VPNs
How VPNs work, when to use them, and how to pick one that actually protects your traffic.
12 articles
VPN protocols explained: WireGuard vs. OpenVPN vs. IKEv2
Every VPN app lets you pick a protocol somewhere in settings, usually without explaining what it does. Here's how WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 actually differ — speed, security, battery life, and when to pick which.
VPN pricing explained: monthly vs. annual vs. 'lifetime' deals
The price on a VPN's homepage is almost never the price you'll actually pay month to month. Here's how VPN pricing actually works, why 'lifetime' deals are riskier than they look, and how to compare providers fairly.
What 'no-logs' actually means, and how to verify a VPN's claim
Nearly every VPN advertises a 'strict no-logs policy.' The phrase is doing a lot of work with very little verification behind it most of the time. Here's what logging actually means, and how to check whether a claim holds up.
Is a VPN worth it in 2026? Who actually needs one
VPN marketing implies everyone needs one, all the time. That's not quite true. Here's an honest breakdown of what a VPN actually protects against, who genuinely benefits, and who can reasonably skip it.
How to choose a VPN: the 8 things that actually matter
VPN marketing pages all sound the same. Here are the 8 things that actually separate a good VPN from a bad one — logging policy, protocol, kill switch, server network, speed, platform support, price, and trust signals.
Free VPN vs. paid VPN: what you actually give up for free
Running a VPN network costs real money — servers, bandwidth, staff. If you're not paying for it, something else is covering that cost. Here's what free VPNs actually do, the legitimate exceptions, and when free is genuinely fine.
What is VPN split tunneling and when should you use it?
By default a VPN routes all your traffic through the tunnel. Split tunneling lets you choose which traffic goes through the VPN and which goes direct. Here's when that's useful, when it's risky, and how to set it up.
What is a SOCKS proxy and how does it differ from HTTP and VPN?
SOCKS is the third major way to route traffic through an intermediary — neither a full VPN nor a simple HTTP proxy. Here's what SOCKS5 does, what it doesn't, and where it fits in the proxy/VPN/Tor stack.
How does a VPN work, technically?
A VPN sounds simple — 'it hides your IP' — but underneath there's encryption, tunneling protocols, key exchange, and routing changes. Here's exactly what happens when you click Connect.
DNS leaks explained: what they are, why they matter, and how to fix them
A DNS leak quietly tells your ISP everywhere you're going on the internet — even when you're using a VPN. Here's what causes them, how to test for one, and how to plug the leak.
VPN vs proxy vs Tor: which one should you use?
VPNs, proxies, and Tor all hide your IP — but they protect different things, cost different amounts, and have wildly different speeds. Here's a side-by-side comparison.
How to hide your IP address: 5 methods that actually work
Want to keep your IP address private? Here are the five ways to hide it — VPN, Tor, proxies, mobile data, and public Wi-Fi — and the tradeoffs of each.