MetalMonkey
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There is a difference between an anonymiser service which I suspect is what most people are referring to when they say "VPN" thesedays, and a VPN in the traditional sense which you use to connect your work laptop back to base.
Both use virtual private networks but for entirely different purposes.
Usually a VPN used for work is so a remote worker has access to a company’s internal applications or services that are not accessible via a public facing website.
There are arguably better ways of doing that now, although remote devices and BYOD are a complete security disaster in general.
Using a VPN to stay anonymous on the internet can have practical applications outside tinfoil hats and pirating.
Some countries restrict internet access - (e.g. plenty of chinese and russians want access to media other than that which the state has sanctioned).
Websites may restrict services or charge different fees for the same thing depending on the location you are accessing them from.
As mentioned above, public internet hotspots etc are very insecure.
Both use virtual private networks but for entirely different purposes.
Usually a VPN used for work is so a remote worker has access to a company’s internal applications or services that are not accessible via a public facing website.
There are arguably better ways of doing that now, although remote devices and BYOD are a complete security disaster in general.
Using a VPN to stay anonymous on the internet can have practical applications outside tinfoil hats and pirating.
Some countries restrict internet access - (e.g. plenty of chinese and russians want access to media other than that which the state has sanctioned).
Websites may restrict services or charge different fees for the same thing depending on the location you are accessing them from.
As mentioned above, public internet hotspots etc are very insecure.