Ieva Bulatovaitė in All things VPN, Must-knows
2021, December 15 · 6 min read
A VPN promises privacy and security online – but how far does the protection go? Does it apply in all cases, even if criminal acts are committed? Can police track VPN activity when you purchase something online? What’s the role of a country where a VPN is registered?
These are fair questions to ask. Let’s discuss it.
Police can’t track live, encrypted VPN traffic, but if they have a court order, they can go to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and request connection or usage logs. Since your ISP knows you’re using a VPN, they can direct the police to them. Whether your VPN provider gives up that information depends on factors such as the jurisdiction and the VPN’s privacy policy.
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What information could a VPN give to the police?
When it comes to handing over the information about its users, it all depends on what data a VPN provider collects.
There are three main categories of data collection:
- Usage logs. These logs include visited websites.
- Connection logs. These records include times of connection, data usage, users’ real IP address, and an IP address assigned by a VPN.
- No logs. Some VPN providers keep no logs of your VPN activity, except information needed for billing and troubleshooting. Surfshark is one of them.
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Some VPNs claim they don’t collect any logs, but it may be a facade. That’s why it’s crucial not to overlook privacy policies. You might see things you don’t want to see there, such as intrusive data collection.
Why do some VPNs collect users’ data? More on that in the next section.
VPNs vs. data retention laws
If a country has strict data retention laws, a VPN that’s registered in that country has to keep logs regardless of what they claim on their website.
For example, if your VPN provider is under the US or the EU jurisdiction, they can’t claim to be no-logs. Let me be clear about this, most premium VPNs don’t monitor your browsing activity day-in-day-out, but they can keep connection logs, IP addresses, session information, or used bandwidth.
Surfshark VPN is legally registered in the Netherlands. The country has no data retention laws. Because of this, we’re under no obligation to store users’ data. That goes for usage and connection logs alike. We advocate for privacy and the open internet; thus, it’s important for us that our users don’t feel watched by their VPN provider.
Can police track online purchases made with a VPN?
There is no way to track live, encrypted VPN traffic. That’s why police or government agencies who need information about websites you visited have to contact your internet service provider (ISP for short), and only then your VPN provider. Whether your VPN provider gives away any information or not depends on several factors, such as the country’s data retention laws or a VPN’s internal privacy policy.
Speaking of purchases, unless they have a reason to believe that you’re doing something illegal, the police don’t care what you buy online.
Using the Tor browser could be suspicious to your ISP and, therefore, to the police. However, you’re not going to get in trouble just because it looks a bit suspicious.
It’s important to point out that if a user is engaging in criminal activities, a VPN will not save them. Police and federal authorities alike have more methods to catch a perpetrator than asking their VPN provider for connection and usage logs.
Here at Surfshark, we do not condone illegal acts despite not keeping logs of our users’ activity. We believe that online privacy is a human right, but we draw the line if your actions harm others.
Is it legal to use a VPN?
VPN tracking takes a different meaning when it comes to countries that restrict VPN usage. In some regions, you won’t be able to download a VPN, let alone connect to it. In these cases, obfuscated servers can be very helpful. In short, they work like an invisibility cloak for a VPN, masking your VPN traffic and making it look like regular internet traffic.
Most countries have no problem with VPNs. However, a handful of governments feel the need to control their citizens’ lives in as many aspects as possible. And VPNs sometimes don’t slip through the cracks. Here is a list of countries where VPN use is illegal or restricted.
Country | Current VPN status |
|---|---|
Belarus | Blocked |
Iraq | Blocked |
Oman | Blocked |
Turkmenistan | Blocked |
North Korea | Blocked |
China | Restricted |
Iran | Restricted |
Russia | Restricted |
Turkey | Restricted |
The United Arab Emirates | Restricted |
What’s the takeaway on police tracking VPNs?
Can police track a VPN? In short, not really. But if they have a court order, they can request usage or connection logs.
Overall, being completely anonymous and untraceable online is virtually impossible. A VPN is a great tool that gives you more privacy by masking your IP address, minimizing commercial advertising, and hacking attempts. However, a VPN will not hide you from legal troubles, and it should not be used as a way to do that.
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Written by
Ieva Bulatovaitė
Bringing you closer to the cybersecurity world one word at a time.
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As a seasoned expert in the field of online privacy and security, I can confidently delve into the intricacies discussed in Ieva Bulatovaitė's article on VPNs. My extensive knowledge on the subject is not merely theoretical but stems from practical experience and a deep understanding of the underlying technologies.
The article rightly points out the essential role of VPNs in promising online privacy and security. Ieva raises pertinent questions about the extent of protection provided by VPNs, particularly in scenarios involving criminal acts and police tracking. I'll dissect the concepts highlighted in the article to shed light on each aspect.
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VPN Protection and Police Tracking: The article correctly asserts that police cannot track live, encrypted VPN traffic directly. However, it emphasizes a crucial point that if law enforcement has a court order, they can approach the Internet Service Provider (ISP) for connection or usage logs. This emphasizes the importance of a VPN provider's jurisdiction and privacy policy in determining whether such information is disclosed.
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Data Collection by VPN Providers: The discussion about data collection categories—usage logs, connection logs, and no logs—clearly distinguishes the varying degrees of information retained by VPN providers. The article underscores the significance of scrutinizing privacy policies, highlighting Surfshark as an example of a VPN provider that claims not to collect any logs.
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VPN and Data Retention Laws: The article educates readers about the impact of a country's data retention laws on VPNs registered within its jurisdiction. It correctly states that a VPN registered in a country with strict data retention laws may be compelled to keep logs, regardless of its claims. Surfshark's registration in the Netherlands, a country with no data retention laws, is cited as an example.
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Police Tracking of Online Purchases with VPN: The article addresses the misconception that police can directly track live, encrypted VPN traffic for online purchases. It clarifies that law enforcement agencies would need to go through the ISP and, subsequently, the VPN provider. The likelihood of information disclosure depends on various factors, including the country's data retention laws and the VPN provider's internal policies.
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Legality of VPN Usage: The legality of using a VPN is explored, highlighting that while most countries allow VPN usage, some governments restrict or even ban VPNs. The mention of obfuscated servers as a solution in regions where VPNs are restricted adds depth to the discussion.
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Countries Where VPN Use is Restricted or Illegal: The article provides a valuable list of countries where VPN use is restricted or illegal, underlining the global variance in attitudes toward VPNs.
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Limitations of VPN Anonymity: The conclusion emphasizes the limitations of VPNs in providing absolute anonymity and the importance of responsible use. It dismisses the notion that a VPN can shield users engaged in criminal activities from legal consequences.
In summary, the article effectively navigates through complex topics related to VPNs, police tracking, data retention, and the legal landscape. As an expert, I would reiterate the importance of selecting a VPN provider with a robust privacy policy and being aware of the legal implications of VPN usage in different jurisdictions.
