Free VPNs often limit speed, data usage, the number of servers and device connections and hardly unblock streaming sites. But that's not all—no VPN can operate without money, so they tend to make their money in other ways, which often turns out bad for users.

A VPN is not invincible to hacking attempts. Like any software or service that relies on the internet, a VPN can be vulnerable in various aspects. Nonetheless, premium VPNs have lower chances of being successfully hacked. Their strong encryptions will take millions of years to break.

How Secure is a VPN? Using a reliable virtual private network (VPN) can be a safe way to browse the internet. VPN security can protect from IP and encrypt internet history and is increasingly being used to prevent snooping on by government agencies.

No. Your data is encrypted, so your ISP can't see its contents. This includes DNS requests, which are sent through the VPN tunnel and resolved by the VPN provider. Your ISP can see the IP address of the VPN server you're connected to, but it can't see any connections made after that.

A VPN can hide your online identity by masking your IP address. It encrypts your location and the data you send and receive, helping protect your personal identifiable information (PII). This data can come in the form of your bank information, as well as Social Security and driver's license numbers.

VPNs aren't only popular in the United States. While two-thirds of surveyed internet users within the United States reported using a VPN at some point in their lives, about a third of the rest of the world's population has also adopted VPN use.

If you're using a trustworthy VPN service, your browsing activities become illegible to snoopers. However, this doesn't mean a VPN user is entirely untraceable online. Internet service providers (ISPs), websites, and even governments can determine whether you're using a VPN.