6 widespread VPN myths everybody falls for—and why they’re unsuitable

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I spotlight six of the most typical myths about VPNs and reduce by way of the misinformation to ship you the reality.

Australian Editor, PCWorld Oct 9, 2025 3:30 am PDT

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It’s comparatively simple to enroll to a digital non-public community, or VPN. Increasingly persons are taking the plunge to safe their id on-line — however their motivations range and there’s plenty of confusion about what VPNs can truly do. Right here I spotlight six of the most typical myths about VPNs to chop by way of the misinformation and ship you the reality.

1. VPNs are just for criminality

This can be a very talked-about fantasy that I typically come throughout. Whereas it’s true that VPNs can be utilized for unlawful actions like hacking and torrenting, that’s not what they had been meant for. Defending your privateness is the principle intention and a VPN can try this by masking your IP deal with and encrypting your web site visitors.

With a VPN in place you possibly can go forward and do the issues it is advisable to do on-line with out your ISP, the websites you go to, and the federal government retaining tabs in your actions. That’s essential in nations the place digital censorship is rife and private freedoms are restricted. However even in nations which have a excessive stage of non-public freedom, VPNs present a safer method to get pleasure from these freedoms with extra anonymity.

2. VPNs are just for unblocking streaming websites

Streaming is an enormous promoting level of VPNs that you simply’ll typically hear touted much more than the privateness options. And it’s true that VPNs are extraordinarily helpful for that. As an example, you may need to use one to skirt round geofences and watch Netflix abroad or else entry the BBC iPlayer or Hulu. Nonetheless, it’s not the one means you should use a VPN. You may also use one to do any of the next:

Entry your banking app if you’re abroad.

Keep safe when on public Wi-Fi and stop hackers intercepting your information.

Spoof your location to take a look at gross sales in numerous areas of the world.

3. VPNs result in unstable web connections

VPNs work to encrypt your information by sending it by way of servers earlier than it reaches its vacation spot. For that motive, you'll expertise a slight slowdown in your web connection because it takes further time to encrypt your information, but it surely gained’t trigger an unstable web connection.

In case you’re paying for a quick VPN plan in your personal area, chances are high you gained’t even discover the slowdown, it’ll be so minor it’ll be undetectable. In some instances, utilizing a VPN may truly velocity up your web connection, like in case your ISP is throttling your connection since you’re streaming, gaming, or torrenting. So, take these claims with a grain of salt. See additionally PCWorld’s suggestions for the quickest VPNs.

4. You don’t have to pay for a VPN

Sadly, the saying “You get what you pay for” applies to digital non-public networks too. It’s true that some free VPNs aren’t as reliable as paid companies and can leak your info to 3rd events to earn a living. Others simply can’t compete with the speeds of totally paid companies, after which some will bombard you with adverts to make up for the shortage of cost of their companies.

In case you don’t need to compromise on high quality and velocity it's best to actually select a high quality paid possibility like those we evaluation and suggest at PCWorld. You’ll discover a world of distinction after some time.

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5. VPNs make you utterly nameless on-line

VPNs aren’t utterly foolproof and whereas they will enhance your digital safety, they will’t assure full anonymity.

Even should you’re assigned a brand new IP deal with each time you hook up with the web, some web sites you go to will nonetheless know the place you’re positioned. Moreover, by way of social media trackers, cookies, and adverts they will construct up a really complete profile of your internet looking actions. In case you signal into a web site or service, it’ll know who you might be, no matter whether or not you’re utilizing a VPN.

You additionally must be cautious of what info you personally share on-line, as a result of even with a masked IP deal with, that info will be linked again to you. Sharing info is as much as you and never one thing a VPN may also help you with.

6. A no-logs coverage means the VPN retains no logs

Regardless of what they are saying, most VPNs will hold some logs to be able to enhance their companies. These will usually be aggregated or anonymized logs which have details about how lengthy you’ve linked to a server and which server you’re utilizing and so forth., however not logs of your IP or gadget. This distinction is normally hidden with some inventive wording within the privateness coverage, which is the place all of the confusion arises.

There have additionally been experiences of some VPNs claiming to have no-logs insurance policies and whereas technically true, they let third-party advertisers hold logs, which is a little bit deceptive. So make sure you learn the nice print of the privateness coverage earlier than you signal as much as any plan.

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Writer: Dominic Bayley, Australian Editor, PCWorld Primarily based in Australia, Dominic Bayley is a hardcore tech fanatic. His PCWorld focus is on PC gaming {hardware}: laptops, mice, headsets and keyboards.