LESSON 4 · Protect Yourself Online
Choosing a VPN Wisely
If you decide a VPN serves your needs, follow these guidelines to avoid common pitfalls:
- Choose providers with independent audits — companies like Mullvad and ProtonVPN have undergone third-party verification of their no-log claims
- Avoid free VPNs — if you are not paying, your data is likely the product being sold to advertisers
- Decide when it's worth it — leaving a VPN always on protects you on untrusted networks but adds some latency and battery drain, so weigh that cost against how you actually use the internet
Consider your specific needs — public WiFi safety, bypassing restrictions, or hiding activity from your ISP — and choose a provider matching those priorities.