VPNs: What They Protect and What They Don't
Understand VPN threat models, no-log policies, and when VPNs provide real privacy.
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server. All traffic is routed through this server, hiding your true IP address from websites and encrypting traffic from your ISP or local network.
How VPNs Work
Steps when using a VPN:
- Device establishes encrypted connection to VPN server
- All traffic is sent through this encrypted tunnel
- VPN server sends traffic to the destination on your behalf
- Destination sees VPN server's IP, not yours
- Response returns through the tunnel to you
All lessons in this course
- Browser Security Settings and Extensions
- Tracking, Cookies, and Fingerprinting
- VPNs: What They Protect and What They Don't
- Operational Security (OPSEC) Basics