What is the primary purpose of a VPN?

The primary purpose of a VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is to create a secure connection over the internet. This technology establishes a private network through a public internet connection, enabling users to send and receive data while maintaining privacy and security. VPNs achieve this by encrypting the data transmitted between the user's device and the VPN server, protecting it from interception by third parties. This is particularly important for safeguarding sensitive information, especially when using unsecured networks like public Wi-Fi.

While monitoring internet activity, replacing firewalls, and analyzing web traffic are activities associated with cybersecurity, they do not align with the main function of a VPN. A VPN focuses on ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of data rather than monitoring or replacing existing security measures like firewalls. Its core role is to provide users with a secure and private way to communicate and access online resources.