Why You Still Need a VPN (Even in the HTTPS Era)

HTTPS vs VPN: Isn't HTTPS Encryption Enough?

HTTPS (the padlock you see in your browser) ensures that data between your browser and a website is encrypted. This prevents eavesdroppers on the network from reading your login passwords or personal info in transit. However, HTTPS has limits.

Think of it like sending a sealed letter – the mailman can't read the letter itself, but the envelope still shows the destination. Similarly, when you browse with HTTPS, outsiders can still see which websites you're visiting, even if they can't see exactly what you do on those sites.

For example, on public Wi-Fi, the network owner (or a hacker on the same network) can observe that you visited examplebank.com or news.com, even though the content you view is encrypted. An ExpressVPN article notes that you don't necessarily need a VPN to stop hackers from intercepting the content on public Wi-Fi since HTTPS is encrypting it – but the Wi-Fi admin can still see the websites you visit and potentially log or sell that data.

In other words, HTTPS alone doesn't hide your metadata. A VPN helps fill this privacy gap. When you connect through a VPN, all your traffic is encrypted and tunneled to a VPN server before going out to the internet. To continue the mail analogy: it's like putting your letter (which is already sealed via HTTPS) inside a secure box and sending it to a trusted middleman who then forwards it to the final address.

Snoops on the local network or your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can no longer see the website names or read any data – they only see an indecipherable connection between you and your VPN server. This not only hides the content (which HTTPS already does) but also the destination of your traffic.

Crucially, a VPN also encrypts non-HTTPS traffic. Despite HTTPS being widespread, not every site or app uses it by default. As security firm Bitdefender points out, "not all sites use HTTPS, which leaves you vulnerable" – attackers can monitor any unencrypted HTTP activity. A VPN steps in by encrypting all your device's communications, including those of apps and older protocols that might not be HTTPS-enabled.

It also prevents common leaks like DNS queries. (Whenever you visit a website, your device makes a DNS request to translate the URL to an IP address – and these requests can betray which sites you're looking up, even if the site itself is HTTPS. Normally, DNS lookups aren't encrypted, meaning your ISP could see them. A VPN shields these queries by routing them through the encrypted tunnel as well.)

Lastly, VPNs mask your IP address. Even on an HTTPS site, the site and any observers can see your device's IP, which reveals your approximate location and ISP. This info gets used for everything from targeted ads to geo-blocking content. A VPN replaces your IP with that of the VPN server, effectively cloaking your location.

Top VPN Use-Cases for the Tech-Savvy

So, what can a VPN actually do for you in day-to-day usage? A lot, as it turns out. Here are some of the top VPN use-cases (beyond the obvious security benefits) that tech-savvy users appreciate:

Secure Public Wi-Fi at Cafes, Airports, etc.

We've all hopped onto that free café Wi-Fi or airport hotspot. The problem is, public Wi-Fi is often unencrypted or poorly secured, meaning others on the network can potentially snoop on your traffic. A VPN is crucial here: it creates a private, encrypted tunnel inside that public network, so you can check email or do online banking at the coffee shop without worrying about lurking hackers.

As Tom's Guide puts it, public Wi-Fi often "lacks proper encryption… leaving your online activity exposed to cybercriminals", but a VPN can stop attackers from snooping or stealing your logins on open networks. In short, whenever you're on Wi-Fi you don't fully trust (airports, hotels, university, etc.), fire up your VPN to keep your connection secure.

Keep Your Browsing Private from ISPs and Prying Eyes

Even at home on your secured network, there are entities very interested in your online activities – namely your ISP, advertisers, and data brokers. Without a VPN, your ISP can see every site you visit and service you use (again, not the exact pages if HTTPS, but they do see the domains). They might log this data or even sell it (in some regions ISPs monetize customer browsing data).

And advertisers love to track you via your IP and other markers. A VPN helps because it hides your browsing from your ISP and replaces your IP address, thwarting a lot of online tracking. In fact, VPNs are often recommended to prevent profiling and price discrimination based on your location or browsing habits.

(Ever notice how flight prices or hotel rates sometimes change? It could be due to tracking – websites can use your data to adjust offers. Using a VPN can level the playing field. One cybersecurity writer noted that extensive data collection can make you a victim of price discrimination – for example, being shown higher prices for flights after visiting travel sites repeatedly. With a VPN, companies can't easily tie those searches to you or your location.)

Access Geo-Blocked Content and Streaming Anywhere

This is one of the most popular reasons people use VPNs. If you're traveling abroad or living outside certain regions, you've probably encountered the "Sorry, this content is not available in your country" message. Streaming services, news sites, and even YouTube videos can be restricted by region due to licensing or censorship.

A VPN lets you connect to a server in the country of your choice, essentially tricking services into thinking you're located in a different region. Tech-savvy travelers use this to watch their favorite shows or sports from back home.

Likewise, VPNs are a lifeline for users in censored countries – if certain apps or sites (say, social media or VoIP services) are blocked by the local government, a VPN connection through a country where they're open will unblock them. Bypassing censorship is a core use-case for VPNs.

Save Money with Location-Based Deals

Here's a pro tip: VPNs can sometimes help you find better prices when shopping online. Many e-commerce sites and airlines show different prices depending on where you're browsing from (this can be due to regional pricing, or sometimes outright price discrimination).

By trying the same site through VPN servers in different locations, you can compare and potentially snag a better deal. Surfshark highlighted that something as simple as a T-shirt could be priced higher for a shopper with a French IP address than for someone with an American IP – purely due to location.

Avoid Throttling and Improve Speeds for Certain Activities

Believe it or not, your ISP might be slowing down your connection on purpose for certain services – a practice known as throttling. Common targets are high-bandwidth activities like HD streaming, torrenting (P2P file sharing), or even gaming.

A VPN can help here by concealing the type of traffic you're generating. Since the ISP can't easily tell if you're streaming video, doing a big download, or just browsing Google (all the data looks like garbled encrypted packets), they can't selectively slow down one type of traffic.

Protect All Your Devices (and IoT) via a VPN Router

If you're somewhat tech-savvy, you can take VPN usage to the next level by setting it up on your home router. Why do this? With a VPN router handling the connection, every device in your home – from your PC to your smart TV to that Wi-Fi refrigerator – will automatically be protected without needing separate VPN apps.

This is super convenient for a family or for devices that don't support VPN apps (like a gaming console or some smart gadgets). Companies like TP-Link even sell dedicated VPN routers that come with built-in VPN client support.

Free VPN vs Paid VPN: Clearing the Misconceptions

By now you might be convinced that a VPN is useful – but perhaps you're wondering, "Do I have to pay for this? What about the free VPNs I see advertised?" It's true that there are many free VPN apps out there, and it's tempting to think you can get all these benefits without spending a dime.

Unfortunately, this is an area where you need to tread carefully. The saying "if you're not paying, you're the product" exists for a reason. Free VPN services often come with significant compromises.

Performance and limitations are one issue: many free VPNs restrict your usage with data caps, fewer server locations, or slower speeds to conserve their resources. More importantly, privacy can be a big problem with "free" solutions. To make money, a free VPN app might do things that go against the very reason you wanted a VPN in the first place – like logging your browsing activity, injecting ads, or selling your data to third parties.

According to one analysis, the best-case scenario with a free VPN is that it's merely limited and filled with ads; the worst-case is that it "may track your online activity and collect your data to sell to data brokers for profit". Yikes! This completely undermines the goal of using a VPN for privacy.

Generally, though, if you plan to use a VPN regularly – for streaming, for daily privacy, for work – a paid plan from a reputable VPN provider is worth it. The cost of a good VPN service these days can be as low as a few dollars per month, and that comes with premium features, higher speeds, and the confidence that your provider isn't skimming off your data on the side.

Conclusion: Staying Secure and Open Online

Using a VPN isn't about having something to hide – it's about protecting what's yours (your personal data, your privacy, your right to access information) and having peace of mind whenever you go online. Even as HTTPS secures web transactions and our devices get more secure by default, a VPN remains an invaluable tool in the tech-savvy internet user's toolkit.

It extends trust and security to wherever you happen to be browsing from, be it a college dorm, a hotel in another country, or a coffee shop down the street. It also puts control back in your hands – letting you decide what you want to see on the internet, not what some geo-block or censor dictates.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there, but hopefully we've cleared up the big ones. No, HTTPS alone isn't always enough. Yes, VPNs can be easy to use (these days it's often one tap and you're connected). And no, you don't have to be a hacker or spy – ordinary people use VPNs every day to stay safe on public Wi-Fi, to keep their home internet use private, and to enjoy a truly global web without borders.

As one VPN slogan goes, "online security starts with a click." That first click – connecting to a quality VPN – can make all the difference in ensuring your digital life is both safer and freer.

In the end, choosing to use a VPN comes down to understanding your needs and the value of your privacy. For anyone who values a secure, unrestricted internet experience, a VPN is a wise investment (just like anti-malware or a password manager). So go ahead and give one a try. Whether you're chasing the best free VPN to test the waters or diving into a highly-rated paid VPN for full features, you're taking a positive step toward protecting yourself online.

Surf safely out there – and enjoy the internet the way it was meant to be: open and secure, for everyone.