What a VPN Actually Protects (And What It Doesn't)

VPN vendors promise to make you "anonymous," "secure," and "private" online. Critics say VPNs are useless and just collect your data instead. Both are overstating things. Here's a clear-eyed look at what a VPN actually changes about your online activity.

What a VPN does

A VPN routes your traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a server the VPN operates. From there, your traffic exits onto the internet. This achieves three things:

• Hides your traffic from your ISP — Your internet service provider can no longer see which sites you visit or what data you send. They only see that you're connected to a VPN.
• Changes your apparent IP address — Websites and services see the VPN server's IP address, not yours. This lets you appear to be in a different country and access geo-restricted content.
• Encrypts traffic on untrusted networks — On public Wi-Fi (cafes, airports, hotels), anyone on the same network could potentially intercept unencrypted traffic. A VPN prevents this.

What a VPN does NOT do

• Make you anonymous — Websites can still fingerprint your browser, link your login sessions, or track you via cookies. A VPN hides your IP — it doesn't remove all identifying information.
• Protect you from malware — A VPN doesn't prevent you from downloading malware or visiting phishing sites. You still need to be careful about what you click.
• Hide what you do from websites you're logged into — If you're logged into Google and search something, Google knows. Your VPN doesn't change that.
• Guarantee privacy if the VPN logs your activity — Some VPNs claim no-logs but have been caught providing data to authorities. An independently audited no-logs policy (Mullvad, ProtonVPN) is more trustworthy than a marketing claim.

Good reasons to use a VPN

• Public Wi-Fi — Airports, hotels, cafes. A VPN encrypts your traffic so others on the same network can't intercept it.
• Streaming geo-restricted content — Watch content libraries from other countries. Not all VPNs unblock all services — check streaming scores before choosing.
• Privacy from your ISP — In some countries, ISPs sell browsing data to advertisers. A VPN prevents this.
• Bypassing censorship — In countries that block websites, a VPN can provide access. Mullvad and ProtonVPN are strong here.
• Travelling and remote work — Access home country services while abroad, or use a corporate VPN to access company resources.

How to choose one

The key variables: where the company is based (jurisdiction), whether they've been audited, how fast the servers are, and whether they can unblock the streaming services you use. Check our VPN Screener to filter by these criteria.