The Dangers of Using a VPN

Surprisingly, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are a regular topic on this site. 

Webmasters have debated whether they should block VPNs to protect their content. VPNs are commonly used by cheating services to bypass anti-cheating measures. Most notably, they are a common tool for piracy and even get sued for that role.

However, I’m also someone who regularly uses VPNs as a tool. Whether it’s an extra layer of protection when filing copyright notices, to prevent snooping by my ISP, or to protect my connection when traveling, I’ve had a VPN subscription off and on for the past ten years.

Simply put, a VPN is a security tool. However, it is a relatively simple tool with a very narrow function. The vast majority of people do not need a VPN. In fact, for most people, a VPN is not only useless but can also make their security and internet experience worse.

This sits in stark contrast to the grandiose claims made by VPN companies. They promise “complete security” and promote themselves as a way to protect your privacy online. While it can provide some assistance in certain circumstances, genuine drawbacks must be considered.

Consider these dangers of using a VPN as your primary connection.

1: Slowed Connection

The most obvious and least avoidable drawback is that a VPN will almost certainly slow your internet connection down.

Unless your internet service provider is throttling certain connections (not your VPN connection), it will harm your speed. With a good VPN, the reduction should be barely noticeable. However, it can get drastically worse if the VPN is congested.

A VPN is rarely the way to go if you want the fastest connection.

2: False Sense of Confidence

Most of the claims made by VPN providers are either false or misleading. These can be especially harmful to those unaware of what a VPN does and believe the hype.

A VPN won’t protect you from phishing attacks. It won’t protect your privacy from tech companies, it doesn’t prevent identity theft, it doesn’t block scams, nor does it make you anonymous online. Some VPNs offer add-on services/features that may address some of these issues, but the VPN itself won’t do that.

In short, a VPN will not save you from your own bad decisions. If you are reckless online, it doesn’t matter if you use a VPN. For some, that false confidence may cause more problems than the VPN solves.

3: CAPTCHAs and Site Blocks

If you’re using a commercial VPN, you will be sharing an IP address with hundreds, if not thousands, of strangers. Some of those strangers are likely using that IP address to cover up questionable online activities.

As such, sites are often wary of VPN users. For example, Reddit blocks VPN users who aren’t logged in. Google and other search engines often hit users with CAPTCHAs or other throttling techniques since they see so much traffic from one address.

You can mitigate these issues by using a dedicated IP address. However, that doesn’t work entirely since sites can still see you are using a VPN. Furthermore, it dramatically reduces the (already small) privacy benefits of using a VPN. It’s also relatively expensive, often doubling the cost of a VPN subscription.

4: Technical Issues

A VPN adds another layer to your internet connection. This can and sometimes does break things.

In May, an update to Windows 11 broke VPN connections for many users. While this was a problem with Windows and not VPN providers, it shows how this layer of complexity can cause unexpected issues.

Another fairly common problem is certificate errors. These can impact both the VPN connection and connecting to sites through the VPN. If your device and VPN are not set up correctly, it can be difficult to use secure sites, which comprise the bulk of the web.

Overall, these problems are typically minor and rare but can still be a significant headache. This is especially true for tech novices.

5: VPN Trust Issues

A VPN is only useful if you trust your VPN provider more than you trust your current connection. While that might be an easy decision on an open wifi at an airport or hotel, it gets more complicated with your main ISP.

In 2019, both TorGuard and NordVPN learned that a third-party provider they used had breached their systems. While the actual breach was relatively minor, they did a very poor job disclosing it and its meaning.

In 2011, a hacking suspect was arrested after HideMyAss turned over log data to authorities. The company promoted itself as a fully anonymous service. However, the company was maintaining logs that could, if needed, unmask users.

While it’s easy to see why users mistrust ISPs, VPN companies often fail when subjected to real scrutiny.

6: Legal Issues

Finally, in some rare instances, using a VPN can land you in legal trouble, even if you did nothing wrong.

As Chris Finlay posted to Threads, he previously used Windscribe VPN’s free tier. The police raided his house and confiscated his computer equipment under suspicion of cryptocurrency fraud.

The mode he was using caused someone else to use his network as their connection to make a fraudulent transfer. Though Finlay was never charged and got his equipment back, it was still a serious ordeal.

To be clear, this is mostly a problem with using free VPNs or VPNs that route traffic through their users. But, if you’re not careful, you could find that a criminal is using your network to commit their crimes, setting the stage for some major headaches.

Bottom Line

A VPN can be a useful tool in some situations. As someone who uses VPNs regularly (or at least semiregularly), I recommend keeping one around if needed.

However, they are not magic bullets when it comes to security. They will not protect you from your bad behavior. They also can’t stop viruses, phishing, data breaches and a myriad of other things.

The simple truth is that most people do not need a VPN. They will not benefit from a VPN; getting one will worsen their security and online experience.

At best, a VPN is a placebo to the average user. It’s just another monthly subscription that isn’t necessary. At worst, it’s a series of technical problems that give a false sense of security.

Sometimes, the smartest thing to do is ignore the hype. Focus on honing your best practices and learning what to look for online. It will likely do far more to keep you safe than a VPN.