What Is a VPN?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a server in another location, hiding your IP address and activity from your ISP, networks, and websites. VPNs provide privacy on public WiFi, access to geo-blocked content, and bypass censorship. They do not make you anonymous or protect against all threats.
Key Takeaways
- Without a VPN, your internet traffic passes through your ISP, which can see what sites you visit.
- Free VPNs often have privacy concerns - they may log and sell your data.
- Corporate VPNs connect employees to company networks securely, a different use case than privacy VPNs.
Explanation
Without a VPN, your internet traffic passes through your ISP, which can see what sites you visit. Websites see your IP address and can track your location. On public WiFi, others on the network could potentially intercept your data. A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel, hiding your activity from these observers.
Your traffic goes to the VPN server first, then to the destination. The destination sees the VPN server's IP address, not yours. This allows accessing content blocked in your region (by connecting through servers in other countries) and prevents local network snooping. Good VPNs use strong encryption that is effectively unbreakable.
VPNs do not make you fully anonymous - the VPN company can potentially see your traffic (choose reputable no-log providers), you can still be tracked through cookies and accounts, and they do not protect against malware or phishing. VPNs slightly slow connections and may not work with all services (some streaming sites block VPNs).
Things to Know
- Free VPNs often have privacy concerns - they may log and sell your data.
- Corporate VPNs connect employees to company networks securely, a different use case than privacy VPNs.
- Using a VPN is legal in most countries but may violate terms of service for some platforms.