What a VPN is
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server. Your traffic travels inside that tunnel, so anyone watching the local network, such as on public Wi-Fi, cannot read its contents. To websites you visit, the connection appears to originate from the VPN server rather than from you.
How it works
The process has two main effects:
- Encryption scrambles data between your device and the VPN server, protecting it from eavesdropping.
- IP masking means destinations see the VPN server's public IP, not your own.
For example, connecting through a server in another city makes your traffic appear to come from that location, which can change the IP-based geolocation a site detects.
Why it matters
VPNs are used to protect privacy on untrusted networks, secure remote access to a company's internal systems, and reduce exposure of a real address. They are not a complete anonymity solution, since the VPN provider itself can see the tunnel's endpoints, and some sites detect and block known VPN ranges. Businesses also rely on VPNs so remote staff can reach private servers safely. You can confirm which public address a site sees while connected using the WhatIP my-ip and ip-lookup tools.