### Everyone Is Interested in Your Browsing Data — Here’s How a VPN Can Assist
Believe it or not, your online behavior is highly sought after. Entities such as your internet service provider (ISP) and Google might gather, share, or even monetize your personal information, monitoring the links you click and the sites you visit. Furthermore, governmental and law enforcement organizations often request access to online activities for surveillance reasons.
Utilizing a virtual private network, or **VPN**, is one method to reclaim some authority over your digital privacy. A VPN establishes an **encrypted** link between your device and a private, off-site server before directing your actions to the open internet. In straightforward terms, it enables you to navigate the web without being easily tracked.
## Why Utilize a VPN?
Even the **finest VPNs** cannot guarantee complete anonymity online—VPN providers can still observe your activity while you’re linked to their servers. Nonetheless, they **can** safeguard your personal data and conceal your **IP address** from external monitoring. The most trustworthy VPN services adhere to stringent no-logs policies, undergo independent assessments, and operate with openness to confirm they don’t collect or retain user information.
Because VPNs conceal your actual IP address, they also enable you to **bypass geographic restrictions** on content that may not be accessible in your area. This is especially beneficial for users in regions where specific sites have been blocked, as well as for those wanting to access international streaming libraries.
## Which VPN Is the Best?
Following thorough testing, **TunnelBear** emerges as the top VPN for most individuals. Its intuitive and visually appealing application supports split tunneling and unlimited simultaneous connections. It also features a free tier, which, while constrained, remains highly effective—marking it as the **best free VPN** I’ve assessed. TunnelBear is a leader in transparency, with a well-defined privacy policy, regular security evaluations, and publicly available transparency documents.
For users in search of a more comprehensive VPN, **NordVPN** is my primary suggestion. It boasts an extensive server network that efficiently bypasses regional content restrictions—great for **Love Island UK** enthusiasts—and allows up to 10 simultaneous connections. Its elegant application includes multi-hop connections and other advanced security functionalities, such as an ad/tracker blocker and a data breach scanner.
NordVPN also subjects its no-log policy to independent evaluations, though accessing these findings necessitates an account. While the service has faced criticism due to a prior server breach, the company has made considerable progress in enhancing its transparency and security measures since then.
Other remarkable contenders are **ExpressVPN** and **CyberGhost VPN**, both excellent for unblocking geo-restricted content and pretending to be in a different location. However, I wouldn’t necessarily endorse them for long-term engagement due to particular limitations.
## What’s Next in VPN Evaluations?
I recently experimented with the **free version of Proton VPN** on Windows and found it to be a strong competitor for future recommendations. Proton VPN emphasizes transparency and digital protection, features an extensive server network, and offers unlimited bandwidth on its free tier. I am currently testing the paid version on Mac and will finalize my review after completing a comprehensive assessment.
### Concluding Thoughts
If you’re on the lookout for a dependable VPN, TunnelBear and NordVPN stand out as my top recommendations based on performance, security, and transparency. Keep in mind that VPN pricing can fluctuate frequently, so the prices mentioned in this guide were correct at the time of writing.
**Continue reading for Mashable’s complete guide to the best VPN services of 2025.**