But what is a VPN for? (And do you actually need one?)
The ads say you're in danger without a VPN. The truth is more boring: it's useful in three specific situations, and in all the others it's a subscription you don't need. Here they are.
- Level
- beginner
- Time
- 6 minutes
- What you need
- Nothing, just curiosity
If you watch YouTube, you’ve heard an influencer say that “without a VPN, hackers can see everything you do”. It’s one of the most widespread ads on the internet, and one of the most exaggerated. Let’s look at what a VPN really does and when it actually makes sense to pay for one.
VPN (Virtual Private Network): a service that runs your internet connection through an encrypted "tube" to a computer owned by the VPN company, and from there to the website you want. Your network provider only sees the tube; the website sees the VPN computer's address, not yours.
What it really does
Two things. First: it hides which sites you visit from whoever runs the network you’re on (your mobile carrier, the café Wi-Fi, your employer). Second: it makes websites believe you’re in another country, the one where the VPN computer is.
What it does NOT do
It doesn’t make you anonymous: the VPN company knows exactly who you are and what you do; you’re just trusting them instead of your carrier. It doesn’t protect you from viruses or scams: tap a phishing link with the VPN on and the scam works just the same. And it doesn’t “protect your banking”: serious websites already use the padlock (https), which encrypts the data between you and them anyway, VPN or not.
The three cases where it’s genuinely useful
- You want content that's only available in another country. A streaming catalogue while on holiday, your home country's TV while living abroad. It's the most common and most honest use.
- You're in a country that censors the internet, or on a network that blocks sites (some company or school networks). The VPN gets around the block.
- You don't want the network operator to know what you're doing. For example, you're on a hotel Wi-Fi doing something private. Note: on padlocked sites they'd still only see "went to that site", not what you typed.
Using public Wi-Fi to check email or your bank is not as dangerous today as it was ten years ago: almost everything is encrypted with https. A VPN adds little in that case.
What it costs and which one to choose
Reputable VPNs cost 3 to 6 euros a month on a yearly plan. Avoid free ones: if you’re not paying, you’re the product (they resell browsing data or show ads). If you have an iPhone with iCloud+ you already have something similar included (“Private Relay”), and some antivirus packages and carriers bundle one in.
You need one if you travel often and want your content, or if you're on networks that block or monitor. If you only use it "for safety" at home, you're paying a subscription for protection you already have.