What Does a VPN Hide, and What Does it Not Hide?

Wondering whether investing in a virtual private network offer you complete digital freedom? This blog precisely outlines What does a VPN hide and what does it not hide, which will help you clarify what things can be hidden with the help of a VPN service and what things aren’t concealed when you’re connected to a VPN.

Protecting your digital privacy is crucial as data breaches and phishing attacks are at their peak. Hiding your browsing activity is also important because your ISP and third party monitor your web activities. They also record your data and sell it to marketing or advertising agencies. 

 So, let’s begin exploring what can be completely hidden and kept confidential by utilizing a VPN. 

What Can a VPN Hide?

The following five things can be hidden with the help of VPN software:

(Almost All Of) Your Search History

It’s no surprise that you’re being observed while browsing over your Wifi network at home and in public places. Your ISP and network administrators are on the outlook for gathering data, which is ultimately done through capturing your search history.

 The apps and websites that you frequently visit and how much time you spend on that websites, the information you enter on the website forms, etc., is all monitored by your ISP. If you delete your browsing history, cached data, and cookies from your device, it’s still saved and stored by your ISP.

 This is where a VPN comes in handy by encrypting all your web traffic through one of its obfuscated servers. The data you send over the web with a VPN server is converted into indecipherable code, which means no one can decipher your code and figure out what you’re really doing online. 

 Not to mention, every browser you use doesn’t hide your internet whereabouts and web history when connected to a VPN. For instance, if you use a Chrome browser with your Google accounts, your activities are logged by this tech Giant and used further for targeted advertising. Therefore, it’s essential to choose a secure browser and further add an extra layer of security with a reliable VPN service. 

Your Location

Websites and apps can identify your geographical location pretty easily and show you customized search results or content based on your current location. Your geographic location is linked to your IP address, which helps online entities to locate their user’s location, city, state, or country.

 Fortunately, a VPN geo-spoofs your real location with one of their servers that you choose according to your choices. Once you’ve masked your current state with a VPN tool, no one on the web can locate your real address. 

 Geospoofing your location with a VPN features significant benefits, such as unblocking region-locked streaming services, bypassing government censorship, shopping your favorite brands with discounted prices & unlimited deals, and much more. 

 IP Address

Your device is assigned a unique IP address that enables you to establish a connection to the Internet. Recognizing your real IP address through IP trackers and detection systems is common on the internet. Like your device’s geographic location, the IP address is meant to identify your current location. 

 This IP address is provided to you by your ISP, which means that your incoming and outgoing traffic reroutes through that network IP. Your browsing habits, search history, web activities, etc., are associated with that IP address; thus making it easier for your ISP and government agencies to monitor you online. 

 In addition, your web search results are also related to your current IP address, and if you attempt to access overseas content blocked in your region, you’ll be blocked right away. This is due to the geographic restrictions implied on many channels, including streaming, sports, gaming, shopping, etc.

 The best way to change your IP address is to mask it with that of a VPN server. A VPN lets you conceal your actual IP address with one of its encrypted servers. None will be able to identify your physical IP address after you’re connected to a VPN. 

 Sensitive Information

Stealing your sensitive information is data theft and cybercrime, and it’s essential to take necessary precautions to protect your data through a VPN. The valuable data that you keep online is usually being used by snoopers and cybercriminals for unauthorized purposes. 

Luckily, a VPN works wonder in protecting your data online with its advanced AES encryption and top-notch security protocols. Moreover, it offers antivirus & threat protection and prevention against accessing malicious websites with its trackers. 

 In addition, your banking data is also encrypted and safe from hackers as a VPN has strong password managers and built-in encryption techniques to safeguard your sensitive data against online data threats and phishing attacks.

 Download and Torrents

Downloading and torrenting are activities requiring higher bandwidth, and since your ISP imposes caps on your data and bandwidth, a VPN helps you perform unlimited torrenting. Some of the VPNs offer P2P-optimized servers that make torrenting faster and safer.

 Select a torrenting-optimized server to download torrent files, but make sure to activate your anti-malware program, as many people spread malicious files through P2P networks and torrent sites. So, it’s better to stay safe while torrenting with the help of a VPN app.

 However, for downloading streaming videos from your favorite on-demand channel, a VPN with super-fast download speed is required. In addition, you can binge-watch videos anonymously and get access to unlimited downloading of TV shows and movies with a VPN service. 

 What Can a VPN NOT Hide?

The following things aren’t hidden when you use a VPN service. 

Apps and Sites Logging Activity

The apps and sites you interact with online maintain logs of your searches, the time you spend on their websites, actions you take on the website, and much more. They do so to display relevant content as per your preferences, including most search keywords, your likes and dislikes, and also from which state you belong to show geo-based targeted ads.

 So far, a VPN couldn’t restrict websites and applications from tracking you online as they use cookies to store the information about your visit in order to make the website more useful for you.

 Cookies are unable to install malware or viruses on computers. Certain cyberattacks, nevertheless, have the ability to access your browsing sessions and hijack cookies. They can track people’s browsing histories, which is dangerous. And connecting to a VPN won’t always ban websites and apps from recording your web searches.  

IP Address from Your ISP

Despite hiding your actual IP address, your ISP will still be able to see your remote IP address; thus making it visible that you’re utilizng a VPN. A VPN will spoof your current location effortlessly through its robust server, but it can’t hide your IP given by your VPN server.

 This scenario applies to the case where you’ve been caught using a VPN that doesn’t permit the use of this technology. However, the best way to hide the fact from your ISP that you’re using a VPN is to get a VPN tool that offers obfuscated servers.    

Conclusion

A VPN is a great tool to enhance your digital security and privacy, it also offers complete anonymity by hiding your real identity. You can bypass content limitations, prevent ISP throttling, get access to torrenting websites, and much more, all securely with a VPN. Unfortunately, a VPN won’t be able to hide your IP address from your ISP, and your internet search history is also logged by the websites and apps you use. 

 Therefore, consider investing in a reliable VPN, such as Obscured VPN, to experience complete digital freedom and anonymity.