IT Tips & Tricks

VPN Security Risks: Is Your Privacy Protector a Peeping Tom?

Published 4 December 2024

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), the superhero capes of the internet, promise to whisk you away to a world of anonymity and digital freedom. But before one of your users downloads the first free VPN that pops up on an unfamiliar website (because, let’s face it, most people love free stuff, especially when it comes with a promise of privacy), let’s take a peek behind the curtain, see what’s really going on, and look at a possible solution.

Most people love free stuff, especially when it comes with a promise of privacy.

As you know, the common metaphor for a VPN is a tunnel. You hop in one end, all your data following close behind, and magically reappear on the other side, shrouded in secrecy. But you know something most of your users don’t. You know the catch: You’re trusting the owner of the tunnel not to take a peek at your stuff while you’re zooming through. And let’s be honest: not all tunnel owners are created equal. Some might be forthright, reputable businesses, while others might be the digital equivalent of creepy guys in trench coats selling dubious goods from the back of their vans.

Imagine trusting your entire internet browsing history to a stranger in a tunnel. You might know better, but do your users? It’s not exactly a recipe for peace of mind, is it?

The 7 Drawbacks of a VPN

So, what are the drawbacks lurking in the shadows of VPNland? There are seven of them and only you can decide which are important to you:

A dark alley offers very little safety. A VPN can be the same.

1. Slower Internet Speeds

VPNs can slow down an internet connection, turning your lightning-fast internet into a sluggish sloth. Imagine the complaints from users waiting an eternity for that training video to load — enough time for a live training to wrap up and the Q&A session to run its course — and the blasted video still hasn’t loaded. But it’s not necessarily the internet — it’s the VPN. Why?

You may want to explain to your users that encrypting data and routing it through remote servers can introduce latency, resulting in slower connections. Plus, the additional steps involved in VPN tunneling can cause a noticeable impact on upload and download speeds. It might not bother you or your users unless your organization relies on higher speeds for activities like video training, conferencing or streaming high-definition content.

2. Increased Data Consumption

Using a VPN on mobile devices can increase data usage, as the encrypted data requires more bandwidth. If your organization’s mobile plan comes with unlimited data, no problem, but if you’re constrained by a data cap, you may want to urge your users to turn the VPN off when it isn’t absolutely necessary.

A free VPN isn’t a magic bullet that solves all your privacy woes. It’s a risky solution, best used with a healthy dose of caution and a hefty sprinkle of skepticism.

3. Compatibility Issues

VPN technology can be complex, and not all VPN services are compatible with all devices and operating systems. Before you let your users sign up for a VPN, check to make sure you won’t have compatibility issues and technical difficulties with your organization’s various devices.

4. Government Surveillance (Big Brother?)

VPN usage is subject to varying legal restrictions in different countries. Generally speaking, if you’re in the US, Canada, the UK, or most European and Latin American countries, you’ll be fine. However, in some regions — such as Belarus, Iran, Iraq and Turkmenistan, for example — using a VPN is illegal or subject to government surveillance.

Many free VPNs actively harvest your data, which they then sell for profit.

In some countries, VPN providers are legally required to keep logs, so many providers choose to operate from countries where such regulations do not apply. However, it’s essential to verify these claims, as some VPN providers are headquartered in jurisdictions without logging requirements, yet their staff and physical offices are located in regions with stricter laws.

In practice, whether being registered in a different country truly shields VPN companies from pressure to share logs with governments where they operate is largely an unresolved issue.

5. Potential for Data Privacy and Security Concerns:

While reputable VPN providers prioritize user privacy, there’s always a risk that your data could be compromised, especially with less trustworthy providers.

Data privacy focuses on how personal data is used and controlled, including how it’s collected, processed and shared. With a reputable VPN, personal data is handled ethically and responsibly and complies with legal standards such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) or CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), for example. A provider’s no-log policy should tell you everything you need to know.

There are better things to do than worry about data privacy.

Data security, on the other hand, focuses on protecting data from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. It also protects data from disruption, modification or destruction via technical measures such as encryption, access control and network security.

If you have users (employees or contractors with your organization) who are considering a VPN, limit their choices to reliable providers with strong privacy and security policies.

6. Bypassing Geo-Restrictions Can Be Tricky:

So, what’s an alternative to a VPN?

While VPNs are often effective at bypassing geo-restrictions, some streaming services and websites have become adept at detecting VPN traffic, so having a VPN doesn’t absolutely guarantee you’ll be able to view content that is only available in other regions, which may limit your ability to access content from specific countries.

7. Additional Cost:

High-quality VPN services often require a subscription fee but come with all manner of bells and whistles, such as anti-malware protection, ad and tracker blockers, password and breach managers, encrypted cloud storage, identity theft recovery, cyber extortion protection and more. What price are you willing to pay for privacy and security?

And yes, of course, you’re free to allow your users to go the free VPN route (assuming your organization’s policy allows it, of course). Just make sure they recognize that free (or very cheap) VPNs often come with slower speeds, data caps and potential privacy and security risks.

By understanding these drawbacks and choosing a reputable VPN provider, you can mitigate these issues and enjoy the benefits of a secure and private online experience.

A word of caution for the end-users: When it comes to the plethora of free VPNs out there, heed the advice that “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Many free VPNs actively harvest your data, which they then sell for profit. That’s how they make their money. Yes, free is great, but in the case of free VPNs, it could end up costing you in the long run. Be wary. Even better, stay away from them completely. Reliable, trustworthy options are surprisingly inexpensive.

Consider a move to a cloud-based platform that handles data security and privacy for you.

The Moral of the Story

Yes, a reputable VPN can be a useful and necessary tool, but it’s important to do your research before you dive headfirst into the nearest tunnel. Make sure you choose a trustworthy provider with a no-log policy.

Industry-recommended no-log VPNs include NordVPN^®, Surfshark^®, ProtonVPN^®, ExpressVPN and Bitdefender^™ VPN.

Don’t expect a free VPN to be a magic bullet that solves all your privacy woes. It’s a risky solution, best used with a healthy dose of caution and a hefty sprinkle of skepticism, although the best advice might be to simply avoid free VPNs altogether.

So, what’s an alternative to a VPN?

The Alternative: No VPN Required

One way of getting around the whole VPN issue is to move to a cloud-based platform that handles data security and privacy for you, negating the need for a VPN. Microsoft's^® data protection policies are among the most secure in the industry, making SharePoint^® Online a great option, as borne out by the 190 million people who rely on it — and no longer need to rely on VPNs. This article outlines several reasons adoption rates are so high for SharePoint Online.

Go take a nap. Let someone else deal with your cloud migration.

If you like the idea of someone else (like Microsoft) handling security for you but lack the manpower or know-how to oversee a migration to SharePoint Online, simply have a SharePoint migration specialist perform the migration for you. There’s peace of mind in entrusting this important job to someone with years of experience — someone who does this all day long and will achieve the best possible outcome for your organization. Securely.

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