In a recent interview with SafetyDetectives, Jawwad Iqbal, the Partnerships Manager at OysterVPN, shared his invaluable insights and experiences in the realm of online security. With a rich background that spans over seven years in the VPN industry, Jawwad delved into the importance of cybersecurity, the pioneering features of OysterVPN, and the evolving challenges of digital privacy. This conversation not only sheds light on the inner workings of OysterVPN but also underscores the critical role of VPN services in safeguarding our digital lives.
Can you introduce yourself and talk about your journey in the online security field?
I’ve been in the VPN space for about 7 years now. At present, I lead the marketing operations for OysterVPN which includes affiliate and content marketing. I’ve held a similar role previously while working with a different VPN provider. The journey has been nothing short of amazing, and to say that I’ve learned a lot would be an understatement.
Above all, I’ve learned why it’s so important to take cybersecurity seriously.
Tell me about OysterVPN and what are its flagship features?
OysterVPN is a premium VPN service designed for privacy and freedom on the Internet. We host a global network of VPN servers in countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and Singapore – just to name a few. The network is the backbone of OysterVPN and lets users access geo-restricted content from anywhere.
So far now, we’ve implemented split-tunneling, a kill switch, and DNS-level adblocking. I’m most proud of the encryption that is the foundation of our VPN.
Can you explain in simple terms how a VPN works and why it’s important for online security?
In simplest terms, a VPN creates a link between your device and a VPN server. You can then use the VPN server as an intermediary to access the internet. If you wanted to open Facebook, the request will go through the VPN server before reaching its destination.
This bi-directional link is encrypted, so only you and the VPN server can read what’s being exchanged. Any third-party listening in will see gibberish. And with OysterVPN, we make it as simple as clicking on a button to connect to the VPN.
The immediate benefit of VPN is security against online surveillance. Because data is encrypted, the ISP, network administrator, or any government agency cannot read your communication.
It also translates to better privacy on the internet. As your IP address is masked by the IP address of the VPN server, it’s difficult to track your identity on the internet.
In what ways can a VPN help individuals protect their personal information while browsing on public Wi-Fi networks?
When you connect to a Wi-Fi network, it’s possible for the network administrator to see the online activities, or someone else on the same network, if it’s not properly setup. The 256-bit encryption used by OysterVPN provides an impenetrable defense for such situations.
Public Wi-Fi networks, such as in malls, airports, and coffee shops, are an easy target for cybercriminals. I could join a network which isn’t password-protected and sniff the network traffic of connected users, or I could create a rogue Wi-Fi network of the same name and lure unsuspecting users into connecting to this network. I can then even control DNS queries and redirect users to fake web pages to steal credentials or personal information.
But with encryption layered on top, even DNS queries are safe from intervention.
How does using a VPN impact internet speed and performance, particularly for streaming services?
There’s an encryption overhead that affects Internet speed when using VPN. But it’s not something you should worry about. Distance to the VPN server plays the leading role when it comes to speed. It’s always recommended to connect to the server nearest to your geographical location. But we understand it’s not always possible when you want to unblock something in particular. The good news is that our VPN servers are fast and have enough bandwidth to tackle peak traffic.
We recommend using a decent internet connection for starters to minimize the impact of encryption and latency.
What are some common misconceptions about VPNs, and how would you address them?
The most common one is about VPN’s ability to protect against malware. While it’s true that a VPN can block malicious domains from loading, there are many nefarious ways malware can infect your system. We encourage our users to use an antivirus for on-device protection, and use OysterVPN for securely accessing the internet.
There’s also a misconception about VPN’s role in online gaming. Online gaming is dependent on latency. Connecting to a VPN server adds another hop, another destination, which introduces a delay for data before it can reach its destination. In most cases, a VPN does nothing but drop your latency down a couple of milliseconds. However, you can connect to game lobbies from other regions by spoofing your location.
Such misconceptions are largely due to hyperbolic marketing statements that do disservice to the customer and sell functionality that’s simply not in the scope of VPNs. It’s our job to educate the masses about these misconceptions as much as it’s about educating for cybersecurity.