VPN basics in Intro to Computing - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

What is the primary purpose of a VPN?

Imagine you are using public Wi-Fi at a coffee shop. What is the main reason you would use a VPN in this situation?

A To make your internet connection faster by connecting to a closer server

B To hide your online activity and protect your data from others on the same network

C To block all advertisements on websites you visit

D To allow multiple devices to share the same internet connection

💡 Hint

Think about privacy and security when using public networks.

A VPN creates a secure, encrypted tunnel for your data, protecting it from others on the same network who might try to spy on your activity.

❓ trace

intermediate

Trace the data flow through a VPN

Look at the flowchart below showing how data travels when using a VPN. Which step happens immediately after your device encrypts the data?

A The encrypted data is sent to the VPN server

B The data is sent to the internet directly

C Your device decrypts the data

D The VPN server decrypts the data

💡 Hint

Think about what happens right after encryption before the VPN server can decrypt it.

After your device encrypts the data, it sends the encrypted data to the VPN server. The server then decrypts it before sending it to the internet.

❓ identification

advanced

Identify the VPN protocol from its characteristics

Which VPN protocol is known for being fast but less secure, often used for streaming and gaming?

A L2TP/IPsec

B WireGuard

C OpenVPN

D PPTP

💡 Hint

Look for the protocol designed recently with modern encryption and speed.

WireGuard is a modern VPN protocol designed for speed and simplicity, making it popular for streaming and gaming, though it is newer than others.

❓ Comparison

advanced

Compare VPN and Proxy services

Which statement correctly compares a VPN and a Proxy service?

A Both VPN and Proxy encrypt all your internet traffic equally

B A Proxy encrypts all your internet traffic, while a VPN only hides your IP address

C A VPN encrypts all your internet traffic, while a Proxy only hides your IP address for specific apps or browsers

D Neither VPN nor Proxy hide your IP address

💡 Hint

Think about encryption and coverage of internet traffic.

A VPN encrypts all internet traffic from your device, protecting privacy across all apps. A Proxy only hides your IP for specific apps or browsers and usually does not encrypt data.

🚀 Application

expert

Determine the effect of VPN on IP address visibility

You connect to a VPN server located in another country. What will websites you visit see as your IP address?

A The IP address of the VPN server you connected to

B Your original IP address assigned by your internet provider

C No IP address will be visible to websites

D A random IP address from your local network

💡 Hint

Consider how VPN masks your location and identity online.

When connected to a VPN, websites see the IP address of the VPN server, not your original IP, helping to mask your location and identity.