Technology
How does a VPN work?
A VPN (virtual private network) works by creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server, hiding your traffic from outsiders. Your internet activity travels scrambled through that tunnel, so others see only the VPN server, not what you're doing.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how a VPN works.
Step by step
- 1It encrypts your internet traffic into an unreadable form.
- 2The data travels through a secure 'tunnel' to a VPN server.
- 3Websites see the VPN server's address, not yours.
- 4It protects you on untrusted networks like public Wi-Fi.
- 5It can also make you appear to browse from another location.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a VPN actually hide?
- It scrambles your traffic and masks your real IP address, so your network provider and websites can't easily see what you're doing or where you are.
- Does a VPN make you anonymous?
- Not fully — it hides traffic from your network and masks your location, but the VPN provider can see it, and logins still identify you.
- Why use a VPN on public Wi-Fi?
- Open Wi-Fi can be snooped on; a VPN encrypts your data so others on the same network can't read it.