VPN: What you need to know
Overview
VPN frequently creates more problems than it solves. The biggest problem is many VPN users do not understand the technology they are using. For example, a key "feature" that few people realize is that any VPN by its nature slows your internet connection to about 1/4 of the speed of your "raw" internet connection. For visiting websites this probably doesn't matter, but it will certainly affect downloads.
Location “faking"
VPN also changes your apparent location. But think about this for a moment. Your bank knows where you should be. If you try to log in to their site or use their app with VPN enabled they may block the connection as a hacking attempt. And some financial institutions will simply block all VPN access; as will many social networking apps such as Facebook, Insta, Snapchat, etc. because your location is critical to their invasive marketing activities.
VPN and updates to Operating Systems and hardware upgrades
When you install VPN it configures itself to the specific hardware, OS version and network that the device uses. If any of those change it can break the VPN. So any time you change any of these you may need to delete the VPN app and profile, restart your iPhone, iPad or Mac (or PC) then add them back (if you still want to use VPN) so it can configure itself to the new environment.
Here's Apple's advice on VPN→
What are the risks of using VPN?
- Something to think about→Don't use VPN - GITHUB
- Here's Brian Krebs on VPN security (or lack thereof)→Why your VPN may not be as secure as it claims
There are two legitimate purposes for using VPN:
- To allow access to a private network such as a school or business when you are not on site.
- To allow access outside of a country with a repressive government that has restricted Internet access. (This has suddenly become more important)
Any other use is risky, and can lead to problems. VPN disguises your location by making you appear to be somewhere else in the world. But you usually can’t control that “somewhere else”, and if it is in a location that an app isn’t approved for the app won’t work.
Plus the fact that the provider of the VPN knows everything about you and your location, as well as what sites you access through the VPN. So you are totally dependent on the VPN provider’s honesty. As a start, if the VPN is free, DON’T USE IT. The provider has to make money somehow, and if you aren’t paying them then they are selling your private data to make money. And it was recently discovered that a major wholesaler of "free" VPN that is provided by many "free" VPN deliverers also makes your computer a node in a worldwide botnet used to hack other users.
But even those that charge can’t necessarily be trusted. For example, a few years ago Avast was caught selling user browsing data. They claim they have stopped doing so, however, they lied 🤥→ FTC Order Will Ban Avast from Selling Browsing Data for Advertising Purposes
You don’t really need VPN when using public Wi-Fi, because all communications between your device and the servers it accesses are end-to-end encrypted.
If you want VPN for privacy about the sites you visit, that’s not a good choice as discussed; instead you should download and use the TOR browser.
The other use for VPN is to “steal” content that is not available in your area. I leave this question to your personal ethics.
With iOS 15.2 and later for iOS/iPadOS and MacOS Monterey 12.2 and later Apple now has iCloud+ Private Relay, which is not VPN, but provides a safer browsing environment than VPN, and it doesn't spy on you→About iCloud Private Relay - Apple Support
Additional Reading
Consumer Reports White Paper did an extensive (48 pages) review of computer VPNs 3 years ago, which should also apply to phones. Note that virtually none of the the highly advertised VPNs is ranked high.
https://innovation.consumerreports.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/VPN-White-Paper.pdf
