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Does VPN protect you from viruses? How can VPN protect you?

4 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

VPNsare great tools that can secure your connection and protect your online privacy. You can deploy them on a wide variety of devices and enjoy private, secure browsing in no time.

However, a common misconception is that VPNs are universalsecuritytools, likeantiviruseswhich is wrong.

It’s true that a VPN can protect you from various types of cyberthreats, but they are helpless when facing viruses.

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How can a VPN protect you?

A VPN will perform a lot of operations to make sure that your connection is secure.

More so, it will spoof every single bit of data, so that even if someone were to get it, they won’t be able to make anything of it.

Some would even go the distance to implement additional functionality to their service. For instance, you can find VPNs with ad-blockers and even website blockers.

The tool recommended below, for instance, has a feature called MACE, which is a DNS-based ad-blocker. It helps protect you from malicious content by restricting access to ad and malware domains.

Its feature automatically detects and blocks websites that are suspected of hosting phishing scams or malware.

It’s extremely easy to activate the MACE feature. You just need to click on thePrivacytab from the left pane and toggleONthe feature from the right pane just like in the screenshot above.

This is an excellent software to protect your privacy from everyone, even from authorities and your ISP but it will still not be effective against serious threats.

Private Internet Access

Can a VPN protect you from viruses?

Or does a VPN block viruses? To put it shortly, no, there’s no way a regular VPN can protect you from viruses. As long as you’ll use a VPN, your privacy will be safer than not using one.

But when it comes to clicking suspicious email attachments or downloading sketchy files online, a VPN can do nothing to protect you.

It’s your responsibility to check whether the website you’re browsing is trustworthy or not.

More so, you should practice safety measures by always checking everything you download and avoid warez/crack download websites.

If you’re looking to increase your PC’s security by protecting it from viruses, the answer is simple.

Use dedicated antivirus software and forget anything you heard about VPNs protecting you from viruses, as it’s a load of nonsense.

How can I protect my PC from viruses?

1. Use antivirus software that works well with VPN

Someantivirustools, especially firewall-enabled ones, might not work well with VPNs. In fact, they might even impair the latter’s functionality to some degree.

Therefore, you can start looking for software that’s at least compatible with your VPN and won’t try to block its every attempt to secure your connection.

Or you could check out our recommendations for thebest antiviruses to use with VPNon our website.

2. Try antivirus software with free VPN licenses

Someantivirusproviders realized the importance of having a VPN on your home connection. As a result, they started to invest in VPN solutions and embed them in their Internet security bundles.

If you’re looking to improve thesecurityof both your connection and computer at the same time, you can’t go wrong with an antivirus that comes with a VPN.

So, can a VPN stop viruses? All things considered a VPN alone will not help you prevent viruses from wreaking havoc on your PC.

There are some VPNs that offer you extra features such as ad/malware-domain blocking, but that’s as far as it goes.

If you’re looking to protect your PC from viruses, or get rid of them, you should also check ourbest antiviruses with lifetime licenseselection and try some of the products.

They will offer great protection and save you some money in the process. Do you have any questions or suggestions? Leave them in a comment below.

Does VPN protect you from viruses? How can VPN protect you?#

How can a VPN protect you?#

Private Internet Access#

Can a VPN protect you from viruses?#

How can I protect my PC from viruses?#

1. Use antivirus software that works well with VPN#

2. Try antivirus software with free VPN licenses#