What is a VPN used for?

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is primarily used to create a secure connection over a less secure network, such as the internet. This technology encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address, which enhances privacy and security when transmitting data.

When users connect to a VPN, their data is transmitted through a secure tunnel established by the VPN server, making it much more difficult for potential eavesdroppers or hackers to intercept the data. This is particularly important when using public Wi-Fi networks, where the risk of data breaches is high. By leveraging a VPN, users can browse the internet securely and are protected from various online threats.

While other options may reference important networking functions, they do not align with the primary purpose of a VPN. Local networks and diagnosing network issues involve different technologies and protocols, and improving internet speed is not a fundamental capability of VPNs, which may sometimes lead to a slight reduction in speed due to the overhead of encryption.