Nothing Is Truly Private: What VPNs Can (and Can’t) Do for You
Nothing Is Truly Private — But You Can Still Take Control
Let’s be real: no tool makes you totally invisible online. But a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can seriously boost your privacy — if you know what you’re protecting and what you’re protecting it from. This guide helps you figure that out before picking a VPN. Because privacy isn’t just about having a good app — it’s about making smarter choices.
What Are You Trying to Protect — and From Whom?
Privacy starts with questions like:
What do I want to keep private? Who might be trying to see it? And what happens if they do?
That process is called threat modeling — basically, making a game plan for your privacy. You don’t need to be a tech expert. Just ask yourself:
- Are you stopping advertisers or your ISP from tracking your web history?
- Are you worried about hackers on public Wi-Fi?
- Are you a journalist avoiding government surveillance?
Each of those needs different tools. And yes — they all matter.
You might even have more than one goal. Maybe you don’t want your ISP logging your activity and you want to stay anonymous on forums. The people “watching” in those cases are very different — and so are the risks. That’s why it’s worth getting specific.
For more help thinking this through, read our guide to staying safe online.
VPNs: What They Actually Do (And Don’t)
Once you’ve figured out what matters most to you, it’s easier to decide if a VPN can help — and how much.
At its core, a VPN works like a secure tunnel for your internet traffic. When you connect, everything you do is encrypted and sent through a private server. Your ISP, hackers, or that sketchy café Wi-Fi snooper? They can’t read your data.
So what does that actually mean?
- You’re protected on public Wi-Fi. Your logins and browsing aren’t exposed — even if the Wi-Fi itself is shady.
- Your IP address is hidden. Websites won’t see where you’re really connecting from. They’ll just see the VPN server.
- Your ISP sees scrambled data. They know you’re using a VPN, but not what you’re doing.
That’s already a huge privacy upgrade. But — and this is important — VPNs have limits.
What a VPN doesn’t do:
- It won’t stop websites from tracking you if you’re logged in (Google still knows you’re you).
- It won’t protect you from malware or phishing emails.
- It won’t make you anonymous to the entire internet.
And while it hides things from your ISP, your VPN provider can still see your traffic — which is why you need to choose one you trust (we’ll get into that shortly). Here’s what no-log VPNs actually mean.
Choosing a VPN Protocol: OpenVPN vs. WireGuard
When you start comparing VPNs, you’ll run into terms like OpenVPN and WireGuard. These are just different ways your data gets sent through that tunnel — kind of like choosing between a reliable old truck and a speedy new electric car.
Learn more about open-source VPN tech.
OpenVPN
- Been around since 2001
- Known for being stable and super flexible
- Can disguise VPN traffic to look like normal HTTPS traffic — handy in countries where VPNs are blocked
- But it’s slower and has a lot of code under the hood
WireGuard
- Much newer (from 2019)
- Much faster — great for streaming or video calls
- Simpler, with fewer moving parts (less to go wrong)
- But initially had some privacy quirks (like storing IP info by default — most providers now fix this)
See how WireGuard compares to Tor and others.
Both are very secure. WireGuard is usually faster, but OpenVPN might be better for strict networks or for people who want more control. Many VPN apps let you pick between them — test both and see which works better for you.
Two Common Privacy Gaps: DNS Leaks and Logging
A good VPN should do more than just change your IP. Let’s talk about two often-overlooked issues.
DNS Leaks
When you visit a website, your device asks a DNS server for the IP address (like looking up a number in a phonebook). A VPN should keep these requests encrypted and private — but DNS leaks happen when your device accidentally sends those requests outside the VPN.
That means your ISP might still see what websites you’re visiting — even though your VPN is on.
How to fix it:
- Choose a VPN that runs its own DNS servers
- Turn on DNS leak protection in the app
- Use a leak test tool online to double-check
Logging Policies
VPNs handle all your traffic. So if they log what you do, they could hand it over, sell it, or get hacked.
Look for VPNs with independently audited no-logs policies. “No logs” is easy to say — but audits or legal cases are the proof.
What no-logs really means — and why it matters.
Examples of VPNs that passed real audits:
- Proton VPN (third-party audits and open-source apps)
- Mullvad (police raid found nothing) (RAM-only explained)
- TunnelBear (publishes yearly security audits)
Avoid vague policies. And definitely steer clear of free VPNs that might be logging or selling your data. If it’s free, you’re probably the product.
How to Pick a VPN You Can Actually Trust
Beyond just “hides your IP,” here’s what makes a VPN trustworthy:
✅ Strong Privacy Track Record
- Look for transparency reports
- Check for third-party audits
- Find out who owns the company
Some VPNs are owned by big marketing firms or shady holding companies. That’s not always a dealbreaker — but you deserve to know. Also consider which country your VPN is based in.
✅ Real Security Features
- Kill switch: Cuts your connection if the VPN drops, so your traffic isn’t exposed.
- Modern encryption: Most solid VPNs use AES-256 (OpenVPN) or ChaCha20 (WireGuard) — both are great.
- Updated apps: Make sure they’re actively maintained.
Extras like multihop or split tunneling are nice, but the basics matter more.
✅ Honest, No-Nonsense Promises
Watch out for hype like:
- “100% anonymous!”
- “Military-grade encryption!”
The best VPNs are the ones that tell you the truth — like, “We don’t log your traffic, but using Facebook while logged in still identifies you.”
Watch out for KYC and identity-based VPN traps.
✅ Performance You’ll Actually Use
The best VPN is the one you’ll use every time you need it.
That means:
- Decent speeds
- Easy to set up
- Doesn’t break all the time
TunnelBear is famously friendly (and cute). Proton VPN and Mullvad focus on privacy and performance. CyberGhost is great for streaming. Pick what fits your life.
Final Thought: Privacy Isn’t Perfect — But It’s Possible
You don’t need to be off-grid or a tech genius to take back some privacy. Every smart step helps — using a VPN, switching browsers, cleaning up tracking — and you don’t have to do it all at once.
Start with a solid, no-logs VPN that fits your needs. Test it. Learn how to use it right (turn on the kill switch, check for leaks, stay logged out when needed). Then build from there.
Because nothing is ever totally private — but it can be private enough to feel safe, confident, and in control.
Also wondering if the Tor network is still safe?
Up Next: Want to compare the best VPNs we’ve tested? Check out our full reviews — sorted by speed, price, streaming, and audit results.