A VPN is used for a variety of purposes centered around privacy, security, and freedom online. Primarily, it secures your internet connection by encrypting your data, which is essential when using public Wi-Fi to prevent hackers from stealing personal information. It also hides your browsing activity from your Internet Service Provider, stopping them from tracking and selling your data. Additionally, people use VPNs to bypass geographical restrictions, allowing them to stream content from services like Netflix that may only be available in specific countries. It can also help avoid bandwidth throttling and access websites that may be censored in certain regions.