Do VPNs Actually Protect Your Privacy?

VPNs are known for keeping your online activities safe and private. But, some people wonder if they can really protect your internet use. They might worry about sharing their personal info with VPN companies.

Here, we tackle the big questions about VPNs and their privacy claims.

Are VPNs Really Private?

A VPN keeps your online activities safe from prying eyes. It blocks snooping, surveillance, and tracking by ISPs, websites, and governments. The privacy level of a VPN depends on its logging policy, where it’s based, and its security features.

VPNs make it very hard to trace your online activities back to you.

Let’s see from whom a VPN protects your privacy.

ISP snooping

ISPs often watch what you do online. They can see your browsing history, how long you stay on sites, and what you download. They can also track your browsing and search history.

A VPN hides your online activities from ISPs. They can only see you’re connected to a VPN server. Your data is encrypted, so no one can intercept it.

Government surveillance

Not just ISPs, but governments also spy on the web. In 2013, Edward Snowden revealed the extent of government surveillance.

Agencies like the NSA find it tough to track you online with a VPN. They need VPN logs to link activities to you.

In places like China or the UAE, VPNs are key. They hide your activities and help bypass censorship.

Public Wi-Fi vulnerability

Connecting to public Wi-Fi is easy today. But, it’s not safe for your privacy. Public Wi-Fis often lack security, making it easy for hackers to steal your info.

VPNs make public Wi-Fi safer. They encrypt your data, keeping it safe from hackers on the network.

Website tracking

Ever noticed ads that match your search history? Websites track your activities to improve their content. They use tools to monitor your online behavior.

A VPN can hide your identity on some sites. It blocks ISP tracking if you disable cookies. But, it can’t block all tracking cookies. You need a browser’s incognito mode and a VPN for full anonymity.

Some VPNs block ads on websites too. For example, NordVPN’s CyberSec and Surfshark’s CleanWeb features protect against basic tracking.

How Does VPN Protect Your Privacy?

A VPN protects your privacy by using strong encryption. It also hides your real IP address from websites. Your private data is safe thanks to strict no-log policies and features like RAM-disk servers or Internet Kill Switch.

It secures your connections so no one can intercept them or snoop on you.

• Encryption: VPNs use encryption to ensure no one can intercept, read, alter, or substitute the content of your internet connection. AES, which is short for Advanced Encryption Standard, is the most common and one of the strongest encryption ciphers used. It is trusted by governments worldwide and considered the best encryption system around. VPNs utilize it for great security and privacy. It is impossible to crack this encryption without having access to a VPN server.
• Routes your online activities through servers: VPNs route your online activities via servers that help hide your real IP address, boosting your privacy. With a good VPN, entities like your ISP or government can only see your VPN server IP address. They can tell you are using a VPN but have no way of knowing what you do online. Great VPN providers have hundreds if not thousands of servers located all over the globe.
• Masking your IP address: Your IP address acts as your online identity. Anyone can use it to track your physical location. A VPN helps you stay semi-anonymous online by masking your IP address. VPN server uses its IP address on your behalf. This enables you to access content geo-blocked content that might be restricted in your area.
• Not logging your data: If a VPN does not log any user data, it is extremely hard to trace back online activity back to you. Before settling on a VPN, it is best to look at its terms to ensure they have a clear and strict no-logging policy. This way, the stored information can either be accessed by authorities or sold.
• RAM-disk servers: RAM-disks are usedto prevent any storage of logs and data on servers. It’s a privacy-focused feature that deletes all the data immediately if power is cut off or the server is restarted. This prevents authorities to seize or physically use a server to collect information.
• No affiliation with authorities: sometimes, to help with an investigation, authorities contact VPN providers for essential information. It is required to provide such information by law.As helpful as working with authorities can be, it defeats the whole idea of privacy. Many VPNs are located in countries with no affiliation with authorities. This means they are not required by law to share user information. Also, the countries like Panama or The British Virgin Islands have no data retention laws which are great jurisdictions to operate a VPN in.

Are Free VPNs Good for Privacy?

Free VPNs may seem appealing because you don’t have to pay anything to use them. But, they pose a great risk to your privacy.

Privacy risks of using free VPNs:

• They may track your online activities: Many free VPN service providers share users’ data with third parties (advertisers). It is a common business model as they need a way to make money. Betternet is a good example of a free VPN that shares user data with advertisers.
• They provide weak security: unlike paid VPNs, free ones can easily be hacked. ISPs and spying agencies like the NSA can know what you do when online effortlessly. Top-notch security is expensive, which is why only paid VPNs can afford it.
• They have limited features: some VPN providers offer free and paid versions. As reliable as the free VPN versions can be, they come with limited features. You will have to upgrade to the paid versions for ultimate security and privacy.
• Ads will be a problem: as free VPNs rely on selling user data to make ends meet, you are sure to encounter countless ads as you browse. Some ads can even bring you more trouble if they have not been screened for malware or spyware.

Final word

So, do VPNs protect your privacy? Yes, VPNs can greatly boost your privacy. Some VPNs are more reliable than others. A strict no-logs policy is key to avoiding snooping and spying.

Other features like RAM-disk servers can also help prevent data leaks. Here are some top VPNs for keeping your privacy safe:

Rating	VPN	Website
4.8/5		Visit NordVPN!
4.6/5		Visit Surfshark!
4.5/5		Visit AtlasVPN!
4.4/5		Visit PrivateVPN!
4.4/5		Visit ExpressVPN!