The virtual private network (VPN) is a piece of software that can be either downloaded as a standalone program or installed as a browser plugin. Popular well-known VPNs include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Hola. The VPN market has grown exponentially over the past 10 years as consumers and businesses seek to protect their data and secure their privacy, generating more than $15 billion in revenue. Europe and North American VPN use is at 17 percent while 25 percent of internet users now use a VPN with the highest use in Asia Pacific and Latin America.
As the name suggests, they create a virtual location for you, using a unique new IP address every time the VPN is activated.
Using the VPN and the new IP address, you can then choose how your location is presented online. So, if you’re in India, for example, you could use a VPN to show your location as the USA.
This works by routing your traffic through the VPN’s servers or network so that it doesn’t show as coming from your own location.
A common reason to use a VPN is to get around location restrictions on websites or national firewalls.
An example of popular and legitimate use for VPNs is to access blocked social media sites such as Facebook in China.
Or, for users of streaming services that are only available in their home country (for example, the BBC iPlayer video streaming is only available in the UK).