VPN

Definitions

1. VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a technology that creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server, routing your internet traffic through that tunnel to protect it from eavesdropping and hide your real IP address. In the corporate world, VPNs allow remote employees to securely access internal company networks, file servers, and applications as if they were physically in the office. For individual users, VPNs provide privacy on public Wi-Fi networks, bypass geographic content restrictions, and add a layer of anonymity to internet browsing. VPN protocols include OpenVPN (open source, widely trusted), WireGuard (modern, fast, simple), IPSec/IKEv2 (built into many operating systems), and the older PPTP and L2TP. Enterprise VPN solutions include Cisco AnyConnect, Palo Alto GlobalProtect, and Tailscale (which uses WireGuard and a mesh architecture). While consumer VPN marketing often overstates privacy benefits, VPNs remain an essential security tool for protecting data in transit and enabling secure remote access.

   In plain English: A tool that creates a private, encrypted connection to the internet, hiding your activity from your internet provider and making it look like you're browsing from a different location.

Related Terms

• Firewall
• Man-in-the-Middle Attack
• Encryption
• WAF
• Air Gap
• SSH
• TLS
• Zero Trust
• TLS handshake
• Opt-Out
• Personal Security