For years, I treated virtual private networks (VPNs) as situational tools, something to switch on only when circumstances demanded it. They were useful, certainly, but easy to overlook in everyday life.

That calculus began to shift as more of my routines moved online and, more importantly, as travel reintroduced a familiar set of digital uncertainties. Logging into personal accounts over hotel Wi-Fi, checking bank statements from an airport lounge, or accessing work files from a borrowed connection all carry a degree of exposure that is easy to underestimate.

What once felt optional now reads as precautionary. I eventually stopped relying on short-term fixes and opted instead for a long-term subscription, less out of habit than out of a growing recognition that staying connected while traveling increasingly means taking deliberate steps to stay secure.

But that casual relationship has begun to feel outdated. What was once an occasional workaround now looks more like a basic layer of digital hygiene. I eventually stopped cycling through free trials and promotional offers and committed instead to a longer-term subscription, less out of convenience than out of recognition that the Internet, particularly while traveling, has become a more complicated and less forgiving place.

If you shop, stream, or conduct even the most routine transactions online, a VPN is no longer a niche accessory. And if you do any of that while traveling, on hotel Wi-Fi, in airports, or across unfamiliar networks, it begins to look like a necessity.

At its core, a virtual private network is a simple idea with far-reaching implications. A VPN creates an encrypted connection between your device and a remote server, effectively masking your real IP address and obscuring your online activity from prying eyes. That alone is enough to justify its use in an era of constant data collection. But the benefits extend further. A reliable VPN allows you to access your favorite content securely while traveling, stabilize connections that might otherwise be throttled, and, in some cases, improve the prices you see when booking flights.

These advantages are often presented as conveniences. Increasingly, they feel closer to safeguards.

The temptation, of course, is to opt for a free solution. There is no shortage of them, and at first glance they promise the same basic functionality. But the economics of “free” VPNs are difficult to ignore. Maintaining secure servers and encryption protocols costs money. When users aren’t paying for the product, they may instead become the product through data collection, advertising, or worse.

Free VPNs frequently come with slower speeds, strict data limits, and weaker security standards. Some introduce intrusive ads or expose users to malware. Others operate in ways that are less visible but no less concerning, quietly logging browsing activity or selling user data to third parties.

Trust, in this context, becomes the central question. And it is not always easy to answer.

That uncertainty has only deepened as malicious actors have begun to exploit the growing demand for VPN services. Earlier this month, Google issued a warning about fraudulent applications posing as legitimate VPN providers, often distributed through social media advertising. These apps may appear functional at first glance, but their purpose is more insidious: to harvest sensitive data. According to Google’s Laurie Richardson, VP Trust and Safety, such software can “exfiltrate sensitive data such as browsing history, private messages, financial credentials and cryptocurrency wallet information.” The veneer of security, in these cases, becomes the very mechanism of vulnerability.

The guidance is straightforward, if not always followed: download apps only from official sources, verify credentials, and approach free offerings with skepticism. In a digital environment where appearances can be misleading, provenance matters.

Against that backdrop, the appeal of a reputable, paid VPN becomes clearer and, perhaps surprisingly, more affordable than expected. Services like Surfshark have positioned themselves as accessible entry points, offering plans that undercut the assumption that privacy must come at a premium. A basic subscription currently begins at €1.99 per month, with additional months included in promotional offers and a 30-day money-back guarantee for those hesitant to commit. It is, in practical terms, a modest expense for a layer of protection that operates continuously in the background.

What one chooses to do with that protection remains a personal matter. Some will use it to access familiar content while abroad; others will see it as a way to maintain a degree of privacy in an increasingly monitored online landscape. But the broader context is difficult to ignore. Legislative efforts ranging from age verification requirements to proposals that would restrict or complicate VPN usage are reshaping the contours of Internet access. Even when well-intentioned, such measures can introduce new vulnerabilities, from data leaks to unintended exposure of personal information.

In that environment, waiting to react may be the greater risk.

For travelers, the case becomes especially compelling. Public and semi-public networks are inherently less secure, and the movement between jurisdictions introduces additional layers of uncertainty: different regulations, different levels of oversight, different threats. A VPN does not eliminate those risks entirely, but it narrows them, often significantly.

There are, of course, many providers competing for attention. Surfshark stands out not only for its pricing but also for its performance across common use cases. According to Forbes, it ranks among the top VPN services of 2026, earning high marks for streaming capability, user experience, server availability, and compatibility across devices. In aggregate, it received a 9.7 out of 10, an endorsement that reflects both technical performance and usability.

None of this is to suggest that a VPN is a cure-all. It is not. But as the boundaries between convenience and vulnerability continue to blur online, it has begun to look less like an optional tool and more like a baseline expectation.

And like most forms of insurance, its value is often easiest to appreciate only after it is needed.

Editor’s note: Please note that using Surfshark services for any illegal activities is strictly forbidden and constitutes a violation of their Terms of Service. Make sure that any use of Surfshark services for your particular activities conforms to all relevant laws and regulations, including those of any service providers and websites you access using Surfshark.