Are VPNs Worth Using?

The Pros and Cons of Online Anonymity

If you’ve spent more than five minutes on the internet you’ve probably seen ads about how a VPNs protect your privacy. But are they really all that? The short answer: They help, but they’re not bulletproof.

What a VPN Actually Does (and Where It Helps)

A VPN encrypts your internet traffic. So if you’re on public Wi-Fi (for example an airport, coffee shop or hotel), it keeps anyone lurking on the same network from snooping on what you’re doing. It also masks your IP address so websites and advertisers have a harder time tracking you – at least directly. If you hate the feeling of being followed around the web by ads for something you casually Googled once, a VPN can help cut down on that nonsense.

The Tradeoffs (Because Nothing’s Perfect)

VPNs aren’t a fix-all for online security, though. For one, they slow down your connection – some barely, others significantly. Free VPNs especially tend to be sluggish, and worse, some of them actually track and sell your data (which kind of defeats the purpose). Also, just because your browsing data is encrypted doesn’t mean you’re immune to malware or phishing scams – so if you click on sketchy links, a VPN won’t save you.

Should You Get One?

If you use public Wi-Fi often, yes – a good VPN adds an extra layer of protection. But if you’re mostly just worried about privacy, your best bet is a mix of things: strong passwords, avoiding suspicious websites, and maybe tossing in a VPN for good measure.