Don’t Use A VPN. Do This Instead

VPNs have been all the rage for the last couple of years. The hype is that they protect your privacy, encrypt your traffic, and increase your device’s network safety. The hype doesn’t live up to reality. One caveat: I am talking here about your VPN purchase.

A corporate VPN is an entirely different animal; the below may or may not apply depending on your company’s policies.

They Don’t Do Much For Privacy

Real privacy is a real pain. Websites can identify you, even over a VPN. Real privacy requires you to clear cookies nightly, don’t sign into Facebook, block all tracking javascript and not run any more browser extensions that you absolutely need. Worse, VPN providers can see every website you visit, and everywhere you visit! 

The VPN Encryption Is Worthless

A VPN may encrypt traffic, sure, BUT this is mostly traffic that was already encrypted! If a website you visit or an email service you use is not encrypted, tell them to pick up the next phone call, 1999 wants them back. “But it keeps people on the WiFi from snooping on me,” you say. Keep Reading.

They Don’t Help With Network Security

The connections between a local network and the internet are entirely different things, and VPNs will not typically protect you from both. So, instead, don’t ever use untrusted WiFi networks. Don’t ever use unsecured WiFi or public WiFi — use your phone’s hotspot instead. 

You will do more for network security to keep your device’s firewall on and much more if you upgrade to a “Follow-you-Firewall,” (SASE) that will give you all the benefits that a VPN should give you.