What allows users on a less secure network to send and receive data securely across the Internet?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is designed to create a secure and encrypted connection over a less secure network, such as the Internet. When users connect to a VPN, their data is encapsulated and encrypted before it travels across the Internet, ensuring that it remains confidential and protected from potential unauthorized access or data breaches.

VPNs work by routing the user’s internet connection through a secure server, effectively masking the user's IP address and creating a tunnel for data transmission. This means that even if the data is intercepted while it is on the less secure network, it would be unreadable to anyone without the correct decryption key.

This technology is essential for protecting sensitive information, particularly when using public Wi-Fi networks, as it prevents eavesdropping and provides an added layer of security for users, making it suitable for both personal and business communications.

Other options, while related to network security, do not provide the same level of secure data transmission over the Internet. Firewalls are used to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic but do not encrypt data. Proxy servers relay requests and responses but do not secure the data during transmission, and routers primarily direct traffic between networks without necessarily providing encryption or enhanced security.