VPN
Also known as: virtual private network
A Virtual Private Network — software that encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a server in another location, hiding your IP address and bypassing geo-restrictions.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a server run by the VPN provider. Your internet traffic exits to the wider web from that server, which means websites and apps see the server’s IP address and location — not yours. To your internet provider, your traffic looks like encrypted noise going to one destination.
The most common consumer uses are privacy (preventing your ISP and advertisers from logging your browsing), public Wi-Fi safety (encrypting your connection at airports, cafes, hotels), and geo-unblocking (accessing streaming libraries restricted to other regions).
Quality varies enormously. The best VPNs (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, ProtonVPN, Mullvad) publish independent no-logs audits, use modern protocols like WireGuard, and run servers in dozens of countries. Free VPNs almost always pay their costs by logging and selling user data — defeating the privacy purpose. For most users, a paid VPN at $3-7 per month is the right baseline.