What is a Virtual Private Network?
A VPN creates a secure, encrypted "tunnel" for your internet traffic. But how does this actually work? Follow the steps in the interactive animation below to see the journey of your data.
Your device prepares to send data to a secure website. The data is currently unencrypted.
The Core Concepts
VPNs rely on three key principles to secure your connection. These work together to ensure your data and identity are protected as you navigate the internet.
Tunneling
VPNs create a private "tunnel" through the public internet. This is done by encapsulating your data packets inside other packets, effectively hiding your data from others on the same network.
Encryption
While inside the tunnel, your data is scrambled using strong encryption (like AES-256). This makes it unreadable to anyone who might intercept it, including your ISP or attackers on public Wi-Fi.
IP Masking
Your internet traffic appears to come from the VPN server, not your device. Your real IP address is hidden and replaced with the server's IP, protecting your location and identity from websites and trackers.
Why Use a VPN?
From personal privacy to secure business operations, VPNs serve a wide range of critical purposes in our digital lives. Select a tab below to explore the common use cases.
Secure Public Wi-Fi
Encrypt your connection at cafes, airports, and hotels to protect your data from eavesdroppers.
Enhance Online Privacy
Prevent your ISP from logging your browsing activity and stop advertisers from tracking you via your IP address.
Access Geo-Restricted Content
Connect to servers in other countries to watch streaming services or access websites not available in your region.
Bypass Censorship
Access blocked websites, social media, and news sources in countries with restrictive internet policies.
Avoid Price Targeting
Mask your location to potentially avoid location-based price adjustments on flights, hotels, and e-commerce.
Reduce Bandwidth Throttling
If your ISP slows down specific activities like streaming or gaming, a VPN can hide your traffic and may prevent throttling.
Choosing a Protocol
A VPN's performance and security depend on its underlying protocol. Not all protocols are equal. Use the selector below to see how they compare based on what matters most to you.
Recommendation based on Security:
WireGuard and OpenVPN are the top choices. WireGuard uses modern, high-speed cryptography with a small codebase, making it easy to audit. OpenVPN is a time-tested, open-source standard known for its strong security and configurability.
Risks & Legal Landscape
While powerful, VPNs aren't a magic bullet for all threats, and their use is regulated differently around the world. Understanding these factors is crucial for safe and responsible use.
Inherent Risks & Limitations
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Provider Trust is Everything
Your VPN provider can see your traffic. Choose a reputable service with a strict, audited no-logs policy. Without this, you're just shifting trust from your ISP to your VPN.
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Data Leaks Can Occur
IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks can expose your real IP address even with a VPN active. A reliable "kill switch" is essential to block traffic if the VPN connection drops.
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Doesn't Stop Malware or Phishing
A VPN secures your connection, but it won't protect you from viruses, ransomware, or malicious websites. You still need antivirus software and safe browsing habits.
Legality by Country
VPN use is legal in most countries, but some nations restrict or ban them. Click a country to see its status. (This is not legal advice).
Select a country from the list above.
The Future of Secure Access
VPN technology is evolving. The future lies in more intelligent, integrated, and user-centric security models that go beyond traditional VPNs.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
The "castle-and-moat" VPN model is being replaced by "never trust, always verify." ZTNA grants access to specific apps, not the whole network, based on continuous verification of user and device identity.
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
SASE (pronounced "sassy") converges networking and security into a single, cloud-delivered service. It combines VPN/ZTNA capabilities with firewalls and other security functions for simplified, secure access from anywhere.
AI & Post-Quantum Cryptography
AI will enhance threat detection by spotting anomalies in traffic. Meanwhile, new post-quantum encryption protocols are being developed to protect data from the threat of future quantum computers.