What a VPN is
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It creates an encrypted tunnel between your device (phone, laptop, TV) and a server. Everything you send and receive travels inside that tunnel.
How it works, step by step
- You connect: the VPN app on your device and the server agree on encryption keys.
- Your traffic is encrypted on your device before it leaves, and travels to the server inside the tunnel.
- The server sends it on to the internet: websites see the server's IP address, not yours.
- The replies come back the same way, encrypted, until they reach your device.
The network you are on (the hotel, the airport, your mobile operator) only sees encrypted data going to one server. It cannot see which sites you visit or what you do.
What a VPN is useful for
- Security on public WiFi: in hotels, airports and cafés, nobody on the network can see your traffic. See is public WiFi safe?
- Privacy from your network: your internet provider or the network owner cannot see the sites you visit.
- Reaching your own network from outside: your NAS, cameras or office computer, as if you were there. See how to access your home network remotely.
- Choosing where you appear to be: browsing from another country, or keeping your home IP while you travel. See how to browse from another country.
What a VPN does not do
A good VPN is honest about its limits:
- It does not make you anonymous: when you sign in to an account, that service knows it is you.
- It does not replace an antivirus or protect you from phishing: a fake website is still fake inside a tunnel.
- It does not stop cookies and tracking inside the websites you visit.
- It does not change your GPS location: apps that use it still know where your phone is.
Two kinds of VPN
The word VPN is used for two different things, and choosing the wrong one is the most common mistake:
- A VPN service (like SiVPN): you connect to the provider's servers in different countries. Ideal for privacy and for choosing the country you browse from.
- Your own VPN (like MiVPN): the server is a computer in your home or office. You get into your own network and go online with your own IP.
See the full comparison in your own VPN or a commercial VPN.
How to choose a good VPN
- A modern protocol: WireGuard is faster, lighter and simpler than older protocols.
- Apps for all your devices: phone, computer and, if you need it, TV.
- Be wary of "free and unlimited": running servers costs money; if you do not pay, ask how the service is paid for.
- Know who runs the server: with your own VPN, that is you.
How to get started
Install the app, sign in and connect: that is all it takes with today's VPNs.
- SiVPN to protect your connection and choose the country you browse from, on Android, Android TV, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux.
- MiVPN to have your own VPN at home and reach your network from anywhere. There is a free plan for 2 devices.
Browse from another country in one tap
SiVPN connects you to our servers in other countries and protects you on any network. Apps for every device.
Your own VPN server, free to start
Install MiVPN Server on any computer at home and connect from your phone or laptop. No configuration files, no third-party servers.
Frequently asked questions
Is using a VPN legal?
In most countries, yes: companies and travellers use them every day. A few countries restrict them, so check the local rules if you travel.
Does a VPN slow down my connection?
A little, because your traffic goes through the server first. With a modern protocol and a nearby server, you usually do not notice it.
Do I need a VPN at home?
On your own home network, you usually do not need it to browse. It is most useful on networks you do not control, and to reach your home network when you are away.
Does a VPN work on phones and TVs?
Yes. There are apps for phones, tablets and computers, and some VPNs also have apps for Android TV.