VPN concepts, explained
A plain-language walkthrough of how VPNs generally work, independent of any single provider.
Key concepts
Encrypted tunnel
Your device and the VPN server exchange traffic through an encrypted connection, shielding it from others on the same network.
IP masking
Sites and services you connect to see the VPN server's IP address instead of your own.
DNS resolution
Domain name lookups can also be routed through the VPN, preventing your ISP from seeing which sites you visit.
Server location
Connecting to a server in a different region can change which IP address, and general location, your traffic appears to come from.
Protocols
The specific method used to establish and maintain the encrypted tunnel, such as WireGuard, OpenVPN, or IKEv2.
Kill switch
A safeguard that blocks internet traffic if the VPN tunnel unexpectedly drops.
A typical VPN connection flow
Install the VPN app
Download and install the official app for your operating system.
Choose a server
Pick a nearby server for speed, or a specific region if that's relevant to what you're doing.
Connect
The app establishes an encrypted tunnel to the chosen server.
Verify the connection
Many VPN apps show your current IP address, useful for confirming the tunnel is active.
Adjust settings as needed
Enable a kill switch or configure split tunneling based on how you plan to use the VPN.
What a VPN does and doesn't do
A VPN masks your IP address
It generally does not make you completely anonymous on its own; browser fingerprinting and account logins are separate concerns.
A VPN encrypts your traffic in transit
It does not protect against malware, phishing, or unsafe downloads on its own, even with an optional threat-blocking feature enabled.
A VPN can change your apparent location
Some services or apps may still detect and restrict VPN traffic regardless.
A VPN protects public Wi-Fi traffic
It does not replace basic account security practices like strong, unique passwords.
Want step-by-step instructions?
Browse guides that walk through specific setup and configuration tasks.