A VPN is a virtual private network that connects multiple devices by tunneling their traffic over another network connection. In simple terms, VPN is a technology that allows you to anonymize and secure your activities on the Internet or any other network.
For a deeper understanding of the principle of using the technology, it is worth taking a closer look at the components of the term virtual private network.
Virtual. Means that the VPN is created programmatically as a separate layer on top of another network (for example, over the Internet). For data transmission, tunneling is used - traffic is wrapped in a separate tunnel, which passes through a lower-level communication channel. The information in the VPN tunnel is securely encrypted to exclude the possibility of data interception from the outside.
Private. VPN is an internal network containing only trusted devices. Although the connection can be made through an external or public network, it is separated from the main communication channel by end-to-end encryption.
Network. The connection takes place between two devices - a client and a VPN server, forming a single network.