What Is a VPN Number?

You’ve probably heard of VPNs before – but what about a VPN number? If you’re searching for this, we have good news… and a little clarification. While there’s no such thing as a VPN number (if you were picturing something like a phone number), we can help you figure out what you’re looking for. Maybe you’re curious about how VPNs work and what they do for your privacy, or maybe you want to learn about some of the technical jargon that gets thrown around when people talk about VPNs. 

Let’s unravel the mystery and explore the numbers that actually matter when it comes to VPNs. To help you make sense of these different numbers and other technical concepts, we’ll first explain what a VPN is and how it works.

What Is a VPN and How Does It Work? 

Let’s first look at how you access the internet. It all starts with your ISP – the company that assigns your IP address to your network (or device if you’re connected to a mobile network) and gives you access to the internet. 

When you visit a website, your device sends a request to the website that includes information like your IP address. Your IP address plays a similar role to your home or postal address, but for information traveling via the web. This address is also linked to your approximate physical location, which websites can use to track your browsing habits. Since your ISP provides the address and your information travels through its network, the ISP can also monitor all your traffic.

When you connect to a VPN, your traffic is routed through a secure tunnel (still via your ISP’s network) to a VPN server using a specific VPN protocol. The VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it unreadable to anyone who might intercept it, including your ISP. This process transforms your data using a key that only your device and the VPN server know. 

The websites you visit when you’re connected to the VPN only see the VPN server’s IP address making the request instead of your own. Your ISP sees the VPN server’s IP address as the end destination and can’t see the information you’re exchanging anymore. This process conceals your true location and makes it much harder for third parties to track your online activity.

Encrypting your connection is very important, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks. Third parties like cybercriminals and even the Wi-Fi owner can eavesdrop on your unencrypted traffic when you use public Wi-Fi and potentially steal your passwords, credit card information, and other personal details. 

What’s a VPN Number? Here’s What You’re Really Looking For

If you’re searching for a VPN number, you’re not alone. This common search term often stems from a misunderstanding about how VPNs work. That said, there are some important numbers that actually matter when it comes to how your VPN works. Let’s break down these different numbers to see which one you could be looking for:

IP Addresses 

When you want to visit a website, your request is attached to a special label – your IP address. Think of it as your digital return address, ensuring that the information you request from a website finds its way back to you. It’s a unique set of numbers (like 192.168.1.33) that lets servers and other networks know where to send the data responding to your web requests.

Every IP address is registered and associated with a specific region. ISPs own many IP addresses, and these are linked to their servers in the areas they cover. When you subscribe to their service, your ISP assigns you one of these IP addresses. While it’s your ticket to the internet, it also reveals something important you might not want to broadcast: your approximate location. Why does your IP location matter? It means anyone seeing your IP address can look up the location it’s linked to and pinpoint the general area you’re connecting from.

When you connect to a VPN, your internet traffic is routed through your ISP to the VPN’s server, which can be located anywhere in the world. This means you effectively “borrow” the IP address of the VPN server you’re connected to, masking your real location and appearing as if you’re browsing from a different place entirely. This is why VPN server numbers and locations are key factors to consider when looking at VPNs – they give you the power to change your virtual location.

Shared vs. Dedicated IPs

Aside from your ISP-assigned IP address being replaced by a VPN server’s IP address, you may also have heard about shared IPs and dedicated IPs when you connect using a VPN. These are still regular IP addresses, consisting of the same unique set of numbers. The terms “shared” and “dedicated” relate to how they’re used and distributed. We explain the difference below. 

• • Shared IP: When you connect to a VPN, you’re typically assigned a shared IP address. This means you and a bunch of other people are all browsing under the same IP address. This is great for anonymity – think of your activity disappearing into the crowd, making it almost impossible to single you out. That said, it also means you might be blocked from websites or services if others using the same IP address misbehave. That’s easily solved by switching to a different server or reconnecting to the same server to get a different shared IP address.
  • Dedicated IP: Dedicated IPs are typically an alternative option you can add to your subscription. With a dedicated IP, you have your own exclusive IP address. Unlike shared IPs, dedicated IPs are static – they don’t change. This stability can be advantageous for certain scenarios, such as accessing online banking or work systems that require consistent IP recognition, or even hosting a website.

The choice between shared and dedicated IPs boils down to your individual needs and priorities. If you prioritize anonymity and cost-effectiveness, a shared IP is a great choice. If you need a stable, unique online identity for specific purposes, a dedicated IP might be the way to go. CyberGhost VPN offers both options. By default, you’ll be assigned a shared IP for maximum privacy and cost efficiency, but you can also get a dedicated IP as an add-on feature. 

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VPN Protocols 

VPNs aren’t just point-and-click protection. Behind the scenes, they rely on specific protocols – sets of rules that determine how your data securely travels between your device and the VPN server. These rules are based on complex calculations, so they may be related to the VPN numbers you were wondering about. Instead of numbers, think of protocols as different shipping methods, each with its advantages:

• • OpenVPN: Known for its balance of speed and security, it’s often the top choice for reliability.
  • WireGuard: A newer protocol gaining popularity due to its exceptional speed and streamlined code.
  • IKEv2: Good for mobile devices, as it quickly reconnects if your internet signal drops.

Choosing the “right” protocol often comes down to personal preferences and priorities. Factors like speed, security level, and even your ability to bypass certain network restrictions can all play a role.

The good news? Most VPNs, including CyberGhost VPN, automatically select the best protocol for you based on your device, connection, and needs. All you have to do is connect to a server.  So, unless you’re a tech enthusiast looking for fine-grained control, you can generally trust the VPN to make the right call.

Port Numbers

To reach their destination, the data packets that carry your internet traffic need to go through specific ‘doors’ called ports. These ports act like channels dedicated to or mainly used for specific types of online activity and tools. VPNs generally use specific port numbers for each VPN protocol to establish and maintain a secure connection between your device and the VPN server. The specific port numbers used can affect the performance, security, and compatibility of your VPN connection. For the most part, a reputable VPN provider will choose sufficient default settings. 

Common VPN ports look like this: 

• • OpenVPN: 1194 (UDP), 443 (TCP)
  • IKEv2/IPSec: 500 (UDP), 4500 (UDP)
  • L2TP: 1701 (TCP)
  • PPTP: 1723 (TCP)

UDP and TCP are like two different mail carriers in charge of delivering your internet traffic. UDP is the speedster, quickly sending data packets (bits of your data) like postcards without taking extra time to check if they all arrived. This is great for streaming or gaming where a little packet loss isn’t generally noticeable. TCP is the reliable one, meticulously ensuring every data packet arrives in the correct order, like a tracked postal package. This is important for tasks like emailing or downloading files where accuracy is key. 

Both have their strengths, and many VPNs, including CyberGhost VPN, let you choose which one to use.

VPN Server Numbers

VPN providers often boast about their large number of servers. This is just a vanity metric and doesn’t tell the whole story. A large number of servers is not as important as looking at how many countries your VPN covers and the speed of its network. A provider might have thousands of servers, but if the underlying network infrastructure is weak, you’ll still get stuck with slow speeds. 

Additionally, more locations mean greater flexibility, less congestion, improved performance, privacy, and access to a wider range of online content. The bottom line – don’t be fooled by big VPN server numbers alone. A VPN with well-placed servers and a fast, reliable network could offer a better experience than a provider with an impressive number of servers.

DNS Server Number

Think of a DNS server as the phonebook of the internet. Instead of listing names and phone numbers, it matches website names (like www.google.com) with their corresponding IP addresses (like 142.250.186.14). DNS servers do the translating, turning those easy-to-remember names into the actual addresses to help you get to where websites live. 

Even when you’re connected to a VPN, your data still needs to go through a DNS server for this translation to happen. Whether your traffic goes through your ISP’s DNS server or one owned by a company like Google or Cloudflare, the VPN automatically handles the process for you. This helps to prevent your data and real end destination from accidentally leaking to your ISP or the DNS server owner.

Error Codes

If you encounter issues while using a VPN, it might display specific error codes. Your VPN software displays these numerical or text codes to tell you what’s wrong. Every unique code is linked to a specific type of problem, and it helps VPN developers (and sometimes you) figure out a solution. Examples include “Error 691: Incorrect username or password” and “Error 800: Cannot establish a connection to the VPN server.”

VPN Phone Number

Two other questions we sometimes encounter are “How do you get a VPN number?” and “Can a VPN hide my phone number?” Based on these questions, it’s easy to guess that some people think they can mask their phone numbers with a VPN. While VPNs are fantastic tools for safeguarding your online privacy and security by concealing your IP address and online traffic, they can’t do that for your phone number and don’t directly impact it.

VPN Customer Service Number

When things go wrong, or you have burning questions about your VPN, the most important number isn’t an IP address or a port number – it’s the VPN’s customer service number. CyberGhost VPN might not have a phone line with catchy tunes to pass your time, but we’ve got your back with top-notch support via:

• • Live Chat: Chat with our friendly experts in real time
  • Email Support: Drop us a line, and we’ll get back to you ASAP
  • Extensive FAQ Section: Find answers to common questions and troubleshooting tips

We know how important it is to get the help you need, when you need it. That’s why we offer multiple ways to reach us, even without a traditional phone number.

Final Thoughts

While the term “VPN number” might not have a direct meaning, it’s clear there are plenty of numbers that do matter behind the scenes with VPN connections. From IP addresses and ports to protocols and error codes, understanding the numbers behind these features can shed light on how VPNs function and how you can make the most of them.

Choosing the right VPN provider is key to taking control of your online privacy and security. CyberGhost offers VPN apps for a range of devices, designed with user-friendliness in mind. They automatically handle the technical aspects, such as selecting the optimal protocol and port and managing DNS requests, so you can focus on browsing with peace of mind. You can get CyberGhost VPN with a 45-day money-back guarantee to try our features for yourself.

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