To make matters worse, Congress has decided your ISP is allowed to sell your anonymized browsing history. In the US, your ISP has enormous insight into your online activities. How do you know, for example, 'starbucks_wifi-real' is actually the Wi-Fi network for said coffee shop? In fact, a popular security-researcher prank is to create a network with the same name as a free, popular service and see how many devices automatically connect.Įven if you're inclined to trust your fellow humans, you might not want to trust your internet service provider (ISP).

Public Wi-Fi networks, which are ubiquitous and convenient, are unfortunately also extremely convenient for attackers. This is true even if the snooper controls the network. With your VPN on, no one snooping around your network can see what you're up to. No one who was following you can know where you went. With a VPN, it's like driving from your house into an underground tunnel, exiting it into a closed parking garage, switching to a different car, and driving out. They might even peek into your car to learn more about you, the driver. Think of it like this: when your car pulls out of your driveway, someone can follow you and see where you're going, how long you're at your destination, and when you return. This sounds simple, but it can improve your privacy online. If you make sure to only connect to websites secured with HTTPS, your data will continue to be encrypted, even after leaving the VPN. From there, your traffic exits onto the web as normal. When you switch on a VPN, it routes your web traffic through an encrypted connection to a server controlled by the VPN company. We've tested plenty, and these are the top choices among the services we've reviewed so far, followed by what to look for when choosing a VPN.Įditors’ Note: While they may not appear in this story, IPVanish and StrongVPN are owned by Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company. There's no easy fix to the systemic problem of surveillance capitalism, but a VPN can help you regain a modicum of privacy. Private Internet Access 2-year plan – A$2.78/mo + 3 months free (83% off)Ĭheck out more security software deals available in Australia here.ExpressVPN 1-year plan – A$6.67/mo + 3 months free (save $55.45.NordVPN 2-year plan – A$5.99/mo + 3 months free (63% off).

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