VPN

6 synonyms for VPN, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — An encrypted connection between a device and a remote server, through which the device's internet traffic is routed, so that the network in between cannot read the contents and websites see the server's location rather than the user's.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

virtual private network encrypted tunnel secure tunnel VPN service VPN client VPN provider

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun neutral

An encrypted connection between a device and a remote server, through which the device's internet traffic is routed, so that the network in between cannot read the contents and websites see the server's location rather than the user's.

“The café Wi-Fi is open, so she switched the VPN on before checking her email.”

virtual private network encrypted tunnel secure tunnel

2. noun neutral

A service or piece of software that provides such a connection.

“The company pays for a VPN on every laptop issued to remote staff.”

VPN service VPN client VPN provider

How to use VPN

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

connect to a VPN corporate VPN VPN tunnel VPN server VPN client

Widely understood outside technical contexts; the full form virtual private network appears mainly in formal writing.

Etymology

An initialism of virtual private network.

Full origin of VPN →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a VPN and private browsing?

Private or incognito browsing only stops your own browser from keeping a history, cookies and form entries on the device. It does not encrypt anything or change what the network or the websites can see. A VPN encrypts the traffic and changes the apparent origin, but does not clear anything on your device.

What is the difference between a VPN and a proxy?

A proxy passes requests on for a single program, usually a browser, and often without encryption. A VPN generally routes all of the device's traffic and encrypts it. Both change the address a website sees.

Does a VPN make you anonymous?

No. It conceals traffic from the local network and hides the user's address from the sites visited, but the VPN provider handles the connection, and logging in to an account identifies the user regardless of the connection used.

Nearby words

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