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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.