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Network SecurityMedium

VPN

Virtual Private Network — a secure tunnel that encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address

Content

What is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. It hides your IP address, protects your data from snoopers, and can allow access to restricted resources.

How It Works

  • Encrypts all data leaving your device
  • Routes traffic through a remote server
  • Masks location and hides activity from ISPs

Best Practices

  • Use strong, modern VPN protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN)
  • Avoid free VPNs with poor security records
  • Configure split tunneling carefully
  • Use MFA when connecting to corporate VPNs
Quick Facts
Severity Level
7/10
Primary Benefit

Privacy and secure communication

Protocols Used

OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPSec

Common Usage

Remote work, evading geo-blocks

Example

Connecting to corporate network securely over Wi-Fi

Related Terms
Encryption

VPN relies on strong encryption for security

IPSec

A protocol suite used in VPNs

Split Tunneling

Routing only some traffic through VPN

Learn More
How VPNs WorkTop VPN Protocols Compared