Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have become one of the most widely promoted digital security tools in the world. From YouTube ads to influencer endorsements, VPNs are often presented as a one-click solution that makes users “anonymous,” protects them from hackers, and secures everything they do online.
In reality, while VPNs are useful, they are far from a complete online security solution. Relying on a VPN alone can create a false sense of safety that leaves users exposed to other, more common digital risks.
Understanding what VPNs can and cannot do is critical in today’s threat landscape.
What a VPN actually does
At its core, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a remote server operated by the VPN provider. This helps hide your IP address, protects your data on public Wi-Fi networks, and can prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from easily monitoring your browsing activity.
VPNs are particularly useful when accessing the internet on unsecured networks such as airports, cafés, hotels, or shared workspaces. They can also help bypass geographic restrictions and reduce certain types of tracking.
However, encryption alone does not equal full protection.
VPNs don’t protect you from malware
One of the biggest misconceptions is that VPNs prevent malware infections. They do not.
If you download a malicious app, click a phishing link, or install compromised software, a VPN will not stop malware from infecting your device. Viruses, spyware, ransomware, and keyloggers operate at the device and application level—not at the network routing level.
In fact, some free VPN apps themselves have been found to contain malware, excessive trackers, or insecure code, making users less secure than before.
VPNs don’t stop phishing or scams
VPNs cannot tell whether an email is fake, a website is malicious, or a message is part of a scam. If you enter your login details on a phishing site, a VPN will not protect you from account takeover.
Many cyberattacks today rely on social engineering rather than technical exploits. Fake bank alerts, impersonated customer service agents, and cloned websites are designed to trick users into giving up sensitive information voluntarily.
No VPN can protect against poor digital judgment.
VPN providers can see your traffic
While a VPN hides your activity from your ISP, it shifts trust to the VPN provider itself. That provider can technically see your traffic, metadata, and connection patterns depending on its logging policies.
Some VPN companies claim to be “no-log,” but enforcement varies widely, and users often have no practical way to verify these claims. In certain jurisdictions, VPN providers may also be subject to government data requests.
In short, a VPN does not eliminate trust—it merely changes who you are trusting.
VPNs don’t secure your accounts
If your passwords are weak, reused across multiple platforms, or stored insecurely, a VPN will not protect your accounts from being breached.
Account takeovers often happen through credential stuffing, leaked databases, or compromised devices. Two-factor authentication, strong passwords, and proper account hygiene matter far more for personal security than whether a VPN is enabled.
A VPN cannot protect what it does not control.
VPNs don’t make you anonymous
Despite common marketing claims, VPNs do not make users completely anonymous online. Websites can still track users through cookies, browser fingerprinting, account logins, and behavioral patterns.
If you log into social media, email, or cloud services, your identity is already known—regardless of whether a VPN is active. True anonymity requires far more advanced tools, configurations, and trade-offs than most users realize.
The real role of a VPN
VPNs are best understood as a privacy and network security tool, not a comprehensive cybersecurity solution. They are effective for:
- Protecting data on public Wi-Fi
- Reducing ISP-level tracking
- Accessing region-restricted content
- Encrypting network traffic
They are not designed to replace good security habits.
What actually improves online security
Real digital security comes from a layered approach. This includes keeping devices updated, downloading apps only from trusted sources, using strong and unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, avoiding suspicious links, and understanding common online scams.
VPNs can be part of this toolkit—but they should never be the only line of defence.
Bottom line
VPNs are useful, but they are not magic. Believing otherwise can lead users to underestimate real risks and neglect basic security practices that matter far more.
In an era where cyber threats are increasingly human-focused rather than network-focused, awareness, caution, and good digital habits remain the strongest forms of protection—VPN or not.
