While historically, that was the primary use case for VPNs, people are now also turning to VPNs to help protect their privacy. All the laptops are connected to the corporate network via VPN so they all appear (and function as if) they were local. On a more serious note, this is the same technique used by businesses so that their employees laptops can access local resources (like file shares and such) even when the employee and their laptop are hundreds of miles away. However, you and Steve could set up a virtual network between your two homes so that, no matter how geographically distant you are, the computers treat each other as if they’re on the same network. Command and Conquer can only be played in multiplayer if you’re on the same network as your friend, though–you can’t play over the internet, like you can with more modern games. As a simple example, let’s say that you and your friend Steve really like playing Command and Conquer, a popular PC game from the 1990s. Essentially, it allows you to use your computer as if you were on a network other than your own. RELATED: What Is a VPN, and Why Would I Need One?Ī VPN is a Virtual Private Network.