VPN
also: Virtual Private Network
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a secure encrypted tunnel that routes your internet traffic through a remote server, masking your IP address and encrypting data between your computer and the VPN server.
A VPN creates an encrypted connection to a remote VPN server, making it appear as though your traffic originates from that server's location rather than your actual IP address. This protects your privacy from your ISP and local network observers, and allows you to bypass geographical restrictions.
Linux users typically connect to VPNs using tools like openvpn, wireguard, or networkmanager. For example, you might run openvpn --config myvpn.conf to establish a VPN connection using an OpenVPN configuration file.
VPNs are commonly used for securing public Wi-Fi connections, accessing services from different countries, and preventing network eavesdropping on untrusted networks. The encryption happens at the IP layer, so all applications benefit automatically once the VPN is active.