Since the emergence of the internet,
there has been a need for protocols to keep user data secure and private.
Virtual private networks (VPNs) emerged in 1996 when a Microsoft employee
created the peer-to-peer tunneling
protocol (PPTP) that enabled the creation of a more secure and private
connection between a computing device and the internet.
A VPN is a private connection that
allows you to remotely connect to a private network over public connections.
Initially, VPNs were used exclusively in business, but after the rush of
high-profile security breaches in the 2000s, everyday internet users
acknowledged the true risks of working online and embraced VPNs as secure means
to access the internet.
Today, VPNs are widely used to
secure internet connections, enhance digital privacy, prevent malware and
hacking, hide users’ physical locations, and unlock geo-restricted content.
More than ever, a VPN has become an essential tool for addressing the numerous privacy concerns internet users face on a daily
basis.