What is a VPN, and why should I care?
Online privacy and security are growing concerns. In a 2025 survey by cybersecurity firm Acronis*, over 60% of users said they worry about data privacy but don’t know how to protect themselves.
From online banking over public Wi-Fi or advertisers tracking activity to sell you stuff, the threats vary in seriousness but are real.
Just by going online ‘unmasked’, your connection reveals certain data by default. This can be used to identify and locate users while tracking activity: both for legal and illegal purposes.
Generally, the threat is small, but it can expose any of us to cybercriminals, hackers, and vulnerabilities, or just leave us feeling watched.
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, helps mask your identity and keep your activity private. Think of it as an invisibility cloak for your internet connection.
VPN stands for...
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and can be thought of as a more private, exclusive pathway to the public internet.
If you can imagine your normal, naked internet connection being wrapped in a secure tunnel that hides and protects your web activity, then that’s a VPN!
We can even break the term down into three parts that make more practical sense...
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Virtual = It operates online.
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Private = It secures your data and hides your activity.
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Network = It creates a connection to the wider internet through a secure pathway.
When considering these points, it’s worth thinking of a VPN as an encrypted connection.
How does a VPN work?
To get a bit more technical, a VPN works as an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. This encryption encodes or 'masks' your web data to a higher level of security than it would normally be exchanged.
You’ve probably seen encryption in action when shopping or banking online. These sites use a security protocol called ‘SSL’ (Secure Sockets Layer) and the little padlock icon to add protection. This creates a secure connection between the site server and your web browser.
Encrypted data relies on a private, super strong encryption key to send and read it. It’s a bit like a solution to a complex puzzle impossible to crack without it. Because this key is never transmitted, the encrypted data is worthless gobbledygook to anyone who might steal it.
So, when you use a VPN, you’re essentially putting a padlock on everything you do online.
What does a VPN do for you? What are VPN benefits?
Here are some key benefits of using a VPN:
- Hide your identity by masking your IP address (Internet Protocol).
- Secure your data, especially on public Wi-Fi networks.
- Change your location by choosing a VPN server in a different country.
- Access blocked content, to access international content on websites and streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime.
- Avoid throttling, so your ISP (internet service provider) can’t slow you down based on your activity.
Are there any downsides?
VPNs can cause slower speeds. A VPN connection can add lag or ‘latency’ due to the additional routing through remote servers.
Keep in mind that this VPN tunnelling and the data encryption process could restrict upload and download bandwidths. Additionally, you might find some online services or sites might block entry if via a known VPN server.
Generally though, the average user shouldn’t notice internet access or streaming is negatively impacted.
You’ll probably consider the added cost of subscribing to a VPN as a significant downside, too. While it’s true, this usually adds an extra tariff to your internet bills, there are other options.
How do I get a VPN?
Signing up for a VPN is a bit like choosing an internet provider and should be as simple.
That said, they are not the same and a VPN is not a feature you can ask your ISP to add for you. VPNs are purposefully independent and will even hide your web activity from your broadband provider!
How much do VPNs cost?
VPNs could cost as little as £2-£3 per month for a 24-month deal, with it typically paid in one go.
What information do I need to provide and how do I pay?
VPN providers only ask for a valid email address and payment details, with some accepting cryptocurrency at checkout. Many leading VPNs like Surfshark offer a money-back guarantee period and your package will auto-renew unless cancelled.
However, not all require payment. Free VPNs such as Proton VPN are available but will likely have data restrictions or limits on the number of devices you can use.
How do I use my new VPN?
User-friendly VPN apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS operating systems. Just:
- Install the app
- Log in
- Choose a server location
- Enable the VPN
Once connected, all your internet traffic will be securely encrypted.
Do I need a VPN in the UK?
There is no requirement for using a VPN anywhere - it’s purely an optional extra. We’ve covered the genuine benefits, but the decision to buy and use one is your choice.
In the UK specifically, however, there are some benefits worth keeping in mind:
- Public Wi-Fi protection when on trains, planes, staying in hotels or using café hotspots is reassuring. These are places where VPN security adds value to your data safety.
- VPNs let you watch British TV abroad, like BBC or ITV, when travelling - as long as you have a TV licence!
It’s also worth clarifying some myths and rules here. Using a VPN to access the web is NOT illegal, they are 100% permitted in UK law for that purpose. This is the same for most countries you might visit too, except for countries like China and North Korea etc.
However, while maybe tougher to trace, a VPN does not allow you to do illegal things online.
FAQs about VPNs
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Is a VPN legal in the UK?
Yes. Using a VPN is 100% legal for online privacy and security. However, you must only use it for legal activities and fully follow your VPN’s terms of service.
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Can a VPN make my internet faster?
Not usually, but it might help if your ISP is throttling your connection.
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What does a VPN hide?
A VPN masks your IP address that can be used to track online activity. By instead using an “anonymous” IP address from the VPN, your location is hidden, and all sensitive data secured with encryption.
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Will my ISP see what I’m doing with a VPN?
Yes, effectively it will. VPNs encrypt or securely “mask” your online activity and browsing history from being visible to your ISP. Most will include a kill switch feature that will still keep your data hidden if the VPN connection drops out for any reason. However, it’s still possible for the provider to see that you are connected to a VPN and for how long.
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Is a VPN the same as a firewall?
No, they both offer worthwhile protection in different ways. This means you may use a firewall alongside a VPN to guard against network attacks and enhance overall security.
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What’s the best VPN for beginners?
Try easy-to-use services like ExpressVPN or Surfshark. We don’t endorse specific brands.
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What is OpenVPN?
OpenVPN is an open-source community project that sits alongside popular, commercial types of VPN. The OpenVPN tunneling protocol uses SSL and AES encryption, but the code is made “open” for developers to build, share their own solutions. Wireguard is a similar alternative to OpenVPN, but both are better suited for advanced users rather than general consumers.
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What is a tunneling protocol? (Advanced)
Most simply a tunneling or VPN protocol refers to the types of encryption a VPN uses. They sometimes have strange, confusing names like ‘l2tp’, ‘IPsec’ or ‘IKEv2’ for example. ‘PPTP’ or Point-to-point Tunneling Protocol is an older standard for data encapsulation you might have heard of, but it’s largely been replaced with more modern forms. However, these technicalities aren’t something most VPN users need to worry about.
In summary
Although optional, a VPN is an informed choice for those who feel the benefits are useful.
Greater web security and privacy is surely the key reason. This probably applies most to those who use public Wi-Fi or hotspots most regularly, particularly for business or travel.
If your work or personal data is highly sensitive wherever you send it from, a VPN will help to keep it safer. The ability to watch a US-only Netflix show from a foreign country adds value too!
Either way, by learning a little more about how VPNs work, you should feel much happier about choosing and using one to protect you online.
References
Acronis.com - Data Privacy Survey: consumers worry about data but don’t do enough to protect it