You should use a VPN whenever you’re online to help protect your data privacy. By encrypting your data and masking your IP address, a VPN makes it much harder for others to monitor and exploit your online activities.
VPN essentials
Before we dive deeper into the reasons why you should use a VPN (Virtual Private Network), let’s take a quick look at what a VPN does, the pros and cons of using a VPN, and how to choose the best VPN for your needs.
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Question
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Answer
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What is a VPN?
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A VPN is an online security tool that protects your privacy and personal data by encrypting your data and hiding your IP (Internet Protocol) address from intrusive third parties.
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When should you use your VPN?
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You should use your VPN when you want to:
• Connect to public Wi-Fi securely; • Avoid ISP bandwidth throttling; • Protect your personal data; • Shield your mobile devices; • Beat local firewalls; • Stay safe on unencrypted HTTP websites; • Bypass oppressive censorship; • Surf the web privately; • Save money when shopping online; • Protect household appliances; • Unblock social media apps; • Stay safe from DDoS attacks. |
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When should you turn off your VPN?
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It’s generally recommended to keep your VPN connected at all times. However, if you encounter connectivity issues when accessing apps that may require your actual IP address, you can temporarily pause your VPN.
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Why keep your VPN on at all times?
You should always have your VPN on because it hides your IP address and encrypts your traffic, increasing your online privacy and security. You need a VPN because it helps protect your information from data leaks, snoops, and cyberthreats (especially when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks) while providing more freedom on the internet.
Always keeping your VPN on lets you do the following:
1. Connect to public Wi-Fi securely
Using public Wi-Fi networks is risky because hackers can connect to the same network and try to access your data and personal information. The danger is even greater if it’s an open network without a password.
To prevent others from accessing your email, photos, login information, or credit card details, use a VPN to protect yourself on public Wi-Fi and encrypt all your internet traffic.
2. Avoid ISP bandwidth throttling
Some ISPs (Internet Service Providers) limit your internet speed when you engage in high-bandwidth activities, such as streaming, video calling, or downloading files.
Fortunately, your ISP can’t see what you do online when you connect to a VPN. As a result, they’re far less likely to throttle your connection speed, and you’re free to continue surfing with no speed restrictions.
Disclaimer: Please note that using Surfshark services for any illegal activities is strictly forbidden and violates our Terms of Service. Make sure that any use of Surfshark services for your particular activities conforms to all relevant laws and regulations, including those of any service providers and websites you access using Surfshark.
3. Protect your personal data
ISP throttling is one thing, but ISPs in the US can legally collect and sell your data to third parties, even without your consent. Furthermore, your data is also vulnerable to hackers and other bad actors who try to intercept your web traffic.
A VPN helps protect you from prying eyes by encrypting your connection, making your data indecipherable to anyone who actually accesses it.
4. Shield your mobile devices
VPNs aren’t just for laptops or desktop computers. These tools are vital for increased security on any device connected to the internet, including smartphones and tablets.
A VPN protects your internet traffic by encrypting it, and it works on both Wi-Fi and cellular data. By masking your actual IP address, you can also keep your browsing data private and defend your smartphone from a range of online threats.
Tip: Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, letting you secure multiple devices with a single subscription.
5. Beat local firewalls
Many schools, dorms, or workplaces limit what kinds of websites users can access online. At times, these blocks may affect helpful services and limit your ability to get work done.
But with a VPN, you can get around these censorship measures by connecting to a remote server.
6. Stay safe on unencrypted websites
While most modern websites use HTTPS encryption to help protect data, some older ones still don’t. If you visit a site that only has an HTTP prefix in its URL, a VPN increases your online security while browsing.
Nevertheless, a VPN still protects your entire connection, while HTTPS only protects the specific content of the website you’re visiting. Therefore, it’s better to keep your VPN up and running for all your browsing.
7. Overcome censorship
Some authoritarian governments around the world use censorship to block access to news sites, entertainment services, social media apps, and more.
Whether you’re a tourist, activist, or regular citizen, having a VPN helps you bypass this oppressive censorship.
8. Surf the web privately
Increased privacy is one of the basic benefits of a VPN. Unprotected connections are easy to exploit, so your data and sensitive information may be vulnerable whenever you go online without additional protection.
A VPN encrypts all traffic before it leaves your device. As a result, whenever someone tries to snoop on you, your data is scrambled, making it much more difficult for others to access.
Bonus: You can enjoy added email privacy using tools like Surfshark’s Alternative ID, which allows you to create multiple alternative email addresses. You can use them to create accounts and fill in online forms that would otherwise attract spam or phishing attacks.
Using Alternative ID ensures that all unwanted emails are sent to your alternative inboxes rather than your main account.
9. Save money when shopping online
The prices you see when shopping online can differ drastically depending on your location. You’re also likely to see a price increase if you show continued interest in a certain product or service.
You can save money with a VPN whenever you’re shopping online. A VPN connection masks your IP address, hiding your browsing behavior. As a result, you can get better deals, especially when booking flights and hotel accommodations.
10. Protect household appliances
Any device that connects to the internet can benefit from a VPN, even those that can’t support their own VPN app.
By setting up a VPN on your router, you can protect all devices on your home network, including video game consoles, smart TVs, and more. Connect all your devices to the Wi-Fi router, and you’ll automatically get VPN coverage.
11. Unblock social media apps
If you like to travel internationally, there’s a good chance you’ll eventually visit a country that restricts the social media access you’re normally used to. According to Surfshark’s Internet Shutdown Tracker, nearly 33% of countries have blocked social media in some form since 2015.
And no platform is immune to these blocks. Facebook, Instagram, and X have all been subject to various restrictions around the world.
A simple solution for most users is a VPN. By routing your data through a remote server, a VPN can change your IP address and help you freely access your favorite social networks.
12. Stay safe from DDoS attacks
DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks target online users based on their IP address. Since a VPN changes your IP to that of the VPN server, hackers and sore losers can’t use your IP to target you.
This VPN benefit is a particularly useful feature for gamers and streamers, as they’re common targets of DDoS attacks.
When you may need to turn off your VPN
While it’s highly recommended to keep your VPN on when using public Wi-Fi, accessing sensitive information, or trying to prevent your ISP from tracking your browsing, there are some situations when it might make sense to turn your VPN off.
The good news is that leading VPN providers offer a split tunneling feature that lets you select which apps and websites get VPN protection and which don’t.
Still, you might want to consider turning off your VPN for the following:
- Websites that block VPNs: some streaming platforms, online shopping sites, or other services may require your real IP and block VPNs;
- Online banking: certain banks may block VPN access to prevent fraud. Online financial services like PayPal explicitly ban privacy tools like a VPN to mitigate the risk of online fraud;
- Performance-sensitive tasks: a VPN might increase latency and slow internet speeds for high-bandwidth activities like gaming, voice calling, or downloading;
- Emergency situations: if you need to be located in an emergency, you should turn off VPN protection to make sure your real location can be traced;
- Business use: corporate networks might block VPNs and require custom solutions.
How to keep a VPN on all the time
Keeping your VPN on 24/7 is easy. Here’s how to use a VPN at all times:
- Install your VPN, open the app, and select a server location to connect to. When you download Surfshark, you even get recommendations on the Fastest location and Nearest country if you’re having a hard time choosing a server.
- Once connected, your VPN will stay on until you turn it off manually.
- You can also toggle on the Auto-connect option to automatically turn on your VPN whenever you boot up your computer. With Surfshark, you can find this option under Settings > VPN Settings.
Why cybersecurity should be your top priority
From losing your login info to having your identity or money stolen, cyberattacks pose a growing threat to everyone. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Reports, in the US, the number of cybercrime victims in 2024 was close to 1,000,000.
With these concerning VPN statistics in mind, you should treat your privacy as the top priority.
Final takeaway: should your VPN be on or off?
You should keep your VPN on whenever you’re online. It keeps your sensitive information away from prying eyes and ensures a private, secure connection to the internet. On top of that, setting up and using a VPN is super simple, making it easy for you to protect yourself online.
FAQ
Should I use a VPN at home?
Yes, you should use a VPN at home, especially when working with sensitive data. If you feel like your privacy is breached with intrusive ads or you have reasons to believe your internet service provider is spying on you, then you have even more of a reason to use a VPN — especially one with a built-in ad blocker.
Should I leave my VPN on all the time on my phone?
Yes, keeping your phone’s VPN on helps protect your privacy, encrypts your internet traffic, and masks your IP address from websites and online trackers. It can also help reduce the risk of data exposure when using public Wi-Fi networks.
Is a VPN actually necessary?
Yes, a VPN is necessary for internet users who care about keeping their info private online. By encrypting your traffic and masking your IP address, a VPN makes it harder for prying eyes to see your online activity or access your sensitive data through spear phishing or other attacks.
Should I get a free VPN?
No, you shouldn’t get a free VPN. Data protection is one of the main selling points of any secure VPN provider, but free VPNs usually lack top security features, as proven by 25+ million leaked user records in 2022 alone. On top of that, some free VPN services may even sell user data to third parties, putting your privacy at risk.
Why should I use a VPN for streaming?
Streaming video uses a lot of bandwidth, and your ISP may throttle your connection speed while you stream. When you use a VPN, your ISP can’t see what you’re doing. As a result, they can’t throttle your connection based on activity type, and you get to enjoy smoother streaming.
Why should I use a VPN for gaming?
Using a VPN for gaming can protect you from DDoS attacks and ISP throttling. This ensures a smoother gaming experience without sudden drops in internet speed or attacks from sore losers trying to ruin your connection.
