Does a VPN Protect You from Hackers?

A virtual private network (VPN) is the perfect solution for a
lot of issues you might experience online- accessing blocked sites,
hiding your browsing activity, getting rid of internet throttling,
finding better deals, and much more.

But does a VPN protect you from hackers? Is your private
information and files safer on the internet with a VPN? How much of
a difference does it make in terms of data protection?

The answer to these questions isn’t as simple as Yes or No. So,
keep reading to find out.

Does a VPN Prevent Hacking?

You should definitely use a VPN on a public network or your home
wi-fi because it significantly protects your privacy. But a VPN
can’t simply protect you from every single type of cyber attack.
Some attacks are very sophisticated and complex, which even a VPN
can’t prevent.

But let’s look at some of the cyber attacks that a VPN can
stop.

1 — MITM (Man-in-the-Middle)
Attack

A MITM attack is when a hacker comes in between you and the
person or web server that you’re trying to communicate with over
the internet. It’s like eavesdropping, as the hacker interrupts and
steals data from an existing conversation or data transfer.

When a hacker knows which network you’re on, they can exploit
its weak encryption standards to intercept your data transfers. The
scariest thing is that you won’t even notice it. Using this method,
hackers can easily steal sensitive information like credit card
details or login credentials.

Most wi-fi networks, specifically public wi-fi networks, use the
WPA2 security standard, which is a very weak encryption standard
and vulnerable to MITM attacks. Even the WPA3 standard is not
entirely foolproof.

So, how does a VPN help in this situation?

A VPN encrypts all of your activity online. VPN encryptions are
so strong that it’s nearly impossible to crack. When using a VPN,
your IP will be bounced around different locations. The hacker
won’t even know your real IP address that’s connected to the
network. They’ll have no idea what sites you’re browsing, so they
can’t intercept or redirect you to fake sites.

2 — Remote Hacking

One of the oldest and most effective tricks used by hackers is
gaining access to your system through your IP address. Almost every
website you visit tracks your IP address. If one of those websites
is compromised by an attacker, they’ll have access to your IP
address. Then it’s just a case of using that IP address as a
backdoor into your system. We’re talking about your smartphone, pc,
TV, CCTV, everything that’s connected to your wi-fi.

A VPN masks your real IP address, preventing hackers from
gaining access to it. So, if you’re connected to a VPN when
browsing the internet, every site you visit won’t actually be
tracking your real IP, so there’s no way for hackers to know about
it.

3 — DDoS/DoS Attack

DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks are when hackers
flood your network with unwanted requests and traffic. The aim is
to force you offline for some time or crash the website/service
that you’re trying to access.

DDoS attacks are super annoying, and almost any wannabe hackers
these days can run time. Imagine trying to meet a deadline, but you
keep getting kicked out of your network.

With a VPN, however, you don’t need to worry about DDoS attacks.
For this attack to work, the hacker needs to know your IP address.
without knowing your IP, where is he going to target the
attack?

By hiding your real IP address, a VPN protects you from becoming
a target of such attacks, and you can keep enjoying an
uninterrupted connection.

It’s important to note that a VPN won’t protect you from
someone who already knows your real IP address. In such
cases, the best solution is to talk to your ISP.

Which Attacks a VPN Can’t Prevent?

Basically, a VPN won’t protect you against attacks that don’t
require access to your IP address. Such as malware attacks and
phishing attacks.

Some attackers can gain control of your device by injecting
malicious software, files, and codes into your system. You might be
exposed to malware when you visit unauthorized websites or try to
download third-party apps.

Sometimes, hackers can send you a fake email containing
malicious files, which can compromise your system once opened or
downloaded. In such cases, a VPN won’t be able to help you. You
should consider getting antivirus software on your device for
better protection against malware attacks.

Similarly, a VPN won’t help you much against phishing attacks.
The best it can do is block shady domains that are pretty obvious,
like “paipa1.xyz”. However, it can’t protect you from phishing
emails. Hackers create more than 1.4 million phishing sites every
month^[1] and most of them are
hard to distinguish from real sites. You can use anti-phishing
browser extensions for better protection against phishing
attacks.

To Sum It Up

Yes, a VPN will protect you from most cyberattacks that require
access to your IP address. However, it might not be of much help
against more sophisticated attacks such as malware. Regardless, a
VPN can give you advanced protection in terms of securing your
personal data and information online. So, having one does reduce
your chances of easily getting hacked online.

In addition, a VPN can help you enjoy an uninterrupted
connection and even an extra boost to your internet speed in some
cases.

Looking to try out a VPN for free before committing to a
subscription? Try Surfshark VPN trial^[2].