Free VPNs must find a way to support themselves, and one common way is by selling your personal information to outside groups. Some free VPN service providers record and monitor your general connection data while maintaining connection records.
Your IP, the IP of the website you’re attempting to access, the duration of the link, and the volume of data transferred are all included in this. As a result, you have to pay special attention to the VPN you entrust yourself to. Sometimes, choosing the one that asks just for your money (what is protonvpn) may be the smartest financial decision you can make in the long run.
How Your Data Can Become Another`s Revenue Stream
Your IP location changes when you link to a VPN (virtual private network) server, and the information traffic on your computer is encrypted. A private network is established between your computer and the Virtual Private Network server.
Your online identity can be changed by changing your IP address. For example, if you use the internet from Australia but link to a VPN server in Canada, your online identity will reflect an American IP address. Data is scrambled by an encryption, making it appear like gibberish to anyone attempting to access it. Your browsing actions become untraceable to snoopers if you’re using a reliable VPN service.
This does not, however, imply that a VPN user is untraceable online. You can use a VPN, but Internet service companies (ISPs), websites, and government institutions can tell. They might not be aware of your online activities, but they won’t have any trouble spotting your VPN.
People Who Can Track You
Your VPN can be tracked online by:
- Suppliers of internet services
ISPs can monitor your internet activity. A VPN, on the other hand, conceals your IP address, encrypts the information, and safeguards your online anonymity.
- Governmental organizations.
To get information about you, they can ask ISPs or other internet service providers, or they can just use their tracking techniques.
- Cybercriminals
They can follow you and take your info if they intercept your traffic while using a public Wi-Fi network. A VPN, on the other hand, shields you from this by encoding your data. So your info will be safe despite whether the Wi-Fi you’re connecting to is infected.
How VPNs are Tracked
When you use a VPN, you can still be traced online in the following ways:
- Cookies
When using a website, tracking cookies are tiny bits of information that are downloaded and saved on your computer or browser. Cookies help your online purchasing cart not disappear when you refresh the page. Third-party cookies can track you across various sites and are typically used for advertising.
- Your Tracking Browser
Your screen size, number of extensions, and operating system can all be learned from the browser you’re using. Although this kind of data can create a unique identifier, it cannot by itself disclose personal information about you.
- Ads or Malware
Malicious software can track your online activity and steal sensitive data straight from your device if you unintentionally download it. Someone you trust could also put stalker ware on your computer.
- Services and Websites that Gather Data
Most of the services we use either collect our data or monitor our behavior in some manner. For example, a lot of data about usage and our online behaviors can be found on social media and search engines like Google and Facebook.
Can you be Tracked When You Use a VPN?
Your IP address and web activity cannot be tracked any longer. However, you might still be found out if you use a subpar VPN. By routing your information through a VPN network, a high-quality VPN encrypts the traffic and masks your IP address; even if someone attempts to monitor your activity, what they will see is the IP of the VPN and nothing else. Beyond that, only the data you give websites can be used to monitor you.
Bottom Line
Tracking this data provides no privacy and essentially reveals everything you do online, defeating the purpose of a VPN. Using a free VPN is something we would highly discourage; with a paid service like protonvpn, you don’t have to worry about the provider keeping intrusive usage logs and jeopardizing your privacy.
Taylor is a freelance SEO copywriter and blogger. His areas of expertise include technology, pop culture, and marketing.
