Digital privateness networks are gaining recognition. Between January’s short-lived TikTok ban, the rise of AI scams and on-line privateness issues, Individuals are turning to VPNs to entry restricted content material or to extend their safety. An unique CNET survey discovered that 43% of US adults are utilizing VPNs, and almost half accomplish that to safeguard their on-line exercise and IP tackle.
Given how a lot we do on-line, Neal O’Farrell, a cybersecurity knowledgeable with over 40 years of expertise and founding father of Suppose Safety First, believes all of us needs to be utilizing VPNs — particularly if you happen to’re apprehensive about somebody monitoring your internet browsing habits.
“As an alternative of rolling the cube and hoping that nobody’s snooping, simply do not take the possibility,” stated O’Farrell. Though the vast majority of Individuals will not be but utilizing a VPN, O’Farrell suspects that utilization will improve as privateness issues develop.
Curiosity in utilizing a VPN to entry banned or blocked content material elevated earlier this yr, notably when TikTok went down for a number of hours on the night time of Jan. 18. CNET’s survey discovered that fifty% of Gen Zers and 50% of millennials used a VPN to aim to entry a restricted app or website for the reason that begin of 2025.
“The specter of a TikTok ban within the US brought about a surge in VPN curiosity as a result of many people had been looking for methods to bypass restricted entry,” stated Moe Lengthy, a CNET senior safety editor. “However in my testing, utilizing a VPN to unblock TikTok wasn’t a viable answer. Nonetheless, this illustrates how VPNs have gotten extra mainstream — we have additionally witnessed this development with extra people turning to VPNs for streaming region-restricted content material, like loading international Netflix libraries or watching BBC iPlayer exterior of the UK.”
VPNs are authorized in most international locations. Nevertheless, a number of international locations ban or prohibit VPN utilization, and utilizing one might result in authorized penalties. Here is what CNET’s survey uncovered about why and the way folks use VPNs. In case you’re occupied with making an attempt a VPN, I’ve compiled ideas from on-line safety consultants.
- Privateness: Over half of US adults who’ve used a VPN (52%) use one to guard their IP tackle when utilizing the web.
- Cellular use: 51% of those that use a VPN accomplish that on their telephone, adopted by 50% who use a VPN on their pc or pill.
- By era: VPNs are used most by youthful generations — 50% of Gen Z and millennials have used one this yr.
- Saving cash: 23% of US adults use a VPN to save cash, totally on streaming providers prices.
- Accessing banned apps: Since Jan. 1, 2024, 17% of US adults have tried to entry a banned web site or app of their space. Because the begin of 2025, 50% of Gen Zers and 50% of millennials have used a VPN to aim to entry a restricted app or website.
Who’s utilizing VPNs?
CNET discovered that 43% of US adults use a VPN, a quantity O’Farrell expects to rise as folks change into extra apprehensive about their knowledge being tracked. Here is how that quantity breaks down:
Males have a tendency to make use of a VPN greater than ladies. Half of the lads surveyed have used or at the moment use a VPN, in comparison with 36% of ladies. Youthful generations have a tendency to make use of VPNs extra, with 50% of each Gen Zers and millennials reporting they use a VPN.
As soon as folks strive a VPN, they appear to stay to it; 10% say they’ve used or tried utilizing a VPN for one to 2 years, whereas 19% say they’ve used one for over two years. Here is a better look:
Extra individuals are defending their telephones with VPNs
Prior to now VPNs have been generally used on laptops and tablets, particularly for work or to stream sports activities. Nevertheless, 51% of US adults at the moment are utilizing VPNs on their telephones. adopted by 50% who use them on their private pc, laptop computer or pill.
O’Farrell thinks utilizing a VPN for cell phone utilization is sensible.
“We overlook that we transact and conduct so many delicate discussions and transactions on our telephones,” stated O’Farrell. “Threats are in all places, and if you happen to’re utilizing your telephone as a every day software, you might want to be defending that.”
In case you’re contemplating a VPN on your telephone, you needn’t look particularly for a cellular VPN, stated Lengthy.
“The very best VPNs seamlessly change between Wi-Fi and cellular networks, and in my testing, the foremost VPNs all labored easily on telephones and computer systems,” stated Lengthy. Most VPNs help Android, iOS, and iPadOS, Lengthy added.
Why are folks utilizing VPNs?
Most US adults flip to a VPN for its major perform — to guard their IP tackle. The second main cause is to maintain their on-line exercise personal. Different causes vary from streaming video video games to accessing restricted content material and apps.
We requested consultants to weigh in on the highest causes individuals are utilizing VPNs, and here is what we discovered.
Privateness
Practically half (47%) of US adults use VPNs to maintain their on-line exercise personal.
A VPN routes your on-line visitors by way of an encrypted digital server, stopping apps and web sites from viewing your IP tackle by masking it together with your VPN server’s IP tackle. This protects your precise IP tackle, in addition to your web service supplier, your on-line exercise and your location.
There are limits to what a VPN protects, nevertheless. It could actually’t safe your fee data, cookies and account logins.
In case you use public Wi-Fi, reminiscent of at a espresso store or airport, O’Farrell recommends connecting to a VPN. CNET’s expertise author, Attila Tomaschek, added {that a} high quality VPN is often quick sufficient for normal web actions, even on public Wi-Fi.
Accessing banned content material
Accessing content material that is banned in your space is one other widespread cause individuals are utilizing VPNs, in keeping with CNET’s findings.
Customers would possibly hook up with a VPN to observe regionally locked sports activities video games or a present solely supplied out of the country. Others may need even tried a VPN to entry TikTok throughout the hours it was down in January.
Since Jan. 1, 2024, 17% of US adults have tried accessing a banned app or web site of their space, reminiscent of TikTok. Of these utilizing a VPN to entry unlawful or banned apps, 45% began utilizing a VPN previously yr.
You may’t at all times use a VPN to entry banned apps, nevertheless. For instance, Lengthy tried accessing TikTok by way of a VPN throughout the app’s non permanent ban final month and could not. Some web sites and apps have firewalls and VPN detection options that may block you. Content material may also be restricted to sure areas because of licensing agreements and copyright restrictions, Tomaschek stated.
It is also essential to know if accessing content material is authorized in your nation. For instance, accessing a TV present that is regionally blocked is usually not unlawful, so long as VPN utilization is authorized in your nation. Nevertheless, there are different ramifications you may face. If accessing blocked content material violates your streaming service’s consumer settlement, your account might be suspended.
It is best to by no means use a VPN to entry unlawful content material or violate VPN legal guidelines in your nation. In case you do, you might face fines or imprisonment.
“Whether it is banned in a particular nation, the authorities in that nation can have a proper to entry who’s accessing it,” O’Farrell stated.
VPNs are banned or restricted within the beneath international locations:
- Belarus
- China
- Iran
- Oman
- Russia
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
Saving cash on streaming
Utilizing a VPN to change your server’s location may also help you lock in decrease costs on objects or providers, which can be cheaper in different states, areas or international locations.
We discovered that 19% of US adults who use VPNs accomplish that to save on streaming service prices, together with TV, sports activities, and music. This breaks right down to 12% who use VPNs to save lots of on streaming TV, 9% to save cash on streaming sports activities and eight% on streaming music, with some respondents utilizing VPNS to save lots of on a couple of streaming service.
For instance, Lengthy examined utilizing a VPN to save cash on streaming content material and was capable of save $6 on renting a film by utilizing a VPN to alter his location to the UK.
If you wish to strive utilizing a VPN to save lots of on streaming prices, ensure you examine the service’s phrases and circumstances for any language that prohibits the usage of VPNs.
VPNs also can allow you to get monetary savings on journey, however solely 9% of VPN customers are utilizing one to save lots of on aircraft tickets, inns, rental vehicles and different journey bills. When utilizing a VPN to get the perfect value on journey, remember to consider change charges and worldwide transaction charges.
Desirous about making an attempt a VPN?
CNET consultants have been testing VPNs for over a decade, and have accomplished hands-on testing that will help you discover the proper one. In case you’re contemplating making an attempt a VPN, here is what CNET consultants say to search for.
Privateness requirements
CNET editors advocate searching for a VPN with AES 256-bit encryption to cover delicate data, and a no-logging coverage to stop any of your on-line exercise from being saved by your VPN supplier. Search for different privateness options, too — like DNS leak safety and a kill change.
Tomaschek recommends ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Proton VPN as high quality suppliers.
Be careful: VPNs aren’t a safety measure to protect you from id theft or scams. Sure, you will protect your location, however that does not cease your gadget from getting a virus or malware. Tomaschek recommends each a VPN and antivirus software program since they serve totally different functions. Some VPNs at the moment are even providing id theft safety like ExpressVPN’s Id Defender and NordVPN’s NordProtect.
Web velocity
Many VPNs will gradual your web velocity by 50% or extra, however a VPN that is thought-about quick will solely gradual your velocity by 25% or much less. In case you’re utilizing a VPN to stream or play video video games, you will need to discover one with low velocity loss. Tomascheck recommends NordVPN.
Servers and places
As you slim down your VPN selection, take note of the variety of servers and places the VPN gives. The extra servers and places it has, the extra choices you will have for bypassing geo-restrictions and accessing a greater variety of content material from totally different international locations. Extra importantly, you will produce other choices if a server is down in a single location.
VPN help
In case you plan to make use of your VPN on a number of units, make certain your VPN can deal with these concurrently. Some VPNs permit eight to 10 units without delay, whereas others haven’t got a restrict. It is also essential to verify your VPN helps your working system. Some VPNs could also be higher appropriate with Home windows and MacOS, whereas cellular VPNs may fit higher on iOS and Android. Your gadget may play an element in your VPN’s efficiency. We advocate CNET’s greatest VPNs that will help you slim down your search.
Methodology
All figures, until in any other case acknowledged, are from YouGov Plc. Complete pattern measurement was 2,429 adults, of which 1,057 have ever used a VPN. Fieldwork was undertaken between 3 to five Feb. 2025. The survey was carried out on-line. The figures have been weighted and are consultant of all US adults (aged 18 or over).
