Glossary · Networking

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server, so traffic is protected in transit and appears to come from the server.

Updated October 6, 2026

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) wraps your network traffic in an encrypted tunnel to a VPN endpoint. Remote sites then see the endpoint's IP address, and anyone between you and the endpoint sees only encrypted data.

Why it matters

Organizations use VPNs to give staff secure access to internal systems, and site-to-site VPNs link offices over the Internet. Consumers use them on untrusted Wi-Fi or to change their apparent location. A VPN does not make you anonymous: the VPN operator can see your traffic, and HTTPS is still needed end to end. Common protocols include WireGuard, OpenVPN and IPsec.

Example

$ curl -s https://ifconfig.me
198.51.100.20        (before VPN: your ISP address)
$ curl -s https://ifconfig.me
203.0.113.77         (after VPN: the VPN server address)

The change shows traffic now exits through the VPN endpoint.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a VPN makes you anonymous or fully secure.
  • Forgetting DNS leaks, where queries still go to the ISP resolver outside the tunnel.
  • Whitelisting a shared VPN exit IP and unintentionally trusting every other user of it.

Get notified when this term updates

Plus occasional practical tips on uptime and monitoring, nothing else. Unsubscribe anytime.

Keep reading

Glossary · NetworkingCGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT)CGNAT is NAT performed by an internet provider that lets many customers share a small pool of public IPv4 addresses.Glossary · NetworkingForward ProxyA forward proxy is a server that makes requests to the internet on behalf of clients, hiding or filtering their traffic.Glossary · NetworkingNAT (Network Address Translation)NAT is a technique where a router rewrites IP addresses and ports in packets so many private devices can share one public IP address.Guide · EmailEmail Blacklist Removal Guide: Find the Cause, Get Delisted, Stay CleanLearn how DNS blocklists work, how to check IP and domain listings, fix the root cause first, request delisting, and prevent repeat listings on your mail server.8 min readGuide · EmailReverse DNS (PTR) for Email: Why It Matters and How to Set It UpHow PTR records and forward-confirmed reverse DNS affect email delivery, how to check them with dig, and how to set matching rDNS, HELO and A records.6 min readGuide · DNS & DomainsWebsite Blocked in India or Just Down? How to Tell the DifferenceLearn how ISP-level DNS, IP and SNI blocking differ from a real outage, which signs to look for, and how to diagnose with our tools without bypassing the law.7 min read

This page is general information written by our editorial team and updated when documentation changes. Servers and providers differ, so test changes safely first. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.