Which of the following best describes a VPN's function?

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, primarily functions to create secure connections over the internet. This involves establishing an encrypted tunnel between a user's device and a VPN server. This encryption helps to protect data from interception by unauthorized parties, ensuring that sensitive information remains confidential while transmitted online.

When users connect to a VPN, their actual IP addresses are masked, and their internet traffic is routed through the VPN server. This not only enhances security by making it difficult for attackers to monitor or gather information about online activities but also allows users to access restricted content or websites by appearing to be in a different geographical location.

In contrast to monitoring internet activity, enhancing data storage, or improving internet speed, the primary purpose of a VPN is to safeguard the privacy and security of data in transit across potentially unsafe networks such as public Wi-Fi. While some users might experience a reduction in speed due to the encryption overhead, the primary feature of a VPN is its ability to secure connections rather than performance enhancements in speed.