What is Virtual private network?
[[File:Virtual Private Network overview.svg|thumb|422x422px|Common usage scenario of a VPN: Connect different offices, let users connect from remote sites]] A '''virtual private network''', or '''VPN''' is a set of [[Technology|technologies]] which are used to link computers to create a private network. Another network is used to carry the data, which is [[Encryption|encrypted]]. The carrier network will see the packets of data which it routes. To the users of the VPN, it will look like the computers were directly connected to each other. The VPN model can guarantee the following: * [[w:Confidentiality|Confidentiality]]: The carrier network will route the data, but it will be unable to decrypt it. * Sender [[authentication]]: People need to authenticate themselves, to be able to use the network. * Message [[Data integrity|integrity]]: Messages transported across the network cannot be changed easily while they are in transport. When a message was changed, it is possible to detect this. In a business context, VPNs are often used to connect different office locations or to allow people working from outside the company network to access its resources. VPNs are a crucial tool for securing sensitive data and enabling secure remote access for employees, especially with the rise of remote work. Businesses are turning to VPNs to create a secure and encrypted connection for employees accessing company data from remote locations, ensuring that work [[Website|websites]] that cannot be accessed on the normal internet can be securely accessed. Additionally, VPNs provide a safe and encrypted connection for employees to access company resources, protecting sensitive data from cyber threats. Similarly, the encryption process allows VPNs to offer [[anonymity]] by hiding the user and making it very hard for anyone to track them. As a result, VPNs help make one's online activities on the web anonymous and undecipherable. VPNs are often used to access websites that are blocked in some countries, like [[China]].<ref>{{cite web|ur