A VPN encrypts the data your device sends and receives, making it harder for third parties to see what you’re doing online or interfere with your traffic. People commonly use VPNs on public Wi-Fi hotspots, home networks, and mobile connections. That said, a VPN doesn’t protect you from everything on the internet.
It hides certain types of activity and limits who can access your traffic, but it does not stop malware, scams, or unsafe websites. In this blog, we’ll break down what a VPN can and cannot protect you from, so you know what to expect when using one.
What do VPNs protect you from
Here are the main things a VPN can protect you from:
ISP monitoring
Internet service providers can see certain details about your online activity when you connect without a VPN, including the IP addresses you use, the timing and volume of your traffic, and general usage patterns. Even when websites use HTTPS, this metadata can reveal how and when you use the internet.
A VPN limits ISP monitoring by encrypting your traffic before it leaves your device. With a VPN enabled, your ISP can see that you are connected to a VPN server, but it cannot see the websites you visit or the data being transmitted, reducing activity logging and traffic-based profiling.
Public Wi-Fi hackers
Public Wi-Fi networks in places such as cafes, airports, and hotels are often unsecured and shared by many users. On these networks, attackers can intercept data, monitor unencrypted connections, or manipulate network traffic to capture login details and other sensitive information.
A VPN helps protect against these risks by securing your internet traffic with encryption before it travels across the network. This makes intercepted data unreadable to third parties and reduces the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks, even when you’re connected to open or untrusted Wi-Fi networks.
Website tracking
Websites can track visitors using IP addresses, cookies, and other identifiers to understand where traffic comes from and how users interact with their pages. An IP address can reveal approximate location and is often used to build basic activity profiles, especially when combined with repeated visits or shared data across sites.
A VPN masks your real IP address and replaces it with the IP of the VPN server, limiting location-based tracking and making it harder for websites to link activity directly to your connection. However, a VPN does not block cookies, account-based tracking, or browser fingerprinting.
Online surveillance and data profiling
Some organisations, governments, and institutions keep an eye on internet activity to understand where it comes from and how it is used. Information such as IP addresses and browsing activity can be used to associate internet use with a location or network, even without seeing the content itself.
By hiding your real IP address and encrypting your traffic, a VPN makes it more difficult to link online activity back to you or your connection. While it reduces the amount of information available for broad monitoring, a VPN doesn’t stop tracking based on the accounts you sign into or the apps and websites you use.
Geo-blocking
Geo-blocking is used by websites and online services to limit access based on a user’s location. Location is typically determined through an IP address, which allows services to decide what content is available in certain countries or regions, or whether access should be restricted entirely.
A VPN helps by masking your real IP address and assigning one from another location. As a result, your traffic appears to come from a different country, granting you access to region-restricted websites while travelling or when using networks that apply location-based limits.
P2P peers
Peer-to-peer (P2P) networks allow users to connect directly with each other to share files or data. In these networks, your IP address can be visible to other participants, which can expose your approximate location and make your connection identifiable to strangers.
When you use a VPN, it changes how your connection appears within a P2P network. Instead of sharing your real IP address with other participants, activity is routed through the VPN server, reducing direct exposure and helping limit unwanted attention or targeting from other peers.
DDoS attacks
DDoS attacks aim to overwhelm a target by flooding it with traffic, making services slow or unavailable. These attacks often rely on a known IP address, which is why gamers, streamers, and online services can become targets during online activity.
With a VPN, you can hide your IP address from others online and route your traffic through a remote server instead, so it is harder for attackers to target your connection directly. However, a VPN doesn’t stop large-scale attacks aimed at services or platforms themselves.
Censorship
Some networks and countries restrict access to certain websites or online services. These restrictions can block news sites, platforms, or tools at a network level, limiting what users can access based on location or network rules.
A VPN can help by changing how your connection appears online and routing traffic through servers in other locations. This may allow access to websites that are blocked on a local network or within a specific region.
What VPNs do not protect you from
A VPN secures your internet connection, but it does not protect you from every type of online risk. Some threats are tied to the websites you visit, the files you download, or the actions you take online, which fall outside the scope of what a VPN is designed to handle.
If you install malicious software, click on harmful links, or download infected files, a VPN will not prevent damage to your device. Protection against these risks depends on antivirus software, system updates, and cautious browsing habits.
Scams and phishing attempts are also not blocked by a VPN. Fraudulent emails, fake websites, and social engineering attacks rely on tricking users into sharing information voluntarily. Even with a VPN enabled, responding to a scam message can still lead to data loss.
Furthermore, a VPN doesn’t stop tracking tied to user accounts or information you share directly. When you sign into online accounts, use apps, or provide personal details to a service, tracking can still occur regardless of your IP address.
Frequently asked questions
No. A VPN encrypts your traffic and hides your IP address, which limits what can be seen at a network level. It does not make you invisible or override laws or government monitoring.
No. Viruses usually come from unsafe downloads, links, or software. A VPN secures your connection but does not stop malware from infecting your device.
A VPN does not protect against malware, phishing scams, or unsafe websites. It also does not stop tracking linked to accounts you sign into.
No. Changing your IP address can reduce some location-based ads. Ads based on cookies, browsing history, or logged-in accounts can still appear.
Public Wi-Fi networks are often shared and unsecured. A VPN encrypts your traffic so others on the same network cannot see or interfere with it, reducing the risk of interception on open Wi-Fi.
No. Spam and phishing rely on deceptive messages rather than network access. Email filters and user caution are still required.
Anas Hasan
December 22, 2025
1 week ago
