Everyone and their dog says “get a VPN” these days. YouTube sponsors, Reddit threads, even your paranoid uncle at Thanksgiving. But do VPNs actually make you safer, or is it just expensive theater?Short answer: Yes, but not in the way most people think — and definitely not in every situation.Let’s break it down realistically.What a VPN Actually Does (and Doesn’t Do)A good VPN does three main things:
- Hides your real IP address
Your ISP, websites, and anyone snooping on the local network can’t see your real location or link activity back to you directly. - Encrypts your traffic
Turns your data into unreadable gibberish between your device and the VPN server. This matters on public Wi-Fi (cafés, airports, hotels). - Lets you pretend you’re in another country
Useful for bypassing geo-blocks (Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, etc.).
What a VPN does NOT do:
- Protect you from malware or viruses
- Stop phishing attacks
- Hide you from Google/Facebook if you’re logged in (they track you via cookies, fingerprinting, etc.)
- Make you fully anonymous (you’re still trusting the VPN provider)
- Protect you once the traffic leaves the VPN server (e.g., HTTP sites still leak data)
Where VPNs Actually Make You Safer
| Scenario | Threat Without VPN | Threat With VPN | Real Protection? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Wi-Fi (coffee shop, airport) | Anyone can intercept your traffic (bank logins, emails) | Traffic encrypted → packet sniffers see nothing | Yes — huge win |
| ISP snooping / data selling | ISP logs every site you visit, sells to advertisers | ISP only sees encrypted tunnel to VPN server | Yes |
| Government mass surveillance | Your traffic metadata is collected | Metadata points to VPN server, not final destination | Yes (mostly) |
| Torrenting copyrighted material | Your IP is visible to everyone in the swarm | Only VPN’s IP is visible | Yes |
| Living/working in repressive country | Government can see everything you do | Harder to link activity to you (if using a no-log provider) | Yes — often critical |
| Streaming on restrictive networks (school, work) | Admins see exactly what you’re doing | They only see encrypted tunnel | Yes |
Where VPNs Give Almost Zero Extra Safety
- You’re already on HTTPS sites (the green padlock) → encryption is end-to-end anyway
- You’re logged into Google/Facebook/Amazon → they know it’s you regardless of IP
- You visit sketchy sites and download malware → VPN won’t save you
- You use the same password everywhere and get phished → game over
- You use a free/crappy VPN that logs and sells your data → you’re worse off
The “It Depends” Part: Trusting Your VPN ProviderA VPN is only shifts the trust problem. Instead of trusting your ISP, you’re trusting the VPN company.Good signs:
- Independently audited no-log policy (e.g., ExpressVPN, Mullvad, Proton)
- Based in privacy-friendly jurisdiction (Switzerland, British Virgin Islands, Panama)
- Accepts anonymous payment (crypto, cash by mail)
- Open-source apps
Red flags:
- Free VPNs (they sell your data — that’s the business model)
- Based in Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes countries and claims “no logs” without audits
- Sketchy marketing (“100% anonymous!!!”)
My Personal Rule of Thumb in 2025Use a reputable paid VPN when:
- On public Wi-Fi
- Torrenting
- Traveling or living in high-censorship countries
- You just don’t want your ISP building a profile on you
Don’t bother (or turn it off) when:
- You’re at home on your own secure network
- Streaming 4K video (VPNs can slow you down)
- Gaming (adds latency)
- You’re doing something that requires maximum speed
Bottom LineVPNs do make you safer — often dramatically — in specific, common threat models: public Wi-Fi, ISP logging, mass surveillance, torrent monitoring.But they are not a magic invisibility cloak. If your threat model is “three-letter agencies with nation-state resources targeting me personally,” you need Tor, Tails, air-gapped machines — not NordVPN.For 99% of people? A trustworthy VPN is one of the highest return-on-investment privacy tools you can buy. $5–12/month to stop your ISP from selling your browsing history and to make public Wi-Fi actually safe? That’s a no-brainer.Just don’t fall for the “VPN = total anonymity” myth, and you’ll be fine.Stay safe out there.