What is a VPN and do you need one?

A VPN encrypts your internet traffic so no one on the same public WiFi can see what you are doing online. You should use one when you are on public WiFi at a café or airport. For home WiFi and cellular networks, you do not need one. A VPN costs about 5-10 dollars per month or is sometimes free.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet traffic and hides your location from websites you visit. Instead of your data going straight to the internet where people on the same WiFi can see it, the VPN scrambles it first. It is like sending your mail in a locked box instead of on a postcard. The postal worker cannot read what is inside. VPNs are most useful on public WiFi, but they are not magic and will not protect you from viruses or bad decisions.