Virtual private networks, or VPNs, have a history that predates the mainstream internet. But for a long time, they were the domain of a small set of users: those who cared about online privacy and those who needed to get around restrictions. They were not a common tool for the average person.
What a VPN Does
A VPN creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between a device and a server, offering users a way to protect their data and mask their location. The use cases were clear from the start: privacy-conscious individuals could hide their browsing from prying eyes, and people in restricted regions could reach content that was otherwise blocked.
Why It Stayed Niche
Despite these benefits, the general public largely didn't adopt VPNs in those early years. The technology remained a niche solution, familiar to a limited audience but unknown to many. The historical record shows that VPNs were not widely used by everyday internet users, even as the internet itself grew in popularity.
