What is a VPN and do I need one?

A VPN, or virtual private network, creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server. That makes it harder for other people on the same network to see what you are doing, especially on public Wi-Fi.

A VPN is useful when you are traveling, using insecure networks, or trying to reduce local network snooping. It is not magic privacy armor, though. A VPN provider can still see some of your traffic patterns, and it does not stop phishing, malware, or account compromise.

So the short answer is: use one when the network is questionable or when you have a privacy reason to do so, but do not assume it makes you invisible.