What does a VPN provide for its users?

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is primarily designed to provide users with secure and encrypted connections to the internet. The technology works by creating a secure tunnel over the internet between a user's device and a VPN server. This encryption protects sensitive data from eavesdroppers, making it particularly valuable when using public Wi-Fi networks, where the risk of data interception is higher. By encrypting the user's internet traffic, a VPN helps ensure that private information, such as passwords and personal data, remains confidential.

While a VPN may affect internet speed depending on various factors such as server distance and load, its main purpose is not to increase speed or enhance performance but to secure data transmission. In contrast to alternatives like providing a more user-friendly interface or acting as a substitute for traditional internet service providers, the core functionality of a VPN centers around security and privacy, which is what differentiates it in the context of internet usage.