Quick Facts
- In full:
- virtual private network
- Related Topics:
- computer security
- local area network
- computer network
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
VPN
computer network
Also known as: virtual private network
News •
Map Shows Scale of Russia’s Growing Internet Crackdown
• Oct. 26, 2026, 6:32 AM ET (Newsweek)
VPN, a private computer network deployed over a public telecommunications network, such as the Internet. A VPN typically includes one or more connected corporate intranets, or local area networks (LANs), which users at remote locations can access using a password authentication system. Data encryption is used on communications as they pass through unsecured networks such as the Internet in order to deter cybercriminals from obtaining sensitive corporate data or personal account information. Because remote users can connect to private corporate networks through existing public networks, VPNs allow organizations to operate wide area networks (WANs) without the expense of leasing dedicated telecommunications lines.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Bill Guerriero.

" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">