VPN

A VPN, or virtual private network, sends your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel to another server, hiding it from the local network.

VPN: A VPN, short for virtual private network, creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server. Local Wi-Fi owners and your internet provider see only scrambled traffic, and websites see the server's address instead of yours. It protects the route, not you from every danger.

People use a VPN on public Wi-Fi at stations, cafes and hotels so that other users on the network cannot watch their traffic. Companies use VPNs so staff can reach office systems from home. The risk is that the VPN company itself can see your traffic, so a free or unknown VPN app can be worse than none. Your office or college may provide its own VPN, which is safe to use because the organisation controls it.

A VPN does not stop phishing, malware or scams, and it does not make you anonymous. Pick a well-known paid service with a clear privacy policy, avoid free VPN apps with ads and many permissions, and remember that HTTPS already protects most banking and shopping sites. Some VPN apps ask for wide permissions on your phone, so read them carefully before you accept.

Tips

• Avoid free VPN apps from unknown makers; they can log and sell what you browse.
• Use a trusted VPN on public Wi-Fi, but still avoid banking on open networks.
• Do not believe a VPN makes you safe from scam links or fake apps.

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