What Does a VPN Protect You From?

Browsing the Web while being protected by a VPN comes with many benefits. We could say that VPNs have become an essential tool these days, especially if you want to protect your digital privacy. However, what exactly does a VPN protect you from? You probably have that question on your mind, especially if you’re just getting started with this type of software. 

Well, there are four things that a capable VPN can protect you from, as follows: unauthorized online tracking, ISP snooping and data logging, exorbitant pricing (while shopping online), and certain forms of hacking attempts. Now, let's take a closer look.

1. Online Tracking

No matter what you do online, your every move is being tracked. We’ve seen that happen on the Web, on smartphones, via mobile ads, and more. Even if you try to use a private browsing mode on your Web browser, your personal data will still be tracked. Therefore, there’s practically no way to escape those practices – unless you use a VPN. 

That’s because VPN services are designed to hide your data. They do that by encrypting your incoming and outgoing Internet data, keeping it within a secure VPN tunnel. That’s how websites and apps will have a much harder time getting to know your details. 

2. ISP Snooping & Data Logging

Your Internet service provider is required to keep logs of your online activity for up to 12 months. And on top of that, many ISPs aren’t afraid to delve into data logging for other purposes as well, trying to sell you their services.

Therefore, everything you do online will be recorded, which is an apparent intrusion of your privacy. We’re sure you don’t want someone looking over your shoulder at all times, which is one reason why VPNs have become essential to use.

Since they reroute your Internet traffic (while encrypting it along the way), your ISP won’t know what you do online. That’s why it’s said that VPNs can hide your browsing history from your VPN. This won’t stop data logging completely, but keep in mind that anything your ISP collects will be unusable as your data will be scrambled. 

To learn more about the interaction between your ISP and your VPN, check our article on the kinds of data your ISP can see while you’re using a VPN. As you’ll see, not much will leave the private layer of your VPN session, which is always a good thing to know.

3. Exorbitant Pricing

As explained above, your privacy and your personal data are under constant threat on the Web. However, that is even more prominent on e-commerce websites since they deal with your financial information. 

That's the reason why hackers frequently attack e-commerce firms. There are also e-commerce scam networks, typically spread over a number of websites trying to steal your credit card info. Those are all valid reasons to hide behind a VPN service. 

Still, even if you’re very careful about where you shop online, there are some other things to keep in mind. Even legitimate online stores read your IP address and check your purchase history. That’s how you can see prices that might be higher than usual.

Thanks to a VPN, you can hide your IP address along with plenty of other personal information. That will make it impossible for online stores to generate a profile that will help them adjust their prices. This trick has been used by millions worldwide when booking flights, hotels, and ordering more expensive items.

4. Certain Forms of Hacking Attempts

And finally, a capable VPN protects you from hacking attempts. As your personal data is put through a secure tunnel, that doesn’t only block digital trackers. It also makes it much harder for malicious actors to reach your device, which often happens on public Wi-Fi networks.

You would be surprised by the number of hacking techniques that VPNs can prevent. Some of those are – man-in-the-middle attacks, malicious online ads, clickjacking, DNS spoofing, DDoS attacks, and malicious phishing attempts. You can learn more about those in our guide on preventing hacking attempts using a VPN.

We’d also like to remind you to check our guides to the best VPNs for public Wi-Fi networks, as well as the best VPNs for hotel Wi-Fi networks (if you’re a frequent traveler).

Those would be the 4 things that a VPN can protect you from. If you have any questions for us, make sure to post your comment below. And lastly, thanks for reading!