Updated on: December 20, 2024
A VPN protects you against hackers, but only to a certain extent. While VPNs offer protection against certain cyber threats, especially when using public Wi-Fi, hackers can still target you. This is particularly true if there are vulnerabilities in your device or the VPN itself.
You’ll need a high-quality VPN to fully benefit from privacy and security protection. Many VPNs on the market don’t meet the necessary security and privacy standards. I recommend ExpressVPN, as it provides industry-leading security features along with additional benefits. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Types of Hacks a VPN Can Protect You From
Cyberattacks come in many forms — from intercepting your data on public Wi-Fi to overwhelming servers with malicious traffic. These attacks can compromise your privacy, steal sensitive information, or disrupt your online experience. Here are the most common types of cyberattacks and how a VPN can help you avoid them:
Fake Access Point & Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks
MitM and fake Wi-Fi hotspots often go hand-in-hand. A fake Wi-Fi hotspot (also known as an evil twin attack) is a malicious network set up by hackers that’s disguised as a legitimate public network (like “Free Coffee Shop Wi-Fi”). Once you connect to it, the hacker can monitor all the data passing through, including your personal information, passwords, and credit card numbers.
This is where the Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack comes in. Because the hacker is positioned between you and the site you’re trying to visit, they can capture sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, or personal messages. They can then use this opportunity to install malware, redirect you to fake websites, or steal sensitive data.
Note that a MitM attack can also happen on unsecured or poorly encrypted networks (without the need for a fake Wi-Fi hotspot).
How a VPN protects against these attacks:
When using a VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted and routed through a secure server, creating a “tunnel” between your device and the VPN server. This prevents hackers on a public or fake Wi-Fi network from intercepting your data. Even if they control the network, they can only see encrypted traffic, which is unreadable without the decryption key. This means they can’t read or alter sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, or personal details.
Additionally, since your device connects to the VPN server first (not directly to the website), the hacker can’t position themselves between you and the site, preventing MitM attacks.
DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) Attacks
A DDoS attack overwhelms a target with a massive amount of traffic. This traffic comes from multiple devices, often part of a botnet — a network of compromised computers or IoT devices controlled by attackers.
The goal is to overwhelm your resources — like bandwidth or processing power — causing the service to fail. For example, hackers might target a popular website, causing it to crash and become inaccessible. In gaming, they might launch a DDoS attack on a server to interrupt gameplay, leaving players unable to connect. DDoS attacks can also target businesses, rendering their online services down and preventing customers from accessing them.
How a VPN protects against these attacks:
A VPN helps prevent DDoS attacks by masking your real IP address. When you use a VPN, your internet traffic is routed through a secure server, and the VPN server’s IP address is shown to the outside world instead of your own. This makes it much harder for attackers to target your actual server or network with a DDoS attack.
Some VPNs offer built-in anti-DDoS protection on all servers, like ExpressVPN, so even if hackers try to overwhelm the VPN server with traffic, the VPN provider will filter out malicious traffic and ensure your real IP remains protected.
DNS Spoofing (DNS Poisoning)
DNS spoofing happens when hackers manipulate your DNS requests by redirecting you to malicious websites. DNS (Domain Name System) is like the internet’s phonebook, translating website names (like example.com) into IP addresses that your device can understand. When attackers interfere with this process, they can send you to fake websites that steal your data, install malware, or trick you into revealing sensitive information like passwords.
How a VPN protects against these attacks:
A VPN helps prevent DNS spoofing by encrypting your DNS requests and routing them through a secure server. This means that when you try to visit a website, your DNS request is sent through the VPN, protecting it from being intercepted or tampered with by hackers.
Many VPNs use their own DNS servers or trusted providers like Cloudflare or Google DNS, which are far more secure than those offered by most ISPs. Since the VPN provider handles the DNS resolution, hackers can’t manipulate your DNS queries to redirect you to malicious sites.
High-quality VPNs also offer built-in DNS leak protection to prevent DNS requests from leaking outside the secure tunnel (which can happen if the VPN connection drops momentarily or due to misconfiguration or a software bug). This feature ensures your DNS queries are always routed through the VPN server.
Remote Hacking (& Its Many Variations)
Cybercriminals use various techniques to exploit unprotected networks and steal your data. Remote hacking allows them to access your device remotely, stealing sensitive information like passwords or payment details. One form of remote hacking is session hijacking, where attackers intercept browser cookies to impersonate you online and gain unauthorized access to your accounts.
Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks inject malicious scripts into websites, stealing credentials or tracking your activity remotely. Hackers can also use packet sniffing to monitor and analyze internet activity on a network. We use it to test VPNs, but attackers can use it to steal sensitive data like login info, banking details, or anything you input while connected to an unsecured network, like public Wi-Fi.
Other remote attacks include port scanning, which targets unsecured ports in a network, and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) attacks, which exploit vulnerabilities in the remote access protocol on Windows systems.
How a VPN protects against these attacks:
A VPN’s encryption, secure tunnel, and the fact that it hides your IP address can help prevent remote access, session hijacking, and packet sniffing whether you’re connected to a public and unsecured Wi-Fi or your home network. While a VPN can’t directly stop port scanning or XSS attacks, it does make it harder for attackers to detect your real IP address, effectively reducing the chances of remote attacks targeting your network.
Common Cyberattacks a VPN Can’t Protect You Against
A VPN can protect you from many cyber threats, but it’s not a cure-all. Here are some types of attacks a VPN can’t defend you from:
Phishing Attacks
In a phishing attack, hackers trick you into revealing sensitive information by pretending to be trustworthy entities, often through fake emails or websites. Since these attacks exploit your trust, a VPN can’t stop them.
Malware
Malware is often spread through malicious downloads or infected links. A VPN doesn’t scan or block downloads, so it can’t protect you from malware if you download an infected file or visit a harmful website. Some VPNs, like NordVPN, come with extras like a malware scanner, but they’re not as good as a dedicated antivirus tool.
Social Engineering
Social engineering attacks manipulate people into revealing sensitive information through psychological tricks. These attacks exploit human behavior, not technical vulnerabilities, so a VPN can’t prevent them. I recommend practicing caution when receiving unsolicited requests for personal information or login details, especially from unknown or unexpected sources.
Insecure Websites
While a VPN encrypts your internet traffic, it doesn’t make websites more secure. If a website is compromised or contains vulnerabilities, a VPN can’t prevent attacks that occur on those sites.
Some top VPNs like ExpressVPN do include malicious site blockers that can warn you if you’re about to click on an unsecured site. But even if the tool doesn’t flag it, you should always check for secure website protocols (HTTPS via TLS) and ensure the site is legitimate before entering personal information.
Device Vulnerabilities
Hackers can exploit security flaws in your device and outdated software, regardless of whether you’re using a VPN. The most common and severe type of attack is a zero-day exploit, where hackers take advantage of a vulnerability in software before it has been discovered or patched.
Internal Threats
VPNs protect you from external threats, but they can’t defend against attacks from within your network. If someone with access to your device or network wants to steal information or cause damage, a VPN won’t prevent them. Implementing proper internal security measures and access control is critical to mitigate these risks.
Other Ways to Protect Yourself From Hackers
While a VPN is a powerful tool, it’s not enough on its own to provide complete protection against hacking. Here are some additional steps you can take to strengthen your defense against hackers:
Use Antivirus Software
Antivirus software protects against malware like viruses, ransomware, and spyware. A good antivirus like Norton can scan files and programs for known threats and block malicious activities before they can harm your system. It also detects suspicious behavior and prevents unauthorized access to your device, helping to keep viruses, ransomware, and spyware at bay. Keep in mind you should make sure your antivirus is always updated to detect new threats
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Where Possible
2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, like a code or fingerprint. This makes it much harder for hackers to access your accounts, even if they steal your password. Some of the top password managers on the market, including Dashlane, come with a built-in 2FA authenticator.
Keep Your Software Updated
Software updates often include important security patches. Without them, your device can remain vulnerable to known exploits. Even with a VPN, outdated software can still leave your system exposed. I recommend enabling automatic updates for your operating system and apps to patch any known security flaws.
Be Cautious With Emails & Links
Phishing attacks trick you into giving away sensitive information. These scams often use fake emails or links to steal your data, and a VPN can’t protect you from falling for them.
Even if an email, a message, or an attachment doesn’t look suspicious to you, it’s important to always double-check email senders and avoid clicking links you don’t 100% trust. You also should be cautious when providing personal information, especially in unsolicited communications.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Weak or reused passwords are easy targets for hackers. They can crack sub par passwords using brute force attacks, where they try every possible combination, or by using password cracking tools that quickly check common or previously exposed passwords. They may also use credential stuffing to exploit reused passwords across multiple sites.
It’s important to only use complex passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and to store them securely. A good password manager like 1Password can help you generate and store strong passwords for each account, as well as monitoring the strength of the passwords in your vault and alerting you to any issues.
Avoid Public Wi-Fi for Sensitive Activities
Public Wi-Fi is risky because hackers can intercept your data. While a VPN encrypts your traffic, it’s best to avoid sensitive activities like online banking or shopping on unsecured networks. If you must use public Wi-Fi, make sure your VPN is active first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you be hacked while using a VPN?
Yes — a VPN can help protect you against various cyber threats, but it can’t protect you from all types of attacks, such as phishing or malware.
For example, if you visit malicious websites or download infected files with your VPN on, your device can still be compromised. It’s essential to use additional security measures, like antivirus software and 2FA authentication, to reduce the risk of being hacked.
What does a VPN not protect you from?
A VPN doesn’t protect against phishing attacks, malware, or software vulnerabilities. It secures your internet connection by encrypting your data, but it won’t stop hackers from targeting your accounts through stolen credentials or malicious files.
This is why I recommend using a VPN alongside antivirus software and a strong password manager, plus other security measures to fully protect yourself from cyber threats.
Does a VPN protect your bank account?
A VPN can help protect your bank account by securing your internet connection and encrypting sensitive data. This makes it more difficult for hackers to intercept your financial information, especially on public Wi-Fi networks.
However, a VPN alone won’t protect your bank account from other threats, such as phishing or malware. It’s important to enable two-factor authentication (2FA) and use strong, unique passwords for added security.
What is the best VPN to protect against hackers?
The best VPN to protect against hackers is one that offers strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and secure VPN protocols. My favorite is ExpressVPN, as it offers industry-leading security and privacy features and lots of extras like an ad, tracker, and malicious site blocker.
It’s also important to use other protective measures, such as antivirus software and a good password manager.