By now, you’ve likely heard the term ‘VPN’ before. You might have a decent idea of what a VPN is, and could name a few of the most popular brands that have been advertised to you. Alternatively, the abbreviation ‘VPN’ could be complete gobbledygook to you. Regardless, the answer to the question “Do I need a VPN?” is more than likely going to be yes. These days, VPNs are inexpensive, fast, and a must-have for anyone that regularly accesses sensitive data online.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. No matter what your level of cybersecurity literacy is, you probably still have some questions about popular VPNs and how they work. We’ve put together this following list of answers to some of the internet’s most common questions about VPNs. But first and foremost…
What Does a VPN Actually Do?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) serves many purposes. To put it simply, a VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection over the internet from your device to a given network, ensuring privacy and security. It accomplishes this by masking your IP address, making your online actions virtually untraceable. This is useful both to help protect your device from prying eyes, and is commonly used to access your favourite local content while travelling.
When you connect to a VPN, it reroutes your internet traffic through a specially configured remote server run by the VPN host. This not only conceals your IP address, but also encrypts all the data that you send and receive. This encryption helps protect your data from being intercepted and read by unauthorised parties, such as hackers or other bad actors.
Why Do I Need a VPN?
Depending on how you use the internet, there are a few different reasons why you would need a VPN. Primarily, a VPN is useful for enhancing online privacy and security. It encrypts your internet traffic, hiding your IP address from hackers, websites, and even your Internet Service Provider (ISP). This is especially useful when using public Wi-Fi networks, which are often unsecured and vulnerable to data interception. VPNs are incredibly useful for both personal use and businesses. For remote work, a lot of companies these days even require you to use a VPN in order to protect sensitive company resources. It’s worth noting though, VPNs are not a complete solution for all cybersecurity threats. Antivirus, ransomware protection, secure passwords, and just good ol’ common sense are equally important as part of your internet security strategy. Additionally, a big selling point of a VPN is being able to access/connect to your favourite local content, websites, videos, or apps, whether you’re at home or on the move.
Do I Need a VPN on My Smartphone?
A VPN is a helpful security tool no matter what device you’re using. For a lot of people, their smartphone is the primary device that they use to access banking information, confidential data, and private communications. On top of this, smartphones are inherently mobile devices, meaning you’re far more likely to attempt to connect to an unsecured network using your smartphone than, say, your home computer. For these reasons, it could be argued that your smartphone is the most important device to install a VPN on.
Thankfully, this shouldn’t change your purchasing decision too much. These days, most VPN services work across multiple devices, and securing internet connections on smartphones is a key promise from almost all of the most popular and trusted VPN providers.
How Much Should I Spend on a VPN?
The answer to this question will vary slightly depending on how you want to use it. But realistically you shouldn’t be looking at paying more than a single cup of coffee per month (A$3-$6). However, like any coffee snob knows, there’s a big difference between a servo coffee from a machine, and a cup brewed to perfection by a renowned barista.
The most important thing to consider when choosing a VPN is likely going to be the number of devices you want to use simultaneously. For a lot of users, a 1 device subscription will likely suffice. Most people turn their VPNs on only when they are dealing with sensitive data or accessing content. In this use case, you can get away with juggling the one account when you need it. For power users, who wish to do all of their internet browsing using a VPN (which we definitely recommend if possible), businesses, and households, you’re likely going to need a multi-device plan, or lean towards a service which allows unlimited connections.
For an example of how additional devices can increase the cost of your VPN subscription, let's look at the pricing of popular and security-focused Norton Secure VPN:
- 1 device: A$29.99 first year and then A$84.99/year thereafter
- 3 devices: A$69.99 first year and then A$109.99/year thereafter
- 5 devices: A$79.99 first year and then A$129.99/year thereafter
Another important point to consider is that not all VPNs are made equal. Often (but not always), the price of the subscription is going to reflect the added security features and breadth of connection locations that a more premium VPN will provide.
How Do I Choose a VPN?
First off, think about what you need. Do you need the best possible security? Are you looking for something cheap and cheerful? Is accessing content your main concern? Every VPN provider has different strengths and weaknesses. For a more detailed look into some of the biggest players, check out our Best VPN Services for 2024 guide.
While many VPNs have similar features to one another, an often-overlooked factor in a VPN subscription is simply the speed of the servers you are connecting to. VPNs can sometimes slow down your internet connection because your data has to travel further (to the VPN server) and requires time to encrypt and decrypt. Some budget VPN options can really bottleneck your internet speeds, and cause such frustration that you never want to turn on the thing you just paid for a year's access to.
While the big names are relatively trustworthy, it’s also important to choose a reputable VPN provider, as they have significant access to your data. Some less reputable VPNs may log your data, which could be a privacy concern in and of itself. If you’re looking for a trusted VPN from a reputable security company, PCMag recommends Norton Secure VPN: https://au.norton.com/products/norton-secure-vpn
What Makes Norton Secure VPN Special?
Norton is an absolute titan of the internet security game, with a vast range of security solutions and decades of experience. This is an important factor when deciding on a VPN, as that trust is paramount in a security product.
Norton Secure VPN provides bank-grade encryption to help ensure the information you send and receive is secure and private. It also helps block ad-tracking technologies to avoid being tracked online by advertisers and other potential bad actors. On top of this, they have an attractive “no log policy” in place. Unlike some other VPNs, Norton doesn’t track, log, or save your browsing activities.
Possibly its most valuable asset though, is Norton Secure VPNs position within the Norton ecosystem. If you’re already paying for a cybersecurity suite, Norton Secure VPN might already be part of your cybersecurity suite as a feature. This provides not only great value for money, but a convenient access point for your security needs. For example, Norton 360 Deluxe comes with both Norton award winning antivirus, along with Norton Secure VPN across 3 devices for A$69.99 for the first year ($149.99/year thereafter). To find out more about Norton Secure VPN, check out the Norton website here.