VPNs do not guarantee complete anonymity and free VPNs often sell user data or bandwidth to third parties.
In restrictive countries, governments are detecting and blocking VPN traffic, making it a constant battle for access to free information.
New laws threatening VPN protections and user privacy by weakening encryption are a part of the ongoing privacy vs. surveillance conflict.
To choose a VPN wisely, research providers with transparent privacy policies, avoid free VPNs with hidden costs, and integrate VPNs into a broader privacy strategy.