VPNs are very powerful tools for protecting personal data and privacy. Nevertheless, they have some limitations that providers sometimes forget, more or less intentionally, to specify. Wondering what the limits of a VPN are? Here are 3 things that this tool cannot guarantee.
Total anonymity is an unrealistic goal
In order to appreciate the VPN and all the protection tools at their true value, it is important to understand one thing: it is IMPOSSIBLE to be totally anonymous on the Internet. No tool, be it a VPN, a proxy or the famous Tor network can honestly assure you that it is absolutely impossible to be traced back to you when you use it. And for good reason, anonymity implies the total absence of transmitted data. But even if you’re hiding behind a VPN, you’ll still be leaving at least one type of data behind when you connect. Coupled with other elements, it can identify you.
Moreover, VPN providers have legal obligations that go against total anonymity. They can, however, guarantee the protection of your personal information from third parties. This is called privacy, which is the only realistic promise a VPN provider can make to you.
No log is an impossible policy to apply
No-logging is a promise made by some VPN providers. This policy is supposed to ensure optimal privacy. Problem: the total no log is, in reality, a marketing promise impossible to apply. On the one hand for reasons that have to do with the very functioning of an infrastructure as important as a VPN network, as the Master-VPN.fr website points out in its review of ExpressVPN.
Without data logging, how could the operator manage DNS requests, troubleshoot the network in case of problems, or offer subscriptions tailored to your data consumption? A VPN provider that actually enforced no logging would provide a poor service.
Moreover, in many countries, they are obliged to keep the connection data of their customers for a period ranging from several months to several years.
Impunity on the web is not possible with a VPN
If the VPN is intended to be a privacy protection tool, some people use it for a completely different purpose. Feeling empowered by the protection it offers, they think they can engage in activities that violate the laws of their country with impunity. But even with a VPN, it is impossible to achieve total impunity on the web.
As we mentioned above, you will never be truly anonymous on the web. This means that if you break the law, you are still likely to be prosecuted. While this is unlikely to be the case for downloading a few movies every now and then, you’re risking a lot if you use your VPN to harm others. Always keep in mind that the only way to have peace of mind on the internet is to obey the law.
A VPN is an excellent privacy tool that will allow you to secure your connection and surf in complete privacy. Despite the sometimes dubious communication of some providers, a VPN does not have the power to grant you perfect anonymity.
The no-log policy, when it is touted, is either a guarantee of dishonesty or the risk of a low quality service. Finally, no tool can exempt you from following the law without risking the consequences of your actions. If you keep this in mind, you will be able to get the most out of your VPN!
