How VPNs Work

When you connect to a VPN, your traffic is encrypted on your device and travels through a secure tunnel to a VPN server. The server forwards your traffic to the internet, masking your original IP address.

Step by step

1. You start a VPN session in the app.
2. The app establishes a secure tunnel using a VPN protocol.
3. Your data is encrypted on your device and sent to the VPN server.
4. The server forwards your request to the destination and returns the response through the tunnel.

Protocols in simple terms

• WireGuard®: modern, fast, great for most users.
• OpenVPN®: mature and flexible, widely supported.
• IKEv2: resilient on mobile when switching networks.

Encryption 101

VPNs use strong, industry‑standard encryption to turn readable data into scrambled ciphertext. Only your device and the VPN server can decrypt it, which protects your connection on shared or untrusted networks.

IP, DNS and leak protection

• Your public IP appears as the VPN server’s address.
• When enabled, DNS queries can be handled by secure resolvers to reduce leaks.
• Kill switch features help block traffic if the VPN drops unexpectedly.

Performance tips

• Pick a nearby server for the lowest latency.
• Try different protocols if speeds vary by network.
• Avoid double‑VPN or proxies unless you need them — they add overhead.