I don’t use a VPN, my home computers are all hardwired and I don’t do internet on my phone, and I don’t have any internet secrets related to searches, so the trade-offs aren’t worth the bother to me.
I have free proton VPN but rarely use it. Mostly to get past a newspaper paywall. Proton email is very good and encrypted, as you know. I never do internet on my phone. It is mad how people do banking on their phone. Way too vulnerable. But I do banking on my main computer, a desktop with a 24" Led monitor. Hardwired!
I have laptops too. Use wifi with them. My faves are HP 17.3 / all run Windows 11 and i5 CPUs. But one older Dell Ryzen 5 - 2500u/ 15.6" that used to run hot. With Windows 11 it no longer does. Amazing! _________ If you need an inexpensive 17.3" HP just ask. I know everything about them. I open them up and install NVMe drives