Is Using a VPN on Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac a Good Idea?

You can set up and use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. While VPNs are often marketed as essential tools for privacy and security, they can create more issues than they solve—especially for users who don’t fully understand how they work. For instance, one key downside is that VPNs inherently slow down your internet connection, often reducing speeds to about one-quarter of your original connection. This might not impact basic browsing, but it can significantly affect downloads and streaming.

Then there’s the issue of compatibility. Every time you update your device or make a hardware change, your VPN might stop working altogether, requiring tedious reinstallation and reconfiguration. And let’s not forget that some apps and services, like banking apps or social media platforms, block VPN connections outright due to security concerns.

With all these complexities, it’s essential to know when a VPN is genuinely beneficial—and when it might do more harm than good. In this article, I’ll break down the pros and cons of using a VPN on your Apple devices, explore safer alternatives, and help you decide if a VPN is the right choice for you. Whether you’re considering one for added security, privacy, or convenience, understanding the facts is crucial before making the leap.

The Impact of Location Spoofing

A core feature of VPNs is their ability to change your apparent location. While this might seem useful, it can cause problems:

• Banking and Security: Banks and other financial institutions monitor your location for security. Logging in from a VPN-altered location might trigger a security block or, in some cases, prevent access altogether.
• Apps and Websites: Many social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat restrict VPN access because your real location is critical for targeted marketing and account security.

Compatibility Issues with Updates

VPNs are configured to work with the specific hardware, operating system, and network environment of your device. Any changes—such as updating your OS or switching hardware—can break the VPN. In fact, I often recommend disabling your VPN if you’re experiencing connection-related issues. When this happens, you may need to:

1. Uninstall the VPN app and profile. I previously explained how to uninstall a VPN on a Mac.
2. Restart your device.
3. Reinstall and reconfigure the VPN.

This adds extra hassle, particularly when updating or upgrading your device.

The Risks of Using VPNs

While VPNs have their uses, they come with significant risks. Consider the following:

1. Provider Trust: VPN providers have complete visibility into your online activities, including your location and the websites you visit. This makes you entirely dependent on their integrity. Free VPNs are especially risky, as they often monetize by selling your data or turning your device into part of a botnet. Even paid VPNs have been caught mishandling data—like selling user browsing data despite its claims to prioritize privacy (see the FTC link below).
2. Slower Internet Speeds: VPNs reroute your internet traffic through external servers, which can drastically reduce your connection speed—especially noticeable during downloads or streaming.
3. Content Access Issues: VPNs disguise your location, but the randomized server location may block access to apps or content unavailable in that region.
4. VPN Vulnerability on Untrusted Networks: VPN companies promote their services as tools to protect your internet activity from prying eyes. However, there is a significant vulnerability when using a VPN on an untrusted network. Attackers on the same network can potentially divert your internet traffic away from the VPN’s protection without you even realizing it, as no alerts are triggered to warn the user.
5. Privacy: VPNs offer limited privacy and should not be mistaken for comprehensive protection. They function primarily as a proxy, rerouting your internet traffic. However, anyone determined to intercept your connection can still do so—just at a different point, such as when your data exits the VPN server.

When Should You Use a VPN?

VPNs are generally only necessary for:

• Accessing Private Networks: For example, connecting to a school or workplace network remotely.
• Bypassing Government Restrictions: In countries with strict internet censorship, VPNs can provide access to otherwise restricted content. In this case, using a regular proxy for specific traffic might be a better choice. Routing all your traffic through a VPN provider (as most VPN clients do by default) still allows the provider to monitor and potentially interfere with your data.

For other purposes, VPNs often introduce more complications than benefits.

Why VPN Services Exist

It’s an easy way to make money. Setting up OpenVPN on a few servers and reselling bandwidth at a higher price requires minimal effort. VPN providers can make endless promises about privacy and security without any accountability, as users have no way to verify them. In many cases, providers don’t even need expertise to operate—users are left trusting unverified claims.

While VPN services can have legitimate uses, they often serve the provider’s interests far more than the user’s.

Better Alternatives to VPNs

1. Public Wi-Fi Security: Modern encryption standards already protect your data during transmission, making a VPN unnecessary for most public Wi-Fi use cases.
2. Privacy While Browsing: If you’re looking for anonymity, consider using the TOR browser instead of a VPN.
3. iCloud Private Relay: For Apple users on iOS 15.2+ and macOS Monterey 12.2+, iCloud Private Relay offers enhanced privacy without the drawbacks of a traditional VPN. Unlike VPNs, it doesn’t collect your data or compromise performance. Do not turn off Private Relay.

Ethical Considerations

Some people use VPNs to bypass regional restrictions on content, such as streaming services. While this is technically possible, whether or not it’s ethical is a personal decision.

For example, Netflix’s library varies by region, meaning not all shows and movies are available everywhere. By using a VPN, you can access content from different regions.

Final Thoughts

VPNs aren’t the one-size-fits-all solution they’re often made out to be. Unless you have a specific need—such as accessing a private network or circumventing censorship—you might be better off with alternatives like iCloud Private Relay or the TOR browser. And if you do decide to use a VPN, avoid free services and carefully research paid options to ensure they align with your privacy needs.

For more insights, check out these resources:

• Apple’s Guide to VPN and Network Troubleshooting
• FTC Order Against Avast for Selling User Data