VPN

Also known as: virtual private network

Short for virtual private network: an encrypted tunnel carrying a machine's traffic to an operator's server, which forwards it onward. The local access provider sees a connection to that operator and nothing about destinations beyond it, while the operator sees what the access provider otherwise would. It relocates who holds the connection records rather than eliminating them, and changes nothing about what is lawful.

Browse all terms in Privacy & Security, or see the full Usenet glossary.

Put it into practice with the world's best usenet service