Glossary

Plain-language definitions of the terms used across these docs.

VPN: Virtual private network: an encrypted connection between your device and a server, through which your internet traffic travels.
Tunnel: The encrypted connection itself. Traffic inside it can't be read by the networks it passes through.
IP address: The numeric address websites see when you connect. It reveals your provider and approximate location.
DNS: The system that turns site names like example.com into IP addresses. Lookups reveal the sites you visit.
DNS leak: When DNS lookups travel outside the VPN tunnel, exposing the sites you visit.
Kill switch: A safeguard that blocks internet traffic whenever the VPN tunnel isn't active.
Latency: The time a round trip to a server takes, measured in milliseconds. Lower feels faster.
Server load: How busy a server location is. Less busy locations usually have more bandwidth available.
Captive portal: The sign-in page some public Wi-Fi networks show before they grant internet access.
HTTPS: Encryption between your browser and a website. It complements a VPN rather than replacing it.

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