Does a VPN really provide 100% privacy? Here’s what you need to know

VPNs, or virtual private networks, can help you do a lot of things online that you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. From accessing websites and services in other countries to providing an extra layer of security to things such as banking or torrenting. But the single most popular usage of a VPN is to enhance privacy by hiding your internet activity. Many wonder though, will using a VPN keep your activity completely private online?

I’ll make this really simple: No, a VPN does not provide you with 100 percent privacy online. In fact, no privacy tool can completely hide your digital presence or keep you anonymous. So, there you have it, question answered, right? Not so fast.

Just because a VPN, or anything else for that matter, can’t deliver total privacy, doesn’t mean they aren’t worth using. Some privacy is better than none and keeping your traffic hidden from certain prying eyes, like your ISP (Internet Service Provider), can come with useful advantages. The very best VPNs are powerful tools that everyone should be using regardless.

Privacy vs. anonymity

I think it’s important here to first distinguish between online privacy and anonymity. Online privacy means obfuscating or hiding your activity from snooping third parties such as your ISP or hackers on a public Wi-Fi network. But while your activity can be hidden to a degree, websites will still store cookies and basic information about your last visit.

Online anonymity, however, means that you leave utterly zero trace of your presence while connected to the internet. And when I say 100 percent privacy, I mean total anonymity. This is nigh impossible in today’s world of pervasive online trackers and vast meta-data consumption.

If we can’t remain completely anonymous online, is there still a benefit to remaining private? Yes, absolutely. Keeping your online activities as private as possible is crucial to maintaining control over your data, maximizing freedom, and avoiding unwanted digital risks. 

While a VPN won’t keep you anonymous, it does encrypt your data and hide it from outside observers, helping to maintain higher levels of privacy.

What does a VPN hide?

IP address

Your IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label assigned to your device that can be used to identify you and your location. A VPN masks it by rerouting your traffic through a remote VPN server. This way, websites and other third parties will see the IP address of the VPN server rather than your actual IP while connected.

Browsing activity

A VPN can hide your browsing activity from your ISP. While connected to a VPN, the client encrypts the traffic leaving your device so that any snooping third parties can’t decipher what you’re doing online. Your ISP will know that you’re using a VPN, but will no longer see your specific online activity. It’s worth noting that even in private browsing mode, an ISP can still monitor your traffic, that’s why it’s best to use it in combination with a VPN for the greatest effect.

Location

Since your IP address is linked to your location, and it’s not too difficult for anyone savvy enough to find your IP address, that means that your actual location is easily discoverable while online. A VPN encrypts your data and reroutes it through a VPN server so anyone tracking you will only see the VPN server location instead of your actual location.

Downloads

Just like your browsing history, a VPN hides your downloads from your ISP and other third parties. Your ISP will still be able to see the amount of data you’re downloading, but not the actual file names or content themselves. As a side note, a VPN by itself will not keep you safe from accidentally downloading malicious files. You should always make sure you’re downloading legitimate files from sources you trust—and always use some form of antivirus software!

Further reading: VPNs and the law: How often does law enforcement actually request VPN logs?

VPNs themselves

Sometimes websites can recognize and block traffic coming from a VPN connection. However, if your VPN service provides obfuscated servers you may even be able to hide the fact that you’re using a VPN thanks to these extra stealthy connections.

What does a VPN not hide?

Data you provide to websites

Using a VPN doesn’t hide your identity from sites that you willingly provide information to, such as social media or shopping sites. Any information that you provide to these sites, any photos or comments you post will all be tied back to you even with a VPN connection. Sure, your ISP won’t be able to see that you’re currently scrolling on TikTok, but as soon as you sign in to your account and like that video, there is a record and timestamp of that activity connected to you.

This is why, with or without a VPN, it’s practically impossible to be 100 percent anonymous online. No matter how many steps you take, it’s likely that you’ll still be unwittingly sharing and revealing your identity and location to someone.

Total bandwidth usage

While a VPN may be able to obfuscate and hide the names and contents of the files you’re downloading and the sites you’re visiting, it can’t hide from your ISP how much bandwidth all of that is taking up. They won’t be able to see that you’re downloading a large torrent file, but they can see that you used 20GB of data.

Cookies and browsing history

A VPN can hide your search history from your ISP and other third parties, but it doesn’t hide it from the actual websites you visit. Google can still see and track your search queries. The same goes for website cookies that track your activity and remember your preferences—think login info or items you added to your shopping cart. 

In order to hide these you will need to take the additional steps of using a private browsing mode or regularly clearing cookies on your device. Likewise, if you’re worried about your search history remaining private, it’s best to choose a search engine that prioritizes user privacy.

Your device from online threats

Keeping your online activity more private can help mitigate some threats such as certain hacks or cyberattacks, but a VPN by itself will not provide complete protection against malware or viruses. It’s best to always use a trusted antivirus software in tandem with your VPN for better security.

Can you be tracked online with a VPN?

The answer to this question ultimately comes down to what sort of tracking you’re worried about. If you use a VPN, but log into your Google account, then Google will still be able to see what sites you visit and the content you view. To mitigate tracking by Big Tech entities, you’ll need to use alternatives such as private browsers, privacy-first email services, and anti-tracking extensions.

If you’re instead worried about your ISP tracking you or you live under a totalitarian regime, then a VPN will be more useful. It’s worth noting though, that even with a VPN, a government or third party with enough resources and know-how can still find a way to connect you to your online traffic. A VPN can make it more difficult to track your activity online, but never impossible. 

Thankfully, for the vast majority of us, a VPN will be enough to keep our digital lives hidden from ISPs and the like. And this is important because certain activities that our ISPs can punish us for aren’t illegal. Things such as the sharing of legal torrent files or accessing geo-blocked content is frowned upon by these groups, but it isn’t necessarily against the law. Using a VPN legally is a good way to bypass these excessive third-party restrictions while not being tracked.

How to choose a trustworthy VPN

I believe that VPNs are worthwhile services that can help you maintain more control over your online privacy and data. If you do decide to use a VPN, it’s extremely important that you choose a trustworthy service. A reliable VPN provider will make privacy a paramount concern first and foremost by maintaining a zero-logs policy and backing it up with regular independent audit reports.

Questions you should ask before choosing a private VPN are: Does it have a no-logs policy? Has it undergone any independent audits of its servers? Is the VPN company located in a country with strong individual data privacy laws? All of these will give you an idea of whether or not a VPN is focused on user privacy and transparent with its data collection policies.

If you’re trying to be extra cautious, then look for VPNs with RAM-only servers that don’t store any persistent user data due to their very nature. You may also want to seek out and use obfuscated VPN servers so that it’s more difficult for third parties to know you’re even connected to a VPN.

Some VPNs, such as Mullvad, even offer anonymous login credentials and payment methods to further separate a user from being associated with the service.

Finally, take a look at the extra security features a VPN offers. Services such as NordVPN and Surfshark provide advanced cybersecurity tools that block ads and trackers, keep you from accidentally visiting malicious sites, and monitor files you download for malware. By offering a multitude of security-enhancing features, a VPN can make your online experience much safer.