Technology and tools
What is VPN?
Virtual private network: an encrypted tunnel between a device and a VPN server, used for remote work access or to hide the user's IP address.
A virtual private network creates an encrypted tunnel from a device to a VPN server. Companies use VPN gateways so staff can reach internal systems remotely. Consumer VPN services route a user's traffic through their servers to hide the user's IP address.
Corporate VPN appliances are internet-facing and hold the keys to the network, which makes them one of the most targeted entry points. For investigators, a VPN hides the analyst's own address but does not by itself make research anonymous.