Do you actually need a VPN at home?
3 min read
VPNs are marketed as a blanket security fix, but they solve a specific, narrower problem than most advertising suggests. Whether you need one depends on what you're actually trying to protect against.
What a VPN actually does
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a different server, which is genuinely useful on public or untrusted WiFi networks, like cafes or airports, and for controlling which region's content you appear to browse from.
What it doesn't protect against
A VPN doesn't stop malware, doesn't protect against a weak password, and doesn't make phishing emails safer to click. On your own secured home network, where the connection is already private, a VPN adds far less benefit than people expect.
Our honest recommendation
If you regularly use public WiFi or specifically need to access region-locked content, a reputable VPN is worth it. If you're mainly on your own home network already secured properly, that security budget is often better spent on the basics covered in our home network security guide.