What a VPN Actually Does

A Virtual Private Network creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a server operated by the VPN company. All your internet traffic passes through this tunnel, hiding it from your local network, your ISP, and anyone monitoring the connection between you and the VPN server.

That is genuinely useful on public WiFi, restrictive networks, or when you need to mask your IP address. But a VPN protects far less than the marketing implies.