Virtual private network uses a public network infrastructure to make the connections among geographically dispersed nodes, instead of using cables owned or leased exclusively for one single networks use, as is typical for a wide area network. To the user, a VPN looks just like a private network, hence the virtual in its name, even though it is sharing a web of cables with the traffic of hundreds or thousands of other users at the same time. It has all the characteristics of a private network-limited access to only authorized users, for example it shares the same public infrastructure with other users.