This makes it harder for third parties to read in transit. Tunneling is a process by which each data packet is encapsulated inside another data packet. VPNs also protect the connection between client and server with tunneling and encryption. Once authenticated, the VPN client and VPN server can be sure they are talking to each other and no one else. AuthenticationĮstablishing a secure connection is a tricky problem solved by clever mathematics in a process called authentication. This makes you more anonymous on the internet. The VPN server acts like a proxy, or stand-in, for your web activity: Instead of your real IP address and location, websites you visit will only see the IP address and location of the VPN server. Here are several key concepts related to VPN that will help you understand how a VPN works and the benefits it provides: Proxying