200 Points
VPNs can be useful in some cases. However, they are unsuitable for certain applications. Remember that you have to trust VPN providers. You pay them, so they know your identity. Many VPN services cooperate fully with investigative authorities.

More information

VPNs can help you protect your security on non-secure or public networks. They can help you bypass censorship. They hide which websites you visit from your provider. They also hide your own IP from the target applications. However, they do not automatically protect you from hacking, identity theft or data leaks. They also do not automatically make you anonymous and do not prevent social networks from collecting your data.

If you can, use the Tor network or free VPNs instead, such as RiseupVPN, which do not collect any data about you.

Particularly important for the following target groups:

  • Fraud and rip-off

Other categories

  • Dangers on the Internet
  • Rather more complicated

Sources and further links

  1. Do you really need a VPN?, kuketz-blog, (de), 2023-04-19
  2. RiseupVPN, riseup.net, (en)