How a VPN Works to Protect Your Privacy​​​​​​​

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates a secure connection between your device and the Internet. It works by routing your Internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel, which protects your personal data and makes your online activity more private.

When connected to a VPN, your Internet traffic first goes to a VPN server. This server acts as a middle point between your device and the Internet. Because the traffic is encrypted, Internet service providers (ISPs), network administrators, and other third parties cannot view the websites you visit or the services you access. Only the VPN provider can see this activity, which is why it's important to choose one that doesn’t log your usage.

A VPN also hides your real IP address. Instead of revealing the IP address assigned by your ISP, the Internet will only see the address of the VPN server. This makes it more difficult for websites, advertisers, or other entities to track your online behavior.

For Usenet users, a VPN adds an extra layer of privacy on top of the SSL encryption already used by most providers. It also helps avoid potential throttling by ISPs, who may slow down specific types of traffic. This combination of encryption and IP masking makes a VPN a strong privacy tool for accessing Usenet, the Web, and other Internet services.