Disadvantages of VPNs

As with any type of technology, there are some disadvantages to using a VPN.

Speed can be slow: When connecting via VPN, your network traffic goes through more steps than usual, so there can be a noticeable slowdown. As this has been the number one complaint about VPNs, developers have taken note of this. Many have managed to optimise speed and performance to the point where their VPN users can stream and play smoothly without hiccups. Also see our additional tips for speeding up VPN connections.

QoS challenges: QoS stands for 'quality of service' and describes the performance of a service or network. VPNs have not developed standards to measure and report on such measurements. With no metrics to analyse, you'll need to rely on professional reviews and word of mouth to know what's most reliable.

VPN blocking: Some companies are starting to realise that VPNs give their users full access to content. To fight back, companies are starting to block access from known VPN IP addresses. To be less easily defeated, VPNs can simply open new IP addresses to spoof them again.

No cookie protection: While VPNs can protect your privacy and encryption, it is impossible for a VPN to block cookies, some of which are necessary for a website to function properly. Bad types of cookies, known as tracking cookies, can still be stored in your browser and identify you. Fortunately, you can easily delete tracking cookies, or better still, use a private browser like Avast Secure Browser, which prevents tracking cookies from following you around the internet.

Not complete privacy: While a VPN will block your ISP, government, hackers and other snoopers, the VPN provider itself can see your Internet activity as needed. That's why it's so important to choose a trusted provider that doesn't keep logs.

Despite these drawbacks, if you care about online privacy, a VPN is definitely worth it.