Do You Need a VPN? When It Helps and When It Doesn’t
Ads promise that a VPN will make you invisible online. The reality is more modest. A VPN is a useful tool for specific situations, but it does not protect you from everything. Here is what it does, what it does not do and when it makes sense.
What a VPN does
A virtual private network encrypts the connection between your device and a VPN server, then forwards your traffic to the internet from that server. This has two main effects. Anyone on your local network, such as a cafe’s Wi-Fi operator or your internet provider, sees only encrypted traffic going to the VPN. And websites see the VPN server’s IP address instead of your own.
What a VPN does not do
- It does not make you anonymous. You still log in to accounts, accept cookies and can be identified by your browser fingerprint.
- It does not stop malware or phishing. A VPN will not block a malicious download.
- It does not hide activity from the VPN company. You are moving trust from your internet provider to the VPN provider.
When a VPN is useful
- On untrusted networks such as hotels, airports and cafes, although most websites already use HTTPS.
- To stop your internet provider from seeing which sites you visit.
- To reach services while travelling, where permitted by their terms and local law.
- To reduce simple IP-based tracking.
When you probably do not need one
If you use HTTPS sites on your home network and your main concern is accounts being hacked, a password manager and two-factor authentication will do far more for you than a VPN.
How to choose a VPN
| Look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Independent audits | Verifies no-logs claims |
| Clear ownership and jurisdiction | You can see who you are trusting |
| Modern protocols such as WireGuard | Speed and strong encryption |
| A kill switch | Blocks traffic if the VPN drops |
Be cautious with free VPNs. Running servers costs money, and some free services pay for it by collecting or selling user data.
