What is VPN and how does it work?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, which is a technology that creates a secure and encrypted connection between two devices over the internet. A VPN allows users to connect to a private network securely over the internet as if they were directly connected to the network locally.

Here's how a VPN works:

1. User initiates a connection to a VPN server: The user first connects to a VPN server using a VPN client software. The VPN client software encrypts the data and sends it to the VPN server.
2. VPN server encrypts the data: The VPN server encrypts the data and assigns a new IP address to the user's device. This means that the user's online activity and IP address are masked from the outside world.
3. Encrypted data is transmitted over the internet: The encrypted data is sent over the internet to the destination website or service.
4. VPN server decrypts the data: The VPN server receives the encrypted data and decrypts it before sending it to the destination website or service.
5. Destination website or service responds: The destination website or service responds to the VPN server with the requested information.
6. Response is encrypted and sent back to the user: The VPN server receives the response and encrypts it before sending it back to the user's device.

By using a VPN, users can access the internet securely and privately, and can also bypass geographical restrictions and censorship. It is commonly used by individuals and businesses to protect their online privacy and data security.