Virtual Private Network (VPN) browser extensions promise you privacy with a single click. But are they actually protecting you or just giving you a false sense of security?
You have most likely seen the little shield icons or padlock logos, promising “military-grade encryption” in a free browser add-on. They make online privacy feel easy, you just need to click it, it turns green and then you’re safe.
The question is, are they actually safe to use? It depends. Some are genuinely useful. Others are little more than wolves in sheep’s clothing. The problem is, most people using them right now don’t know which category theirs falls into.
Are Browser Extensions Real VPNs?
The first thing you need to know is that a VPN browser extension and a full VPN app are not even remotely the same thing. Real VPNs route your traffic through an encrypted tunnel, including every app, every browser and every background process on your device.
A browser extension, on the other hand, only covers what happens inside that one browser window. Everything else, whether it be an email, your Spotify account or other browsers, all remain unprotected.
What most of these browser extensions are doing is called a proxy. Your visible IP address is changed, so the website thinks you are in a different location. They don’t always encrypt your Internet connection in the same way that a VPN does. Having the word “VPN” in it can naturally throw you off a bit, and it doesn’t guarantee full protection.
What You Actually Need To Be Worried About
If your browser extension is only a proxy, it’s not necessarily dangerous. Annoying, slightly. But not dangerous. What is dangerous is who is running the extension and what they are doing with your data while it’s happening.
It’s an unsettling thought, but an important one to know – browser extensions have access to a ton of information. They can see very URL you visit, what you type into online forms and the content you are looking at. In a way, it’s basically a surveillance tool that you installed yourself and are actively routing your traffic through.
Research carried out in 2019 revealed that a number of free VPN extensions on the Chrome Web Store were actually harvesting user data and selling it for profit. Most of them had millions of users. One extension, which marketed itself as a privacy tool, was actually owned by a data broker. One can see the irony there.
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What Are The Red Flags To Watch Out For?
If you’re unsure of whether or not you can trust your current VPN browser extension, there are some things to look out for which will give you a good indication.
If it’s completely free with no paid option at all, it’s never a good sign. With no visible business model, you can assume that you are the product and your data is likely being sold.
There should be a published privacy policy and if there isn’t – or one with very vague language – there is a good chance they aren’t being entirely honest.
If you notice that the extension has millions of users but hardly any reviews, or far too many suspiciously glowing ones, it might be worth checking their history for verification.
Is It Worth Using VPN Browser Extensions?
By now, you are probably wondering if there is any point in using a VPN browser extension. They don’t need to be written off entirely. When used correctly, they do have real and legitimate uses.
They are ideal if say, you wanted to watch a show on a streaming platform that isn’t available yet in your country. Using a browser extension is a quick and hassle-free way to do that.
It’s also quite handy if you are using a public Wi-Fi network at a restaurant or airport and you don’t want anyone to monitor your online activities.
However, there are browser extensions from reputable VPN providers which are legitimate. These extensions have been built by companies with established reputations and proper no-log policies. That’s what you want.
Don’t Fall Into The “Free” VPN Trap
Running a VPN service costs money. The servers and bandwidth cost money. So if a VPN extension is completely free with no premium plan options, you have to ask yourself how the company is making a profit.
In most cases, it’s usually by using your data. Things like your browsing history and location are very valuable to marketers or data brokers, and all the extension company needs to is package it nicely and hand it over to them for a fee. What started as you trying to protect your online privacy ended up in you handing over your information – just more efficiently.
Of course, there are legitimate free tiers which come from the trustworthy providers. But these are the exception, not the rule. While you can generally trust the reputable providers and their free extensions, it’s the majority of the “100% free” VPN extensions that need to be avoided.
