VPN basics

What is a VPN and how does it actually work?

5-minute read · Written for normal users, not network engineers.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is like an encrypted tunnel for your internet connection. Instead of connecting directly to websites, you first connect to a VPN server. From there, your traffic goes out to the internet.

For websites it looks as if the request is coming from the VPN server – not from your own home connection. Your internet provider can still see that you’re using a VPN, but not which websites you visit or what you do there.

Three things a VPN is really good at

Encrypting your connection on public Wi‑Fi. Handy in hotels, airports and cafés.
Hiding your IP address from websites and apps. They see the VPN server instead.
Helping with streaming or region‑locked content. Some VPNs work well with Netflix, Disney+ and others.

And three things a VPN does not do

It doesn’t make you magically anonymous or “untraceable”.
It doesn’t replace good passwords or two‑factor authentication.
It doesn’t protect you from malware on its own.

Shortcut: if you just want a solid, audited VPN that works for most people, NordVPN is usually the easiest recommendation. You can check their current offer here: NordVPN deal.