A virtual private network (VPN) is a hardware and software interface between a computer and a connection to the Internet. The VPN server provides the access route to the Internet, and the VPN software provides the security for that connection.
Typically, a VPN service will supply the servers for its customers. The server encrypts the information and data passed to and from the VPN server, making it secure and virtually untraceable. Some companies will have their own VPN servers as part of their company-wide network for those that work in a remote location permanently or occasionally.
The VPN server is essentially a firewall. The server carries the data in a “tunnel” and provides a secure connection with the Internet. The servers utilize a series of IP addresses and randomly assign an IP address to each Internet connection. This masks the computer’s identity and prevents it and its data transmissions from being monitored and tracked.
The VPN server also carries data packs that utilize a specific protocol to transmit the information in an encapsulated format to keep it private and secure. “Tunneling” technology extends the privacy of any network by using a VPN offered by a third party or a private VPN server as part of a corporate or even an individual personal network.
