<?php
require_once __DIR__ . '/../../config.php';
require_once __DIR__ . '/../../includes/functions.php';

$page_title   = 'What is a VPN? – Virtual Private Networks Explained';
$page_desc    = 'VPNs explained: how a VPN works, what it protects, what it does not protect and how to test for VPN leaks on ipcheck.tools.';
$page_current = 'wissen';

require_once __DIR__ . '/../../en/header.php';
?>

<div class="hero">
  <div class="hero-label">Knowledge</div>
  <div class="hero-title">What is a VPN?</div>
  <div class="hero-sub">How Virtual Private Networks work – and what they do not protect</div>
</div>

<div class="wrap">

  <div class="ad-slot"><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8287576653347400" data-ad-slot="2715725452" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script></div>

  <div class="card card-blue">
    <div class="card-title"><i class="ti ti-shield"></i> How a VPN works</div>
    <p style="font-size:13px; color:var(--text3); line-height:1.7;">A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server. All your internet traffic is routed through this tunnel. Websites see the VPN server's IP address instead of your real IP, and your ISP can only see that you are connected to a VPN – not what you are doing.</p>
    <div class="data-row"><span class="dk">Your IP hidden from</span><span class="dv" style="color:var(--green);">Websites, online services</span></div>
    <div class="data-row"><span class="dk">Traffic hidden from</span><span class="dv" style="color:var(--green);">Your ISP</span></div>
    <div class="data-row"><span class="dk">Still visible to</span><span class="dv" style="color:var(--orange);">Your VPN provider</span></div>
    <div class="data-row"><span class="dk">Encryption</span><span class="dv" style="color:var(--green);">Yes – all traffic</span></div>
  </div>

  <div class="grid2">
    <div class="card card-green">
      <div class="card-title"><i class="ti ti-check"></i> What a VPN protects</div>
      <div class="data-row"><span class="dk"><i class="ti ti-check" style="color:var(--green);"></i></span><span class="dv">Hides your IP from websites</span></div>
      <div class="data-row"><span class="dk"><i class="ti ti-check" style="color:var(--green);"></i></span><span class="dv">Encrypts traffic on public WiFi</span></div>
      <div class="data-row"><span class="dk"><i class="ti ti-check" style="color:var(--green);"></i></span><span class="dv">Hides browsing from your ISP</span></div>
      <div class="data-row"><span class="dk"><i class="ti ti-check" style="color:var(--green);"></i></span><span class="dv">Bypasses geo-restrictions</span></div>
      <div class="data-row"><span class="dk"><i class="ti ti-check" style="color:var(--green);"></i></span><span class="dv">Secure remote access to company networks</span></div>
    </div>
    <div class="card" style="border-color:var(--red); border-width:1px;">
      <div class="card-title"><i class="ti ti-x" style="color:var(--red);"></i> What a VPN does NOT protect</div>
      <div class="data-row"><span class="dk"><i class="ti ti-x" style="color:var(--red);"></i></span><span class="dv">Cookies and browser tracking</span></div>
      <div class="data-row"><span class="dk"><i class="ti ti-x" style="color:var(--red);"></i></span><span class="dv">Browser fingerprinting</span></div>
      <div class="data-row"><span class="dk"><i class="ti ti-x" style="color:var(--red);"></i></span><span class="dv">Malware or phishing</span></div>
      <div class="data-row"><span class="dk"><i class="ti ti-x" style="color:var(--red);"></i></span><span class="dv">WebRTC leaks (if not configured)</span></div>
      <div class="data-row"><span class="dk"><i class="ti ti-x" style="color:var(--red);"></i></span><span class="dv">DNS leaks (if misconfigured)</span></div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div class="card">
    <div class="card-title"><i class="ti ti-list"></i> Common VPN protocols</div>
    <table class="result-table">
      <thead><tr><th>Protocol</th><th>Speed</th><th>Security</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead>
      <tbody>
        <tr><td><strong>WireGuard</strong></td><td style="color:var(--green);">Very fast</td><td style="color:var(--green);">Very high</td><td>Modern, recommended</td></tr>
        <tr><td><strong>OpenVPN</strong></td><td style="color:var(--orange);">Medium</td><td style="color:var(--green);">Very high</td><td>Open source, widely supported</td></tr>
        <tr><td><strong>IKEv2/IPSec</strong></td><td style="color:var(--green);">Fast</td><td style="color:var(--green);">High</td><td>Good for mobile</td></tr>
        <tr><td><strong>L2TP/IPSec</strong></td><td style="color:var(--orange);">Medium</td><td style="color:var(--orange);">Medium</td><td>Older, avoid if possible</td></tr>
        <tr><td><strong>PPTP</strong></td><td style="color:var(--green);">Fast</td><td style="color:var(--red);">Insecure</td><td>Deprecated – do not use</td></tr>
      </tbody>
    </table>
  </div>

  <div class="card">
    <div class="card-title"><i class="ti ti-alert-triangle"></i> VPN leaks – check yours</div>
    <p style="font-size:13px; color:var(--text3); line-height:1.7; margin-bottom:12px;">Even with a VPN enabled, your real IP can leak through WebRTC or DNS. Use our tools to verify your VPN is working correctly:</p>
    <div style="display:flex; gap:8px; flex-wrap:wrap;">
      <a href="/en/webrtc.php" class="btn btn-primary" style="font-size:12px; padding:6px 14px;">
        <i class="ti ti-broadcast"></i> WebRTC Leak Test
      </a>
      <a href="/en/dns-leak.php" class="btn btn-ghost" style="font-size:12px; padding:6px 14px;">
        <i class="ti ti-shield-off"></i> DNS Leak Test
      </a>
      <a href="/en/" class="btn btn-ghost" style="font-size:12px; padding:6px 14px;">
        <i class="ti ti-home"></i> Check my IP
      </a>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div class="ad-slot"><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8287576653347400" data-ad-slot="2715725452" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script></div>

  <div class="tools-row">
    <a href="/en/knowledge/"   class="tool-btn"><i class="ti ti-book"></i><span>Knowledge</span></a>
    <a href="/en/webrtc.php"   class="tool-btn"><i class="ti ti-broadcast"></i><span>WebRTC</span></a>
    <a href="/en/dns-leak.php" class="tool-btn"><i class="ti ti-shield-off"></i><span>DNS Leak</span></a>
    <a href="/en/ip-lookup.php" class="tool-btn"><i class="ti ti-world-search"></i><span>IP Lookup</span></a>
    <a href="/en/"             class="tool-btn"><i class="ti ti-home"></i><span>My IP</span></a>
  </div>

  <div class="seo-box">
    <h2>VPN – privacy tool with limitations</h2>
    <p>A VPN hides your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic, providing privacy from your ISP and anonymity from websites. However, a VPN is not a complete privacy solution – it does not protect against cookies, browser fingerprinting or malware. WebRTC and DNS leaks can expose your real IP even with a VPN active. Always test your VPN with leak tests to ensure it is working correctly.</p>
  </div>

<?php require_once __DIR__ . '/../../en/footer.php'; ?>
