• An extension of a private network across a public network, enabling users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network. Applications running on a computing device (e.g., a desktop computer, laptop, or smartphone) across a VPN may therefore benefit from the functionality, security, and management of the private network. Encryption is a common, though not an inherent, part of a VPN connection. ← Wikipedia

1. More about this term (beta): Web search, articles and videos, books
2. Previous term: Virtual private cloud
3. Next term: Virtual private server
4. Random term: FTP-SSL