How does a VPN work?
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server. All your internet traffic is routed through this tunnel so that your internet provider and other third parties cannot see what you are doing online.
The essentials at a glance
Tunneling protocols
VPN providers use protocols such as WireGuard, OpenVPN or IKEv2 to establish a secure tunnel. WireGuard is the most modern and fastest protocol.
AES-256 Encryption
Your data is encrypted with AES-256 – a military standard. Even if someone intercepts the data, they cannot read it.
Change IP address
The VPN server replaces your IP address with its own. For websites, it looks as if you are surfing from the server's location.
No-logs policy
Good VPN providers do not store any activity logs. This means that even the VPN provider does not know which websites you visit.
Frequently asked questions
Does a VPN slow down the Internet? +
Modern protocols such as WireGuard have only minimal speed losses of 5-15%. With fast providers such as NordVPN, the difference is barely noticeable.
Can my Internet provider see that I am using a VPN? +
Your provider can recognize that encrypted data traffic is taking place, but not what content you are accessing.
What is the difference between VPN and proxy? +
A VPN encrypts all your data traffic and protects all apps. A proxy only redirects individual connections, without encryption.
What is WireGuard? +
WireGuard is a modern VPN protocol with only 4,000 lines of code. It is faster and more efficient than OpenVPN and is supported by most top VPNs.
Is a VPN really safe? +
Yes, if you use a reputable provider with AES-256 encryption and a no-logs policy. Free VPNs from unknown providers, on the other hand, can be insecure.