NordVPN recently conducted one of the most detailed market research projects into VPN usage. And the conclusions raise as many questions as they answer. To get down and dirty into the numbers, one in four Brits routinely uses a VPN. However, 40 percent of them use free software that could increase their exposure to the very risks that they are trying to mitigate.
The survey began in 2020 and concluded this year. It involved 150,000 respondents. It found that men under 44 are the biggest VPN users, and that Gen-Zers, those born after 1996, are most likely to use free VPNs.
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From greater privacy to international casino play
The reasons for using a VPN were varied, but can be loosely grouped into three main areas:
1) Enhanced privacy
About three-quarters of VPN users said they use a VPN to protect their privacy. The theory is that a VPN prevents the user’s internet service provider from tracking their browsing activity. The device routes to the VPN server, then internet traffic is passed through the VPN provider’s internet connection.
Anyone monitoring the device will be unable to monitor the user’s online activity. That, at least is the theory, but more on that in a moment.
2) Streaming movies and media
The internet is an apparently inexhaustible supply of entertainment. But sometimes, the movie or series that you crave is only available overseas. UK VPN users are particularly envious of their cousins over the Atlantic in this regard, and one in five use a VPN specifically to view online streams that are only available to US audiences.
3) Accessing more games
This is related to the above reason, as it also concerns geo tracking. If you look at the online casino industry, for instance, there are dozens of online casinos licensed in the UK that do not require a VPN to access. However, they are all subject to UK Gambling Commission regulations, including Gamstop.
Some players prefer non-UK casino gaming platforms like the ones listed at https://non-gamstop-casinos.com/non-uk-casino-sites/. They are still licensed and regulated, but under different jurisdictions, and are not subject to Gamstop limits.
4) Getting better prices
National boundaries are meaningless in cyberspace, right? Not necessarily. From designer clothes to flights, prices can halve or double from one country to another, even when buying from exactly the same company. British bargain hunters find it sometimes pays dividends to be Spanish or American for the purpose of a particular transaction.
Are VPNs really worth it?
VPNs can certainly be used in each of the above scenarios. But NordVPN caveated that with some words of warning alongside their findings. With VPNs, as with most things, you get what you pay for, and some free providers make their money by selling client data.
Cynics might say “well they would say that,” but in their defense, NordVPN willingly mentioned some free VPN services that are trustworthy.
Even with these, however, you cannot expect to get the same quality as you would with a paid service, whether it is from NordVPN or another premium provider like Express VPN. If users are simply comparing prices from different jurisdictions, a trustworthy free VPN like Windscribe or Proton will do the job.
However, the connection is a little slow, and those who want to stream media or try to convince the big players like Netflix and Amazon regarding their location really need to invest a few of their British pounds in a premium VPN subscription.