Using a VPN allows you to conceal your IP address to protect your online activity, access geographically restricted content on streaming sites, and save money on online purchases by choosing a more favorable location. In fact, you might consider these services to be a one-size-fits-all solution to all your online privacy and security needs.

However, like most things, there’s another side to the coin. Knowing the downsides and appreciating the limitations of VPNs can help you make informed decisions regarding your browsing experience, online security, and privacy. This article covers some disadvantages of VPNs that you should be aware of.

1. Slower Internet Speeds

Few things are more frustrating to a techy or any internet user than a slow connection. One of the main downsides of using a VPN is that it can slow your connection speed, sometimes significantly enough for it to be noticeable. To understand why this happens, it’s important to know how a VPN works.

Basically, each time you enter a website or app, you establish a connection between your device and the server of the website or app, passing through your Internet Service Provider’s servers. This connection allows data to be sent back and forth. When using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), this connection is encrypted and routed through a secure tunnel, which can take longer for you to access the website.

Thankfully, there are some useful tips you can use when your VPN speed is slow, for instance, paying for a premium VPN service, picking the right server location, or using an Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi.

2. VPNs Can Give You a False Sense of Security

Browsing through the internet may expose you to malicious websites, phishing attacks, data breaches, and more. Although VPNs typically give you an extra layer of security and privacy by encrypting your data and hiding your IP address, they are not foolproof.

Encryption is one of the most important VPN features, but not all VPN solutions encrypt data equally. If you’re using a free or unreliable VPN service, the degree of encryption might be low or non-existent, leaving you exposed.

In addition, you still need to be careful when clicking links, even when using a premium VPN. Your system could still be compromised if you are tricked into clicking malicious content or visiting phishing websites. That said, besides using a VPN, there are other ways to stay protected online, such as creating strong passwords and changing them regularly, using an antivirus, and not using public Wi-Fi, to name a few.

3. VPNs Increase Your Data Usage

Does connecting to a VPN use data? Or, more importantly, does it increase your data usage?

For the most part, every service that requires an internet connection will use data. While this might not matter when you use an unmetered connection on your devices, it can be an important consideration if you have a limited amount of data to use. And, yes, using a VPN can increase your total data usage since the data is encrypted and routed through the VPN server.

This means that if you have a data cap, you might reach it sooner when using a VPN. In addition, the amount of data used largely depends on the encryption protocol that your VPN provider uses, as the most secured protocols are more resource-intensive. So, if you were hoping to get around your data usage limit by using a VPN, you might need to look for an alternative solution.

4. VPNs Are Illegal in Some Countries

Chances are, you didn’t know that using a VPN in some places could land you in jail or result in a hefty fine.

That’s right— some countries have strict laws and regulations regarding VPN use. That’s because VPN solutions allow you to bypass restrictions enforced by the country and access content that is otherwise blocked.

Countries like Turkmenistan and Belarus are some places where VPNs are illegal; in fact, they have a total ban on their use. Other countries, like China, have more relaxed laws, as you can use government-approved VPNs— although these VPN providers must grant access to the Chinese government when required.

That said, before traveling to another country, it’s important to research and find out if using a VPN is legal.

5. Loss of Access to Some Websites

One of the main reasons you might subscribe to a VPN service is to bypass geo-restricted content. For instance, you may want to watch a Netflix show unavailable in your region. Alternatively, you may want better deals on online purchases by changing your IP address to a different country.

However, it is worth noting that online services like Netflix are limiting what VPN users can watch. They do this to comply with licensing agreements, as other streaming sites have the rights to specific titles in some regions. That said, it’s important to keep this in mind when using a VPN, as some of these services are working hard to block VPN connections.

6. Some Providers Keep VPN Logs

You probably do not want unwanted individuals to snoop around your online activities. That’s why you should be careful when choosing a VPN provider and ensure that they don’t monitor your online activity, as it defeats the purpose of a VPN.

So, what are VPN logs?

When using a VPN, all your data travels through its server and is encrypted to protect your online privacy. While this ensures that your internet service provider or other individuals cannot track your activity, you are essentially handing your online data to the VPN provider. And, although most VPN services claim not to track or log your activity, it’s hard to know for sure. However, you may want to consider these tips when choosing a VPN provider.

7. Good VPNs Cost Money

One of the best ways to circumvent most of the disadvantages mentioned above is to pay for a good quality VPN service. While there are lots of free VPN solutions available, it’s important to remember that these services may not offer the same level of security and reliability as paid VPNs. In fact, you should never use a free VPN if you value your privacy.

Most free VPN services keep logs and sell your data to third parties. Plus, they usually have limited bandwidth, speed, and server options. Paid VPN solutions typically offer a much more secure connection, better speeds, and access to multiple server locations.

Should You Use a VPN?

Before subscribing to a VPN service, it is essential to know its limitations and potential drawbacks to make an informed decision that best suits your online privacy and security needs. While there are several drawbacks to using a VPN (especially free services), their advantages outweigh the disadvantages, especially if you pay for a reliable VPN service.

All in all, subscribing to a reliable VPN service is one of the best ways to protect online privacy. However, there are other ways to protect your personal information and secure your online identity.