“Should I get a VPN?”

I get asked this a lot.

Usually after someone sees an ad.

Or hears a podcast mention it.

Or reads that they’re being “tracked everywhere.”

And it’s a fair question.

But like a lot of things in tech, VPNs are often explained in a way that makes them sound like a complete solution… when they’re actually just one tool.

A useful one—but a specific one.

At a basic level, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates a secure connection between your device and another server on the internet.

Instead of your internet provider seeing everything you do, your traffic is:

• Encrypted
• Routed through the VPN server
• Seen as coming from the VPN server instead of your home

In practical terms, that means:

1. Your ISP can’t see your activity

Your internet provider can still see that you’re connected to a VPN—but not what you’re doing inside it.

2. Public Wi-Fi becomes much safer

On hotel, airport, or café Wi-Fi, a VPN prevents others on the network from snooping on your connection.

3. Your IP address is masked (to a point)

Websites see the VPN server’s location instead of yours.

What a VPN Does NOT Do

This is where most of the confusion happens.

A VPN does not:

• Protect you from scams
• Stop malware or viruses
• Prevent phishing attacks
• Secure weak passwords
• Make you anonymous online
• Stop Google, Facebook, or Apple from tracking you (if you’re logged in)

If you sign into your Google account while using a VPN…

Google still knows it’s you.

If you enter your password on a fake website…

A VPN won’t stop that.

If you download something malicious…

A VPN doesn’t protect you.

Why VPNs Feel Like a “Security Tool”

Most VPN services are marketed as:

• “Total protection”
• “Complete privacy”
• “Be invisible online”

That messaging blends privacy, security, and anonymity together.

But in reality:

• VPNs are mostly a privacy tool
• With a specific security use case (public Wi-Fi)

They are not a full protection system.

When a VPN Actually Makes Sense

For most people, a VPN is useful in a few specific situations:

Good use cases

• Using public Wi-Fi (hotels, airports, cafés)
• Traveling and accessing services from home
• Reducing ISP-level visibility

Sometimes useful

• Avoiding basic location-based tracking
• Accessing region-restricted content

Usually unnecessary at home

If you’re on a secure home network, the benefit is much smaller.

The Trade-Offs (No One Talks About These)

VPNs aren’t “free protection”—they come with trade-offs:

• Slightly slower internet speeds
• Trust shifted from your ISP → to the VPN provider
• Monthly cost
• Occasional connection issues

So the real question becomes:

Do you trust your VPN provider more than your internet provider?

That’s not always an obvious yes.

A Simpler Way to Think About It

A VPN is like using a secure tunnel for your internet traffic.

It’s great when you’re in an environment you don’t trust.

But it doesn’t fix problems on your device, your accounts, or your decisions.

Where This Fits (Going Back to Yesterday)

From yesterday’s post:

• Security → protecting your accounts and devices
• Privacy → limiting who can see your activity
• Anonymity → hiding who you are

A VPN helps with privacy, a little with security, and very little with anonymity.

Coming Tomorrow

Tomorrow, we’ll look at something even more common—and more misunderstood:

Security software.

Do you actually need antivirus anymore?

Or are the built-in tools already doing the job?