Skip to main content
DSDownloadSpeed
Network Security

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

An encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server that hides your internet activity from your ISP and protects data on public Wi-Fi. Can affect speed test results.

What It Means

A VPN encrypts all traffic between your device and the VPN server, preventing your ISP from seeing which websites you visit or throttling specific services. However, VPNs add latency (typically 10-30 ms) and reduce throughput by 10-30% due to encryption overhead and routing through the VPN server. Always disable your VPN when running speed tests, as the VPN will show the speed to its server, not your true ISP speed. Premium VPNs (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Mullvad) typically have less speed impact than free VPNs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "VPN" mean?

An encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server that hides your internet activity from your ISP and protects data on public Wi-Fi. Can affect speed test results.

Why does VPN matter for internet quality?

A VPN encrypts all traffic between your device and the VPN server, preventing your ISP from seeing which websites you visit or throttling specific services. However, VPNs add latency (typically 10-30 ms) and reduce throughput by 10-30% due to encryption overhead and routing through the VPN server. A...

Related Terms

DNS (Domain Name System)
The system that translates website names (like google.com) into IP addresses. Your DNS provider affects how fast websites begin loading and can improve security and privacy.
WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3)
The latest Wi-Fi security protocol that provides stronger encryption and better protection against password-guessing attacks than its predecessor WPA2.

Learn More

About This Data

Definitions based on FCC standards, industry specifications, and federal broadband policy. Speed benchmarks reflect 2024 FCC standards. See our methodology.