Here's the thing: I actually think you should use a VPN all the time, no matter if you're at home, at work, or commuting. If you're using the internet, you should have a VPN. And that's not just because I'm paranoid!

Use a VPN When It's Unsafe

There are some very obvious instances when it's a good idea to use a VPN. When you're traveling, for example, you don't have a lot of choices about where you'll get your internet, and a VPN is a necessity.

Coffee shops are the preeminent example, but really any place where you don't control the Wi-Fi network isn't really safe. I'm talking about airports, airplanes, busses with fancy Wi-Fi connections, hotels, AirBnBs, libraries, and anywhere the network isn't directly controlled by someone you personally trust. Wi-Fi networks in public spaces may not be correctly configured, or not be serviced often. That gives attackers ample opportunity to take control of these naturally occurring honeypots and intercept whatever data is moving across the networks.

Of course, there's no reason why a bad guy would need to bother attacking an existing Wi-Fi network. They could simply set up shop nearby and create their own network with a name that closely resembles the real network. Who among us can say that they have never, in desperation, clicked on a shady looking Wi-Fi network?


People have written about VPNs a lot, and I'll admit that I've started to repeat myself. For example, just about every article I've written on the subject includes a line about using the Wi-Fi at a coffee shop and how it's not safe to do so without a VPN. It might be repetitive, but it's a good way to illustrate the point that you should use a VPN when you're in a potentially unsafe situation.

Here's the thing: I actually think you should use a VPN all the time, no matter if you're at home, at work, or commuting. If you're using the internet, you should have a VPN. And that's not just because I'm paranoid!

Use a VPN When It's Unsafe

There are some very obvious instances when it's a good idea to use a VPN. When you're traveling, for example, you don't have a lot of choices about where you'll get your internet, and a VPN is a necessity.

Coffee shops are the preeminent example, but really any place where you don't control the Wi-Fi network isn't really safe. I'm talking about airports, airplanes, busses with fancy Wi-Fi connections, hotels, AirBnBs, libraries, and anywhere the network isn't directly controlled by someone you personally trust. Wi-Fi networks in public spaces may not be correctly configured, or not be serviced often. That gives attackers ample opportunity to take control of these naturally occurring honeypots and intercept whatever data is moving across the networks.

Of course, there's no reason why a bad guy would need to bother attacking an existing Wi-Fi network. They could simply set up shop nearby and create their own network with a name that closely resembles the real network. Who among us can say that they have never, in desperation, clicked on a shady looking Wi-Fi network?


Use a VPN When You Only Think It's Safe

Ideally, your office is probably one of the safest, best-run networks you'll encounter. At the PCMag labs, our IT guys will tracked me down less than an hour after I connected some unauthorized devices for completely legitimate purposes. Despite, or rather because, of that, you should definitely use a VPN on your personal devices in the office. It's the prerogative of your employer to monitor its networks. That means the company can monitor the traffic from your personal devices if you connect to the company's network.

Many devices will automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks they've seen before. When you take your laptop home, it seamlessly finds and connects to your home network. Unless you periodically prune the list of networks on your device, you probably have a few easily guessable network IDs in there. Boingo runs Wi-Fi networks at many airports across the country, and many of those networks have exactly the same name. All an attacker would have to do is set up a rogue access point with the same name as one of these commonly found networks and devices will quietly connect, sometimes without the owners even realizing it.

CONCLUSION

Use a VPN When It Makes Sense

Security wonks are unfortunately quick to call out even the smallest cut corner in personal security. If there's one thing I hate more than my ISP (and, oh boy, do I hate them), it's security advice that's overly prescriptive and gate-keepery. So if you don't use a VPN all the time, that's okay. The movement toward a more secure, more privacy-focused world is about shaming the bad actors, not normal people doing their best to stay safe in a dangerous world.

Sure, it's ideal to use a VPN all the time, but that's an ideal. Ideals are great for building good habits, but if you stick to them too dogmatically, you'll just wear yourself out. If you can't send an email or watch a movie because the VPN is making trouble, switch it off for a bit, then turn it back on when you can. So use a VPN often, but don't beat yourself up about when it doesn't make sense to use it.