Real-world tested VPN reviews you can trust
Real-world tested VPN reviews you can trust
A simple, no-jargon guide to how VPNs help protect your privacy and give you more control online.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a tool that keeps your internet activity private and secure. It hides your IP address, encrypts your connection, and makes it much harder for websites, hackers, or even your internet provider to track what you’re doing online.
Think of a VPN like a private tunnel between your device and the internet. Instead of sending your data out into the open, it gets securely wrapped up and rerouted through a VPN server in another location. That server acts as your shield - websites and apps only see the VPN’s IP address, not yours.
Note: This leads many to wonder what the VPN provider itself can see of your activity.
A VPN is a powerful privacy tool. Its main job is to hide your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic, which protects your activity from being seen by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and keeps you safe on public Wi-Fi.
However, it's not a magic bullet for complete anonymity online. For a detailed breakdown of what a VPN does - and does not -protect you from, see our full guide on What a VPN Protects You From.
Not completely. A VPN provides a very high level of privacy, but true anonymity is extremely difficult to achieve online. A quality VPN hides your IP address and encrypts your activity from your internet provider, but it doesn't protect against things like browser fingerprinting, viruses, or phishing attacks.
Think of it as a crucial tool for privacy, not an invisibility cloak. For a full breakdown, see our guide on What a VPN Actually Protects You From.
If you value privacy, want more control over what you can access online, or just want to stay safe on public Wi-Fi - yes, a VPN is a smart choice. Millions of people use them daily, and for good reason.
The best VPNs are fast, simple to use, and respect your privacy. Look for ones that:
