43% of Americans use VPNs – should you?

MSN ^ | March 6, 2025 | George Phillips

[DoodleBob]

Research has found that nearly half of adults in the U.S. use, or have attempted to use, a VPN. A majority use VPNs to protect their IP addresses and usage is highest among Gen Z and millennials.

…

Experts expect America's 43% figure to rise and VPN usage to become more important than ever. But what exactly are people using VPNs for and should you get in on the act too?

A survey from CNET has found that 2 in 5 (43%) of American adults have used, or do use, VPNs.

Their motivations for using a VPN vary, but over half (52%) use one to protect their IP address and 47% want to keep their online activity private – masking your IP address and encrypting your internet traffic is a vital feature of the most secure VPNs.

The best streaming VPNs allow you to access content not available in your country and 15% of respondents said this was the primary reason for their VPN use. Playing or streaming video games was also the reason for VPN usage for 15% of Americans.

…

The recent TikTok ban saw many Americans try to access the app via a VPN. This was ultimately unsuccessful, however 12% of people said they use VPNs for accessing banned apps.

…

Interestingly, U.S. VPN usage does appear to be more popular with men. Half of men surveyed use one, compared to 36% of women. Gen Z and millennials are the largest adopters of VPNs, with 50% of each group using one.

The length of time individuals have used VPNs varies – 19% have used one for more than two years, 10% have used one for one to two years, and 15% have used one for less than a year.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Virtual Private Network.

[T.B. Yoits]

I don’t have recall on my W11 PC.

You believe you don't have recall on your Windows 11 PC.

If I were you, I wouldn't risk imprisonment due to anything you might show on your monitor.

[dagunk]

To disable Windows Recall:

Linux. Linix Mint is great and easy.

FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, NomadBSD, etc. They’re picky about their friends....
I’m on FreeBSD, wife on Linux Mint.

[dagunk]

I only trust ASUS routers, at this time.
They are made in China so I have my doubts, but what else are you going to do?

*************************************************

IT guy at lunch carrying a Cisco ethernet card. Asked ‘whatup?’ - They found it trying to phone home to china. Closed network, no way it could get out but still....
Card made in China.

[ansel12]

ROFL, OK, it isn’t on my PC.

Do a search for recall to see if you have it.

[T.B. Yoits]

I’m still running Windows 10 and the way Microsoft continually tries to install Windows 11 reinforces the understanding of how bad they want that Fedware installed.

[ansel12]

That is your choice but October is coming up and recall can be turned on or off, the choice is the user’s, and off is the default setting.

[Myrddin]

I would think a translator would be needed to communicate with ordinary humans at some point.

I find ChatGPT and grok3 to be useful tools. I still enjoy human languages and engage Duolingo daily to sharpen by German proficiency. I've completed the Welsh course and have Gaelic, Spanish, French and Italian in progress. All useful in the right context.

I don't ever want to become tightly connected to AI such that my own personality is lost.

[Myrddin]

My wife and I had Linksys routers and installed DD-WRT on them. It was an excellent way to go.

I have interest in the Linksys routers with a Linux kernel running the AODV protocols. Think mesh networking at a community level to provide connectivity if the regular telecom paths fail. It appears LibreMesh is the successor to the previous AODV/OLSR mesh networking initiatives. I used OLSR on my railcar network to solve the problem of not having line of sight between nodes on a 250 car train wrapped around a mountain. It was very agile and low latency to the CAN bus controllers on the railcars.

[McGruff]

Microsoft Copilot+ PC guide: What it is, features, how to access it, and PC requirements, and everything you need to know

Microsoft Copilot+ is only available on AI PCs.

[higgmeister]

Just for the record :

MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks Launches First Internet-VPN Service for Microsoft Windows NT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 26, 1999 -- MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks announced today the launch of SafeReach NT VPN, the first fully managed Internet-based Virtual Private Networking (VPN) service for corporate enterprise networks. SafeReach NT allows remote users to securely connect to their corporate Intranet using client-based tunneling and encryption between the end-users' personal computer (PC) and the corporate site. Running on MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks' global Internet Protocol (IP) network, SafeReach NT enables corporate users to take advantage of the ubiquitous coverage, higher speeds and cost efficiencies of Internet technologies while providing scalability, security and flexibility for the corporate enterprise network. SafeReach NT incorporates Microsoft's Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) technology into the point-and-click simplicity of MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks' client dialer PAL TM, eliminating the need for wide-scale client software deployment.

It was just a start.

[Organic Panic]

Using one right now. I got the lifetime Ivacy subscription on stack social.

[T.B. Yoits]

That is your choice but October is coming up and recall can be turned on or off, the choice is the user’s, and off is the default setting.

You really believe it will be off. On a related note, Google settled a $5 billion lawsuit for spying on users who turned on ‘incognito mode' but were still tracked.

Yes, October is coming. There might be a delay in the final date due to the number of users who haven't switched, but I'm also wondering if some enterprising individual who likely created an encryption device for the Feds for their monitors might release it to the public.

[Organic Panic]

Stick with tor networks. Pockets split between many servers all over the world. Sure, possible they are ll CIA NIH servers, but it’s better than nothing.

[murron]

What does VON stand for?

[zeestephen]

How do users compare the safety and reliability of one VPN against a different VPN, or against a major Public Network?

[SaveFerris]

(Susie: “Well, I’ve got to get home and make dinner.”

Melinda: “OK. What are you having?”

Susie: “A BLT.”

Melinda: “TTYL.”

Susie: “XOXO.”)

LOL

JMHO

ROTFLOL

IMHO

FWIW

[linMcHlp]

How to disable or uninstall Windows Recall

bttt

[Political Junkie Too]

I've thought of writing a comedy skit in which two women are talking and their entire conversation is saturated with initials.

Harvey and Sheila, by Allan Sherman (My Son, the Celebrity, 1963)

Sung to the tune of Hava Nagila

Harvey and Sheila
Harvey and Sheila
Harvey and Sheila
Oh the day they met

Harvey and Sheila
Harvey and Sheila
Harvey and Sheila
No one will forget

Harvey's a CPA
He works for IBM
He went to MIT
And got his PhD

Sheila's a girl I know
At BBD&O
She works the PBX
And makes out the checks

Then came one great day when
Harvey took the elevator
Sheila got in two floors later
Soon they both felt they were falling
Everyone heard Sheila calling
"RING THE BELL"
But they fell
Harv and Sheila fell in love

Harvey and Sheila
Harvey and Sheila
Harvey and Sheila
Chose a wedding ring

Harvey and Sheila
Harvey and Sheila
Harvey and Sheila
Married in the spring

She shopped at A&P
He bought a used MG
They sat and watched TV
On their RCA

Borrowed from HFC
Bought some AT&T
And on election day
Worked for JFK

Then they went and got a
Charge-a-plate from R.H. Macy's
Bought a layette
Pink and lacey
Then they had twin baby girls
Both with dimples
Both with curls
One named Bea
One named Kay
Soon they joined the PTA

Harvey and Sheila
Harvey and Sheila
Harvey and Sheila
Moved to west LA

Harvey and Sheila
Harvey and Sheila
Harvey and Sheila
Flew TWA

They bought a house one day
Financed by FHA
It had a swimming pool
Full of H2O

Traded their used MG
For a new XKE
Switched to the GOP
That's the way things go

Oh, that Harvey, he was
Really smart, he used his noodle
Sheila bought a white French poodle
Went to Europe with a visa
Harvey's rich, they say that he's a
VIP
This could be
Only in the USA

-PJ

[Openurmind]

“If you want to watch porn you need a VPN. Just saying.”

It is not just for that, get real... They are imperative for many businesses and organizations and if you are a Conservative or Christian it is not a bad idea to have one. They are still making lists for the future and Trump is not going to be in there forever. They are still persecuting even though Trump is in there. In fact even more so now.