORM in the public domain) that the data storage period on these servers is not so long.
The telecom operator only processes your traffic, classifies it and keeps logs about it. For example, the provider knows that on March 31 at 10:10 a user with the login mrcore turned on the computer, went to the Internet, connected to the kremlin.ru site, transmitted 2 GB traffic to it, and disconnected at 11:00. The content entropy was 99% (this term means that the data was transmitted in encrypted form). The operator is obliged to store these logs for 3 years and provide them to the FSB authorities by accessing their databases.
Conclusion
Your ISPs know when you are using a VPN. However, they don't know the websites you are accessing or what you are doing online, as the VPN encrypts your data. Using a VPN is a great way to prevent your ISP from intercepting and viewing your online activity.
