What is the primary use of a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is primarily used to create a secure connection over the internet. It accomplishes this by establishing a private network that encrypts the data being transmitted between the user's device and the VPN server. This encryption prevents unauthorized access, ensuring that sensitive information, such as personal data or business communications, remains confidential while traversing potentially insecure networks like the internet.

A VPN also masks the user's IP address, adding an additional layer of privacy and anonymity. This is critical in protecting people on public Wi-Fi networks, where data can be intercepted by malicious users.

While enhanced download speeds and improving network signal strength may be beneficial side effects of using a VPN in certain scenarios, they are not its primary functions. Additionally, while streaming media is a common use case for VPNs, the main purpose still revolves around providing security and privacy, which underlines why creating a secure connection over the internet is the core utility of a VPN.