What is a VPN?

[V. Perkins]

The actual term is: a VPN tunnel or Virtual Private Network tunnel.

Imagine when you visit a favorite website that your "connection" looks like a small, straw-like tube that goes from your computer to the website's web server. Now imagine that same "tube" passes through several routers before reaching the web server on the other end. Technically, each router that your tube passes through can "see" what you're doing.

Now, let's imagine that same tube going from your computer, through various routers, and ending at the web server again. A VPN tunnel is like encasing that "tube" in kevlar from end-to-end, so that none of the routers in the middle can "see" what's in the tunnel. That's the "Private Network" part of VPN.

And, unless your cousin is an intermediate to advanced network dude, there's little chance that he knows how to snoop in on your connections. The most he could do is see which web sites you're visiting.