With a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you create an encrypted tunnel between your computer and a remote server. This means that you:

• Hide your internet activity from your ISP (and anyone else who’s watching)
• Hide your “real” IP address (your IP on the internet appears to be that of the VPN server instead).

VPNs are therefore good for:

• Evading blanket government surveillance
• Watching geo-restricted streaming services such as Hulu and BBC iPlayer from abroad
• Protecting your Wi-Fi connection when using public hotspots
• Evading censorship (both government or at school, and so on)
• Protecting you when P2P downloading.

While the encryption does have some data overhead to it with typical use you won’t experience any slowness.

It adds a new network interface which you are working with as if you are working with direct Internet connection. But the IP is different, and all traffic is encrypted.