VPN Disadvantages: Why They're Not the Privacy Solution They Claim to Be

VPNs are not the holy grail of privacy

VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, are a technology that allows users to create a secure and private connection over a public network. When you connect to a VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted and routed through a remote server operated by the VPN provider. This masks your IP address and location, making it more difficult (but not impossible) for others, such as government agencies, internet service providers, or hackers, to monitor your online activities.

The problem is that VPNs have been over-sold, their abilities over-exaggerated to the point that many users blindly rely on them and take no other measures to safeguard their privacy.

We want to take the opportunity to set the record straight by laying bare all the disadvantages of VPNs so users can make better-informed decisions about their privacy online.

VPNs slow down internet connection

If the VPN server you're connecting to is experiencing high usage or if the network infrastructure is congested, it can lead to slower speeds. This congestion can occur due to various factors, such as the number of users connected to the same server or the overall network capacity of the VPN provider. If you're using a VPN for streaming, you could find yourself in buffering hell instead of enjoying your fav shows.

Limited to one location per internet session

When using a VPN, your device is locked to the same location. You can't open one tab using one location and in a new tab use a different location. These days we tend to operate with multiple tabs open at any one time. We��re an Internet nation of multi-taskers.

If you want to connect to a different location for a different streaming service, you have to first disconnect the VPN and find a new server, one that isn't blocked by the streaming platform (more on this below).

It's slow, it's inconvenient, and it's not keeping up with the needs of internet users.

VPNs can get you blocked by streaming services

One of the most popular reasons people use VPNs is to bypass geographical restrictions to access region-restricted content on streaming platforms. But most streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video have measures to detect and block VPN usage.

They employ sophisticated algorithms that analyze factors like IP addresses, server locations, and VPN usage patterns to determine if a user is attempting to access content from an unauthorized region. When a VPN is detected, these services can swiftly block access or display error messages, leaving users unable to enjoy their favorite shows and movies.

VPNs are banned and restricted in many countries

For most internet users, using a VPN is just a part of their everyday browsing or streaming experience. But for some, using a VPN could land them in jail or at least with a hefty fine.

Depending on where you live (or where you're traveling), using a VPN could be illegal. There are a number of countries where VPNs are heavily restricted or banned. In some countries, like China, only government-approved VPNs are allowed.

By banning or heavily regulating VPNs, governments can maintain a tighter grip on internet traffic, intercept communications, and monitor online activities more effectively.

VPNs are not reliable for bypassing censorship

VPNs are often viewed as a way to bypass censorship. While they can help in some cases, the reality is that most VPNs struggle to overcome the barriers effectively.

Authoritarian governments have many ways to block VPN access. This can mean users in countries such as Iran, China, and Russia waste time and money, going through different VPN providers trying to find one that hasn't been blocked.

But even when they do find a VPN that works in their region, they are at the mercy of a VPN's policy, security, and stability. Users have to entrust their internet history (and possibly their freedom or life) to a VPN provider.

Even if their privacy policy states they have a zero logs policy, this might change and it might not even be true in the first place. Sure, their website might say that they have been independently audited but VPN audits can easily be faked.

The fact is that VPNs have the ability to log user data.

And that ability is enough to make them a liability.

It's not a good idea to solely rely on VPNs to get around censorship put in place by a hostile government. Using the Tor browser, which is specifically designed for this purpose is much safer.

False sense of security

As you might now be able to see, VPNs are not the security blanket we've been led to believe. Marketing of VPNs and over-exaggeration of their abilities has led to this perception that VPNs can protect you from all harm.

But VPNs don't protect you from malware. And they don't...they CAN'T stop you from being fingerprinted. They are NOT a dedicated privacy tool.

The truth is, all a VPN really does is hide your IP address. That's it.

In fact, using some VPNs might even expose you to greater risks. Some VPNs won't work when you have an anti-virus program running. This means in order to use the VPN, users need to turn off the anti-virus.

What about the encryption tunnel that protects your traffic? Well, not all VPNs use the same level of encryption. Encryption in some, especially free VPNs is so weak, it might as well be non-existent.

Some VPNs sell your data to third parties

Some VPNs collect and retain certain types of logs, including connection timestamps, IP addresses, or even browsing activity. These logs can be used to track and sell user data.

For example, free VPNs (but not only) often raise concerns about their business models and how they sustain their services without charging users.

Some free VPN providers generate revenue by selling user data to third parties for targeted advertising or other purposes. Using a free VPN may mean inadvertently exposing your online activities and personal information to these entities.

VPNs privacy depends on the jurisdiction

The jurisdiction in which a VPN provider operates can impact user privacy. Some countries have laws that require VPN providers to collect and retain user data or cooperate with government surveillance efforts.

For example, in India, a new law requires VPN providers to keep user names for 5 years along with details about the IP and email addresses used to register for the service.

VPN providers located in jurisdictions with weak privacy laws or membership in international intelligence-sharing alliances may pose a higher risk of data being accessed by third parties.

What's the best VPN alternative?

The Hoody App is a dedicated privacy tool designed to improve the Internet user experience by providing both total anonymity and speed.

For those VPN users frustrated with slow internet, Hoody can swoop in with its Hoody Smart Routing and actually make browsing 3 times faster than connecting without it. It also enables users to set a different country per website, without ever disconnecting. You can even use Hoody on one tab, and turn it off for another in the same session.

Hoody is all about streamlining and freedom. That includes freedom from mass surveillance and geo-restrictions.

Hoody is a brand new app and as such it's able to fly under the radar of governments and streaming sites. Hoody isn't banned or blocked anywhere. Unlike VPNs, there are no restrictions on Hoody. This means that no matter where you are in the world or where you want to connect to/from, Hoody can do it.

But perhaps the most impressive advantage of Hoody over VPNs is that it completely combats tracking and fingerprinting.

Using Hoody Phantom Browsing™, the full abstraction layer gives uncorrelated tab-by-tab and app-by-app browser virtualization.

What does that mean in layman's terms?

Well, it means that every time a Hoody user opens a new app or browser tab, the work is actually being done on a remote virtual browser. It then injects the results back into the user's system.

So the user's system never actually “touches” the websites.

The tracking and fingerprinting still happen BUT the data provided to the website is fake, randomized, and from the virtual machine, not the user.

In this way, Hoody keeps the user's data completely separate from the websites doing the tracking and data collecting.

One last thing... Hoody is designed to NOT collect any user data. The app doesn't have the ability to. Therefore, even if law enforcement were to come knocking or a government tried to push for user data, Hoody couldn't provide it. It can never share what it doesn't collect.

Ditch the disadvantages of VPNs

Up until now, people have had to put up with VPN disadvantages as they try to increase privacy and bypass restrictions of geo-location or censorship. Dealing with slow connection speeds, single location limitations, being blocked by streaming services, and legal restrictions, frustrated VPN users have been looking for something better.

The Hoody app just might be that tool. Faster connections, total privacy and anonymity, and greater freedom mean users can enjoy a more streamlined and safer browsing experience.

The fact that the Hoody app isn't banned or blocked anywhere gives users a more reliable way to stream content and bypass censorship. So, if you're looking for a true privacy tool without all the disadvantages of VPNs, and one that can't collect user data, then sign up for Hoody.