--- title: 'I Was Wrong About VPNs' source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=axfNxZ1R6C4' video_id: 'axfNxZ1R6C4' date: 2026-08-05 duration_sec: 996 --- # I Was Wrong About VPNs > Source: [I Was Wrong About VPNs](https://youtube.com/watch?v=axfNxZ1R6C4) ## Summary The video challenges common misconceptions about VPNs, explaining what they actually do and don't do for online privacy and security. The host, NetworkChuck, uses real-world demonstrations and a sponsored segment to clarify the limitations and benefits of VPNs, ultimately advising viewers on when and why to use them. ### Key Points - **VPNs are often oversold** [00:28] — VPN companies market their product as a 'magic pill' for privacy, but this is often exaggerated. - **HTTPS already encrypts traffic** [01:07] — Most websites use HTTPS, which encrypts data in transit, so VPNs are not always necessary for basic encryption. - **HTTPS doesn't hide everything** [03:16] — Even with HTTPS, metadata like DNS queries and IP addresses can be visible to ISPs and hackers, which is where VPNs help. - **VPNs hide metadata** [05:20] — A VPN encrypts all web traffic and hides your IP address, preventing ISPs and hackers from seeing which sites you visit. - **Trust shift** [06:15] — Using a VPN shifts trust from your ISP to the VPN provider, so you must choose a provider you can trust. - **No-log claims can be false** [06:43] — Some VPNs claim to keep no logs but have been caught providing data to authorities, so independent audits are important. - **Trust criteria for VPNs** [07:13] — Look for independent no-log audits and jurisdictions without mandatory data retention laws, like Panama for NordVPN. - **Myth: VPNs make you anonymous** [08:09] — VPNs do not make you completely anonymous; they just change the network you appear on, and other tracking methods still exist. - **Myth: VPNs protect from all hackers** [09:03] — VPNs do not protect against malware or phishing; they only encrypt traffic, so you still need good cybersecurity hygiene. - **VPNs as anti-harassment tool** [11:17] — VPNs can hide your IP address, which can prevent doxxing and harassment, especially for content creators. - **Dedicated IPs** [12:11] — A dedicated IP can help avoid IP blocks and CAPTCHAs, but it ties activity to your VPN account, reducing anonymity. - **When to use a VPN** [13:04] — VPNs are useful on sketchy Wi-Fi, for bypassing geo-restrictions, and for hiding metadata, but not needed all the time. - **What VPNs are good for** [14:01] — VPNs hide metadata, shift trust, and provide an all-in-one security app, but they are not a substitute for smart online behavior. ### Conclusion VPNs are useful tools for privacy and security, but they are not a silver bullet. Understanding their limitations and using them appropriately is key to staying safe online. ## Transcript They might be right. Can a VPN protect you from hackers? The goal here is to help you answer this question Get your coffee ready. We're turning on our virtual private network. to a virtual private network. But for most people, VPN simply means privacy. It's a magic pill, a warm blanket for security. Well, VPN companies are great at marketing. And it just so happens that, this video is sponsored What a conflict of interest. In fact, because I'm sponsored by a VPN, I have You can grade me at the end of the video. 10, I don't know. Deal? Let's go. HTTPS already encrypts traffic, so VPNs basically It's a good one. Because there are commonly two types, and not VPNs, like NordVPN, but not the VPN that your So we're not talking about this one even though For a personal VPN, the promise is that when So let's say, for example, when I visit academy.networkchuck.com. get in the middle of this traffic, sniff it, I made a video about that here. to sniff up my credit card information, my email, But if we turn on a VPN, they suddenly can't It still works. Doesn't have to be coffee, but it helps. Let's do a simultaneous sip. form what's called a VPN tunnel with a VPN server. This is a secure encrypted tunnel, meaning that see, it's locked up. In fact, his nose has stopped up. This is the toughest analogy I've ever made. And when I'm visiting academy.networkchuck.com, not my network. This is cool, but here's the thing. It was necessary with HTTP, but now most websites, HTTPS. or transport layer security. This means that without a VPN, when I connect to a website using HTTPS, it's encrypted. So does that mean the VPN is essentially doing You see, HTTPS, it's not hiding everything. Well, I don't wanna say that. Let me unstuff his nose here. you visited academy.networkchuck.com 10 times you visit, creating a fun little profile on Don't you love being tracked? Kali Linux is sniffing all the traffic from Let's go visit a few websites. I'm gonna launch, Wireshark and Kali Linux. We'll start sniffing. Over here, we'll go to academy.networkchuck.com. Let's search for networkchuck. Academy.networkchuck right there. You're like, Chuck, what about secure DNS? That will encrypt this information. from hackers sniffing your stuff and your ISP. I saw David Bombal do this in his video, this We'll go over here, we'll enable secure DNS. Let's start capturing again, and we'll go to, Let's go see what we found. but let's try this. That looks like DNS to me. you're like, what is that? The point is even with secure modern standards, we want, and this is where a VPN shines. that traffic from HTTPS, all your web traffic, computer's doing. You get all your apps and your games constantly Alright. We'll go to academy.merch.networkchuck.com. Go to networkchuck.coffee, and let's see what Nothing with Cisco. Everything and notice the protocol here. uses to secure you. And now we've given our hacker and our ISP a Boom. Can't NordVPN see all of our stuff? A VPN just shifts your trust from the ISP to Let's pop the hood on that. against using a VPN because we may be able to ISP, but that involves putting all of our trust PureVPN said no logs, meaning they don't keep Yet their logs that don't exist helped unmask still, come on guys. Dishonest providers doesn't necessarily mean who you're trusting. So I do actually use NordVPN a lot, and they So why do I trust them? no logs assessment, and this is an independent And by the way, as I'm naming this stuff off, It can be you using this criteria for your VPN. means no disc or database to seize or give over NordVPN is in Panama or they're under the jurisdiction mandatory data retention law in Panama, and At the end of the day, it comes down to trust. them with my VPN access, and you'll have to you choose. I'll go ahead and bust this one. Right? It can make you a little bit more private, but Remember, it just changes the network you appear Well, let's see them. You know, I'm gonna have at least one Harry When you turn that on in your browser, you kinda All that's doing is not saving your browser It doesn't mean that the stuff you visit isn't Like, it'll hide your IP address, but your IP If you're still logged into Google, cookies screen size, your fonts, your extensions. all your extensions recently. that. Cover your tracks. I am not protected, it says. Myth number four, a VPN keeps you safe from kind of the advertisement. Turn on a VPN and the cartoon hacker can't touch that actually gets people. That extra RAM you tried to download. Remember, a VPN just changes what network you It builds an encrypted tunnel, but the tunnel's the second you click the wrong link. So, yeah, the myth is busted. but NordVPN really isn't just a VPN anymore. in one digital security app, and they have next malware, trackers, and the stuff that actually This guy is used sometimes downloading some I didn't know that. Flag suspicious crypto wallet addresses to keep Oh, dude. Notifies you if your session cookies are found This is the stuff that gets, like, YouTubers And, essentially, hackers can avoid having to Look at this diagram. isn't awesome. cool because you can still have normal people, VPN is protecting me. So trick your family and friends into using That felt very salesy, but that was a good line, NordVPN did sponsor this video and allowed me so show them some love. Now on to myth number five. It's all about anonymity and keeping you invisible, It's actually an anti harassment tool. from the the rooftops by, like, every YouTuber A lot of people will say it's not, but I say Because in a lot of cases, your IP address points Go to, like, where what'smyip.com. idea of where you're located. from a 12 year old with $5 or you're trying what network you appear to be on also changes It goes from a privacy thing to also a protection my shows back home. And I know I know a bunch of these VPNs use That happens to me, which is why a dedicated is super helpful. assigned to you. to be be human, avoid those IP blocks. Your traffic is still encrypted, your IP and But because a dedicated IP is tied to your Nord activity can be traced back to that Nord account. Just be aware of that. And, you know, honestly, a lot of people who they're not surfing anything weird. For most people, they don't need a VPN on all A lot of those tech nerds, we like to have security We do all the tricks. But I still think normal people need a VPN sometimes. Like in the summer of twenty twenty five, The VPN demand explodes. and you're on sketchy hotel Wi Fi, or a site So the answer to do you need a VPN isn't just Probably not right now when you're watching You may not care if your ISP or or the hacker of the situations we mentioned. What's a VPN actually good for? here from the beginning, shame on you. So VPN is good for hiding your metadata from It shifts your trust from your ISP to something And with NordVPN, you get more than a VPN. an all in one digital security app with next But what a VPN is not is it's not gonna make You still have to be, you know, smart online. You have to have some good cybersecurity hygiene. Are you gonna use one? Scale one to 10. for sponsoring this channel and making a lot I'll catch you guys next time. If you're new here, I like to pray for you, I believe in the power of prayer, and I genuinely I believe the best way I can do that is to pray One, three, pray. side of the screen. I thank you that they're curious and that they're And I ask in your name that you just bless them If they're going through a hard time, whatever Give them courage and encouragement that whatever it is will pass, and I ask that you give them To I can't talk right now. Give them strength to make it through it, god. Let them flourish. Help them to I ultimately just know you, god. In some way, they would know you because I believe that is where we find ultimate joy. learning here to encourage them and and maybe it light a fire in them to jump into cybersecurity do. It's in your name I pray, Jesus. I'll catch you guys next time.