A VPN, or virtual private network, allows you to create a secure connection to another network over the internet. VPNs can be used to access region-restricted websites, shield your browsing activity from prying eyes on public Wi-Fi, and more.

These days, VPNs are very popular, but not for the reasons they were originally created. Initially created as a way to connect business networks together securely over the internet or allow you to access a business network from home.

VPNs essentially forward all your network traffic to the network, which is where the benefits such as accessing local network resources remotely and bypassing internet censorship, all come from. Most operating systems have integrated VPN support.

What Is a VPN and How Does It Help Me?

In very simple terms, a VPN connects your PC, smartphone, or tablet to another computer (called a server) somewhere on the internet, and allows you to browse the internet using that computer’s internet connection. So if that server is in a different country, it will appear as if you are coming from that country, and you can potentially access things that you normally couldn’t like:

• bypass geographic restrictions on websites or streaming audio and video
• watch streaming media like Netflix and Hulu
• protect yourself from snooping on untrustworthy Wi-Fi hotspots
• gain at least some anonymity online by hiding your true location
• protect yourself from being logged while torrenting

Many people these days are using a VPN for torrenting or bypassing geographic restrictions to watch content in a different country. They are still very useful for protecting yourself while working at a coffee shop, but that’s hardly the only use anymore.

What are they used for?
VPNs are a fairly simple tool, but they can be used to do a wide variety of things:

• Access a business network whilst traveling:
  VPNs are frequently used by business travelers to access their business’ network, including all its local network resources, while on the road. The local resources don’t have to be exposed directly to the Internet, which increases security.You can also set up your own VPN to access your network while travelling. This will allow you to access a Windows remote desktop over the internet, use local file shares, and play games as if you were on the same LAN (local area network).

• Hide your browsing activity from your local network and ISP:
  If you’re using a public Wi-Fi connection, your browsing activity on non-HTTPS websites is visible to everyone nearby. If you want to hide your browsing activity you can connect to a VPN and then the local network will only see a single, secure VPN connection. All the other traffic will travel over the VPN connection. While this can be used to bypass connection-monitoring by your internet service provider, bear in mind that VPN providers may opt to log the traffic on their ends.

• Access Geo-Blocked Websites
  Whether you’re an American trying to access your Netflix account while travelling out of the country or you wish you could use American media sites like Netflix, Pandora, and Hulu, you’ll be able to access these region-restricted services if you connect to a VPN located in the USA.

• Bypass internet censorship:
  Many Chinese people use VPNs to get around the Great Firewall of China and gain access to the entire internet. (However, the Great Firewall has apparently started interfering with VPNs recently.)

• Downloading files:
  Yes, let’s be honest – many people use VPN connections to download files via BitTorrent. This can actually be useful even if you’re downloading completely legal torrents – if your ISP is throttling BitTorrent and making it extremely slow, you can use BitTorrent on a VPN to get faster speeds. The same is true for other types of traffic your ISP might interfere with (unless they interfere with VPN traffic itself).