I was wondering if anyone can explain to me how VPN relates to ssh tunneling. I mean, the end result is the same. At universities, a VPN is often recommended to access journal articles (Elsevier, …). But if I use port forwarding, I also bypass the restrictions of the publisher sites. I could also set up my own server in some country and then use port forwarding to simulate a different geolocation.
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SSH tunneling and VPNs are kinda similar, but they’re not exactly the same. VPNs encrypt all your traffic, while SSH tunneling only encrypts specific ports or services you set up. So yeah, you can bypass restrictions with SSH tunneling using port forwarding, but it’s more limited than a full VPN. 
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Exactly! VPNs are like a blanket solution for all your traffic, while SSH is more of a targeted approach. For accessing something like Elsevier, SSH tunneling should work, but it won’t cover your entire internet connection like a VPN does. Depends on what you need. 
Yup, VPNs can be more user-friendly too. SSH tunneling requires some technical setup, and if you’re not familiar with configuring SSH and port forwarding, it can be a pain. If you’re comfortable with that, SSH is fine, but a VPN is more of a plug-and-play solution. 
Also, if you’re using a VPN, you’re usually getting more security features—things like kill switches and DNS leak protection that SSH doesn’t offer. So if privacy is a big concern, a VPN might be the better option overall. SSH is more DIY. 
True, but if you set up your own SSH server, you can control everything, which is nice. With a VPN, you’re relying on a third party, but with SSH tunneling, it’s your own server, your own rules. Perfect for geolocation spoofing if you want to bypass restrictions in certain countries. 