Staying private online can feel like an impossible task. Everywhere you go, someone’s tracking your moves — whether it’s advertisers, websites, or your internet provider. You’ve probably heard that using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one of the best ways to protect your privacy, but how much does it actually hide? Is a VPN enough to keep you fully anonymous?
Table of contents
What does a VPN hide?
A VPN hides much of your personal data and online activities, making your online activity private and preventing third parties, like Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or websites, from tracking your browsing behavior. Let’s take a look at the specific information a VPN can effectively conceal:
Your IP address
Your IP (Internet Protocol) address is your unique identifier on the internet, and a VPN masks it by rerouting your internet traffic through a remote server. This prevents websites, services, and even your ISP from tracking your actual connection with your IP. Instead, they see the IP address of the VPN server you’re using, often located in a different city or country.
Your browsing history
Without a VPN, third parties can monitor and log your internet activity. This information can be used for profiling, targeted advertising, or even shared with government agencies. However, a VPN hides your search history from ISPs, websites, and other third parties because the actual content of your browsing is hidden behind an encrypted connection.
Your location
A VPN hides your actual geographic location through a combination of IP masking and encryption. Whether you’re trying to access your home content while abroad or simply don’t want your real location revealed, a VPN provides anonymity by making it appear as if you’re browsing from another part of the world.
Your data
All of your internet traffic is encrypted through a VPN tunnel, which means that even if a hacker intercepts your data, it’s nearly impossible for them to decrypt it. This provides protection in various situations, including when on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, such as those in coffee shops or airports, where cyberattacks are more common.
Your bandwidth usage
A VPN can hide the contents of your traffic from your ISP. This is especially beneficial for users who face throttling issues or data caps from their service provider. Because the VPN encrypts your traffic, it’s harder for your ISP to determine what services you’re accessing (like streaming platforms or peer-to-peer networks).
Itself
By way of obfuscated servers, quality VPNs can hide the fact that you’re using them at all. This extra layer of stealth is especially useful when trying to access your paid subscriptions abroad, especially in countries with strict internet censorship.
What doesn’t a VPN hide?
While a VPN can do wonders for hiding your online activity, there are still things it doesn’t completely cover. Some information can still be visible or trackable even when using the best VPN for privacy.
Account information
Your VPN can’t hide the information you voluntarily provide when logging into accounts like social media, email, or online banking. While your IP and location are hidden, account information (such as usernames, passwords, or personal details) will still be visible to the platform or service you’re accessing.
Device information
A VPN cannot hide your device’s physical details. Information such as your MAC address, device type, or operating system may still be accessible to the websites or services you connect to. Some sites may collect this information and use it for analytics or tracking.
Cookies and tracking scripts
A VPN doesn’t block or disable cookies and other tracking technologies that websites often use to monitor user behavior across sessions. Once you’re logged into a website, the platform can track your activity even if your real location and IP address are hidden. Using functions like private browsing modes or tools like cookie blockers can help mitigate this issue.
VPN logs (depending on the provider)
While reputable VPN services like Surfshark have a no-logs policy, meaning they don’t store records of your activity, some VPN providers (especially those offering free services) may still collect connection logs or metadata. Always check your VPN provider’s privacy policy to make sure your information is fully protected.
Payment information
When you buy something online, your payment information is usually processed through third-party payment systems. This means the payment processor still has access to your billing information. To make sure your VPN payments are fully anonymous, choose a provider that offers anonymous payment methods such as cryptocurrency.
Complementary privacy tools
Because a VPN is not a one-stop solution for online privacy, additional measures are necessary for well-rounded protection. These complementary tools will help you secure additional aspects of your digital presence.
Antivirus protection
While a VPN encrypts your internet connection, it doesn’t protect your device from malware, viruses, or other malicious software that works mostly offline. That’s where antivirus protection comes in, scanning your device for threats and preventing malicious attacks from infecting your system. Surfshark Antivirus is an excellent choice for those who want to combine their VPN with a reliable antivirus solution. It provides real-time protection and frequent scans to protect your devices from cyberthreats.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) can greatly enhance your security by adding an extra layer of protection to your online accounts. With MFA, even if someone gets your password, they can’t access your accounts without a second form of verification, such as a text message or an authenticator app code.
Disposable email addresses
Signing up for services with your primary email address can lead to spam, tracking, and even data breaches. Using disposable email addresses can help you avoid these issues. Surfshark Alternative ID allows you to create temporary email addresses that you can use to sign up for services anonymously. This keeps your real email private and less likely to be harvested maliciously.
Temporary phone numbers
Many online services require a phone number for verification, but sharing it can expose you to unwanted spam and robocalls or even compromise your privacy if the platform is breached. Surfshark Alternative Number allows you to use a disposable phone number for online forms, app registrations, or two-factor authentication, helping you keep your real number private and reducing the risk of spam or targeted marketing.
Password managers
A VPN can’t stop you from using weak passwords, but a password manager can. These tools reduce the risk of getting hacked by allowing you to generate and store strong, unique passwords for online accounts. To further enhance security, many services also offer encrypted storage and secure autofill features.
Data leak alerts
All it takes is for the services you use to be compromised for your personal information to be at risk. A data leak alert tool, such as Surfshark Alert, monitors the internet for signs that your sensitive information, such as email addresses, passwords, or financial details, has been leaked. If that happens, Alert will notify you immediately so you can take appropriate action.
Private search engine
Even if you’re using a VPN, search engines will try to collect data about your search activity to target you with profiled ads or subject you to price discrimination. A privacy-first search engine can help ensure your searches remain anonymous, with your activity neither logged nor tracked. Surfshark offers Search, a tool that provides ad-free, untracked search results.
Ad blockers and anti-tracking
Ads and trackers also collect data about your browsing behavior. To combat this, ad blockers and anti-tracking tools prevent websites from loading intrusive ads and scripts that monitor your online activities. Surfshark CleanWeb is a great example — it blocks ads, malware, and phishing attempts while preventing trackers from monitoring your browsing, giving you a cleaner and safer web experience.
Encrypted messaging apps
For secure communication, consider using encrypted messaging software like Signal or Telegram. These apps offer end-to-end encryption, so even if your VPN connection is compromised, your messages will remain private and unreadable to others.
Protecting your privacy is a multilayered process
While a VPN provides essential protections for your online activities by masking your IP address, hiding your real location, and encrypting your data, there are still areas that a VPN alone can’t fully cover.
The takeaway? Protecting your privacy is a multilayered process. By combining a VPN with complementary tools like antivirus software, data leak alerts, and private search engines, you’ll be better equipped to secure your life online. The key to staying private is never to rely on just one tool but to build a comprehensive shield — one that can withstand all the threats that come your way.
FAQ
Who can see what you do with a VPN?
When you use a VPN, your online activity is encrypted, which means your ISP, hackers, and websites can’t see what you’re doing. However, the VPN provider itself may still have access to some metadata if it doesn’t adhere to a no-logs policy.
Does a VPN hide you completely?
A VPN offers significant privacy protection but doesn’t make you completely anonymous. Other factors, such as cookies, device and account information, or data you share online, can still leave traces of your activity.
Can you be tracked if you use a VPN?
Tracking becomes much more difficult with a VPN, but it’s still possible in some cases. Websites can still track you with a VPN through cookies or other methods, especially when you’re logged into their accounts.
Does a VPN hide your IP?
Yes, a VPN hides your IP address by replacing it with the IP of a secure VPN server. This ensures that your online activity remains private and prevents websites, advertisers, and your ISP from tracking, recording, or misusing your real IP address.
Does a VPN hide your location?
A VPN masks your actual location by making it appear that you’re browsing from the location of the VPN server. This can help you protect your privacy or access your home content while traveling abroad.
Why do you need to hide your browsing history from your ISP?
Your ISP may track and store your browsing history, often for marketing purposes or to comply with government regulations. A VPN app encrypts your traffic, keeping your browsing history private and out of the ISP’s reach.
How do I check if my VPN is working?
To check if your VPN is working, you can perform a VPN test. Simply connect to your VPN and then visit a website that displays your IP address, like Surfshark’s What is my IP? page. If the IP address shown differs from your real one and matches the location of the VPN server you’re connected to, your VPN is functioning correctly. Additionally, you can test for DNS (Domain Name System) or WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) leaks to ensure your online activity is fully protected.
