Let’s get one thing straight: when you use a VPN, you’re basically saying, “I don’t trust my ISP, so I’ll hand all my internet traffic to this other company instead.”
See the irony? You’re shifting trust from one corporation to another, and the VPN industry is infamous for lying through its teeth.
The “No-Logs” Lie (And How It Keeps Blowing Up)
Every VPN site loves to plaster “NO LOGS!” across their homepage. But history says otherwise.
PureVPN’s betrayal (2017): Despite bragging about “no logs,” PureVPN handed over logs to the FBI that linked a user to cyberstalking. So much for “we don’t know who you are.”
The Hong Kong disaster (2020): Seven “no-log” VPNs (UFO VPN, Fast VPN, Super VPN, etc.) leaked 1.2TB of user data, including email addresses, passwords, and, yes, browsing logs.
The fine print trick: Many VPNs bury log-retention policies deep in their privacy policies, while their marketing screams the opposite.
In other words: unless a VPN’s “no-logs” claim has been independently audited or proven in court, assume it’s BS.
“Now, to be clear: nobody’s defending a cyberstalker. But the point is this, if a VPN swears it keeps no logs, and then suddenly produces them when asked, what does that mean for you? If they can hand over records in this case, what’s stopping them from doing it in others, including against ordinary, law-abiding users?”
-Author
So How Do You Actually Trust One?
There’s no silver bullet, but there are red flags and green flags.
Red Flags
Vague, contradictory privacy policies.
No third-party audits.
Hidden ownership (seriously, if you can’t find out who runs the company, why would you trust them with your traffic?).
Over-the-top promises like “100% anonymity”, if you hear that, run.
Green Flags
Independent audits of their no-logs claims (e.g., NordVPN, ProtonVPN, ExpressVPN).
Court-tested providers that proved they had no logs when asked (Windscribe, Mullvad, OVPN, Private Internet Access.
Transparency reports that show how they handle government requests.
Technical safeguards like RAM-only servers that wipe data on reboot.
Jurisdiction in privacy-friendly countries (think Switzerland, Iceland, Panama, not the U.S. or India, where logging laws are forced).
Free VPNs: The Wolf in Free Clothing
Here’s the brutal truth: most free VPNs are spyware with a pretty logo.
If you’re not paying, you’re the product. And what do “free” VPNs sell? Exactly what you were trying to hide, your data. Some inject ads, others sell bandwidth, and the worst outright log every click.
Yes, ProtonVPN has a limited free plan as a goodwill project, but that’s the rare exception. For everyone else: free VPN = data mining with extra steps.
The Jurisdiction Game
Where your VPN is headquartered matters.
In India, the CERT-In directive forces VPNs to log user names, IP addresses, and contact details for 5+ years. Many reputable providers literally pulled their servers out of the country rather than comply
In the U.S., the CLOUD Act allows law enforcement to demand user data, even from providers outside the country.
Compare that with Switzerland or Panama, where strong privacy laws make it much harder for governments to snoop.
So if your VPN is based in a surveillance-happy country, all the “no-logs” marketing in the world won’t save you when subpoenas hit.
Bottom Line: Choose Skeptically, Trust Lightly
A VPN can either be your strongest privacy tool, or your biggest liability. It all comes down to who runs it and what they log.
Don’t fall for shiny apps with “no logs” slapped on the homepage.
Look for audits, court cases, and real-world proof.
Pay for quality, because if it’s free, it’s feeding on you.
A VPN provider without transparency is just another data miner in disguise. Treat them with the same suspicion you have for your ISP, because at the end of the day, you’re still handing someone the keys to your digital life.
Final Takeaway
A VPN only improves your privacy if the provider truly keeps no logs, and very few can prove it. Demand transparency, pay for quality, and remember: when it comes to VPNs, the default setting is distrust.