I have been using VPNs for more than a decade and it strikes me that the changes I've seen have been pretty huge.
Indeed, on the face of them, VPNs may not appear massively different – in the most recent years at least. The reality, however, is that VPNs have quietly improved drastically over the last decade.
While a VPN once required some technical knowhow, it's now quite possible to have one running all the time in the background without even noticing. They've become invisible, while helping your digital self do the same – and that's the point.
You can leave them on all the time
One major change to VPNs is how they are used now versus several years ago. They're designed now to be left running permanently on multiple devices at once.
Go back a decade and you were turning your VPN on when needed then off again to get back to more speed intensive tasks. You didn't want to leave the VPN on as it meant losing speed and stability in favour of privacy – which you likely only needed temporarily for specific tasks.
Nowadays, thanks to great connection stability, more consistent speeds and a user experience that's all about protection rather than temporary use – they just stay on. Automatic start-up, quick reconnections, and stable servers mean you can just let the VPN do its job quietly.
A VPN is no longer a tool you need to remember to use. Rather, it is a part of the user's default online security and access.
VPNs are now for everyday security as well as privacy
A VPN was once synonymous with privacy and that alone. Now the paradigm has shifted and they are far more about everyday digital security.
The modern focus is on protecting data when on public Wi-Fi, browsing securely, and reducing tracking exposure when on shared networks in cafes, airports and hotels.
This is one of the reasons they're now far more widely used by a greater number of people, rather than being reserved – as they once were – for those who want to mask their identity and hide from governments.
Strong encryption, automatic protection on unsecured networks, and clear privacy policies are now standard expectations for VPNs. This repositioning as practical security tools, over specialist privacy software, is a real stand out change for VPNs in recent years.
VPN apps are far more user-friendly
If an app works well, doing a task for you, it will generally go unnoticed. This is how VPNs now are across laptops, smartphones, tablets and more.
That was not the case years back where often you would need some technical understanding of networks in order to get the most out of them confidently.
Modern VPN software is simple, clean, clear and easy to use. As such, their clients and apps are built to work without much need from the user to do any tinkering or interacting in general. No longer is there a need to think about ports or even VPN protocols for general use.
Big 'connect' buttons, sensible defaults, and clear status indicators mean you can be protected without understanding how everything works behind the scenes.
You still get those more advanced options, should you need them. Only now the difference is you don't have to.
Connection speed is no longer the issue it once was
Use of a VPN once meant putting up with laggy speeds, streaming buffers, sluggish downloads and uncomfortable browsing loads. Sure, you got privacy, but at a cost.
Now, thanks to improved server infrastructure, better routing, and more efficient encryptions, the speed difference between using a VPN and not is negligible.
That means for daily use streaming, browsing, video calling, downloading and even using VPNs for gaming – all are possible with your app still fired up and keeping your privacy intact. Modern VPNs, unlike those from years back, are now almost identical to a normal connection.
All that means a VPN can now be left on for all tasks – speed intensive or not – without even needing to think about disconnecting.
Streaming access is more reliable
While VPNs generally aren't made or marketed as tools purely for streaming, they can often be used for that purpose to great effect.
Going overseas and having to miss out on your favorite show – just when you have time to watch it – can be a real frustration. Thanks to VPNs' ability to get around geo-restrictions, this issue can be solved.
In the past, that was far less likely, as the reliability of VPNs to go unrecognized and unblocked by a streaming service was poor. Now there is no more hunting for obscure servers that might help for a specific platform, as consistency has vastly improved across regions.
Sure, streaming using a VPN still isn't perfect, but it's certainly far better than it once was.
Trust in providers is greater
Back in the early days, there were lots of small VPN providers who you didn't really know much about and may not have been very clear about how they operated. It was a tough gig to research and find one that would suit and serve your needs.
That's very different today. Now a lot of big name and established security firms are in on the VPN game so it's possible to see clear privacy policies, transparent data handling practices, and they have a lot more to lose if they get things wrong.
No-log claims are more clearly defined, policies are easier to read, and trust plays a much bigger role in how services position themselves. Increased accountability is a big and underrated change.
VPNs are now perfectly boring
Not so long ago, VPNs were considered a pioneering software rife with potential, excitement and technical challenges. While that was fun in some ways, it was also very difficult.
Now, thanks to VPN development, everything is far more simple and, well, boring. Let me be clear... this is a good thing.
A VPN now works away quietly and unobtrusively in the background. It just works. Not fun, sure. But private, secure and safe? Yes. And yes please.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
