Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are great for accessing regional content, and some even provide kill switches to prevent your IP address from being exposed.
But VPNs are far from perfect. They can’t stop your login credentials from getting leaked or stolen.
While a trusted VPN service can really amp up network privacy, it’s essential to understand how they work and the limitations they entail.
As a result, it’s not surprising that there are plenty of published myths surrounding VPNs, and they keep getting repeated. That’s because some of these myths are partially true. It’s just not always explicitly said which parts are or aren’t.
A great VPN can be costly, but whether it is worth the subscription is mainly what you use it for, which is why we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common repeated VPN myths and what’s actually true about them.
VPNs keep you anonymous
It definitely can, but not completely
Even with a VPN enabled, you can’t entirely hide what you do online. A VPN makes it harder to see exactly what you’re doing, but only in a way that’s like a disguise.
Everything you do online leaves a trail. A VPN makes it harder to track you, but it can still record what you’re doing (not all follow a no-log policy).
A VPN masks your IP address. It keeps your internet traffic encrypted. Other platforms can still track your activity.
For example, Google can still track your searches, while other websites will still collect data about your browsing behavior through cookies and trackers.
But there is still some truth to the anonymity. A VPN can hide from the Internet Service Provider (ISP). ISPs process your traffic.
Normally, when you access online content without a VPN, the traffic becomes traceable and is no longer encrypted. All of that becomes tied to your original IP.
VPNs make it more complicated to see your IP address by using a VPN server’s IP address instead (think of it as a disguise). That’s also why VPNs can help you when you’re facing ISP throttling issues (it technically can still happen).
So what you do online with a VPN makes it harder for your ISP to connect back to the IP address and user profile it uses to track you.
Your ISP, instead, will see that you are using a VPN, but can’t necessarily see everything you’re doing with it.
VPNs have the power to bypass geo-restricted content
Despite how good it is at doing so, it’s not perfect
While it is true that VPNs can bypass geo-restrictions, they aren’t perfect at it.
VPNs route your internet traffic through a remote server (which may be in a different country). However, there are other methods for websites and platforms to find your location, which your VPN can’t hide.
Your location can be determined by DNS, GPS, WebRTC, and even more resource-intensive methods like DPI. All these methods result in geoblocking, even when using a VPN.
You can mitigate this by purchasing a dedicated IP address and, if necessary, changing servers. Otherwise, you may need to depend on a Smart DNS proxy to access the content.
VPNs are still one of the best methods for accessing geo-blocked content.
Free VPNs work similarly to paid VPNs
There are massive trade-offs to using them
If a VPN service promises you a complete experience that you can get similar to the top services without paying a dime, you should be wary. There’s a reason why some of the best VPN services cost money.
If you’re using a free VPN service, you’re likely facing limitations in its features. Free VPN servers tend to offer limited bandwidth, and some may even throttle your speeds.
Others might offer a lot worse. For example, some add ads to web pages and log your activity. Or use your browsing history and data to make money.
Before you get immediately sold on a free VPN, make sure you know exactly what it offers, its limitations, and whether the brand is trustworthy.
Some of our top picks for free VPNs aren’t necessarily free, as some brands offer generous free trials and don’t pressure you to commit after the trial period ends.
VPNs don’t drain your battery
VPNs impact battery life, but it is still worth it
I can attest to this firsthand, having used NordVPN. As much as I really enjoy using it, I noticed that my phone and laptop batteries drained faster when it was on.
It mostly depends on your VPN’s activity, since it requires resources to function. If it’s on all the time, it will drain your battery faster than if you use it only sparingly.
The other factor is how robust the VPN’s protocol and security are.
For example, a secure VPN uses encryption and decryption to protect your internet traffic. But doing so will require processing power. While this is happening, your device must remain connected to a remote server.
The protocol can be resource-intensive, depending on its complexity, which varies by VPN service.
A VPN works the same across all your devices
The experience is dependent on the devices you use
A good VPN service will have strong compatibility so it can function across multiple devices. But the distinction between an installed app, a program, or even an extension can vary.
What a VPN offers to your device depends on how it interacts with your operating system. The operating system might pause your VPN access and your ability to create and access tunnels.
I encountered some strange behavior when I tried using NordVPN on my iPad compared to my Samsung phone.
This is mainly because Apple’s proprietary OS can cause interference when the VPN is in use, which led me to lose my network connection while streaming.
My phone also experienced some issues that required me to reset my connection. But I noticed this mainly when my device’s battery was low.
That’s because an Android phone likely has a setting that restricts background processes while in battery-saver mode.
So if you want to fix it, you either want to charge your phone or disable the mode altogether.
On my desktop, I don’t have to worry about these issues. I can use the VPN as long as my computer stays on.
Plus, each app is tailored differently. Your computer may offer more features than you’d find in your mobile or smart TV app.
VPNs keep you completely secure
Privacy and security are not the same thing
While most of us (including me) may use ‘privacy’ and ‘security’ interchangeably, they don’t necessarily mean the same thing.
But if you spend your time online perusing websites with weak security, a VPN can’t protect you. All it can do is mask your activity and safeguard your IP address while in transit.
VPNs are designed to move data privately rather than to secure it.
Most websites will use the HTTPS protocol. Browsers may also notify you if you’re trying to access a website that doesn’t use this.
The protocol is responsible for encrypting your data. It’s also used to authenticate a website to show that it doesn’t have malicious intent to steal your data.
You use your VPN to encrypt your data before it reaches its final destination. In comparison, HTTPS encrypts your connection between your browser and that website.
To clarify: Both work well together.
Your VPN provides privacy from your ISP and hackers while in transit, whereas HTTPS encrypts the data at the VPN server and the website’s server.
The best way to improve your online security is to practice safe browsing, use strong passwords and authentication methods, and install software that can monitor your system (like a good antivirus tool).
Be mindful of your browsing experience
VPNs are tremendous safety nets for maintaining privacy. But as we outlined, it depends on what you plan to use a VPN for. Depending on your activities, a VPN might not be worth using.
Billions of users are connected online. That number is projected to keep growing. Most of that time is likely spent web browsing.
If you genuinely want to keep your experiences feeling more private and secure, check out different web browsers that enhance your privacy and security.
