The Wirecutter Show: You Should Be Traveling with a VPN

Hosted by Christine Cyr Clisset and Kyra Blackwell, The Wirecutter Show delves into the essential tools that enhance everyday life through expert advice and thorough product testing. In the June 2, 2025 episode titled "You Should Be Traveling with a VPN," the hosts explore the significance of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for travelers, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of their benefits, limitations, and practical applications.

Understanding VPNs

Kickstarting the discussion, Kyra Blackwell introduces Max Eddy, a seasoned Wirecutter staff writer specializing in privacy and security, to demystify VPNs for the audience.

Kyra Blackwell [02:50]: "Could you tell us what exactly is a VPN? Explain it to me like I'm five."

Max Eddy elaborates:

Max Eddy [02:58]: "A VPN is a service you subscribe to, install an app for on your device, and it routes all your internet traffic through an encrypted connection to a server operated by the VPN company. This encryption protects your privacy by preventing your Internet service provider or any eavesdroppers from seeing your online activities."

Why Use a VPN?

The conversation shifts to the practical reasons one might consider using a VPN.

Max Eddy [04:48]: "A VPN can help improve your online privacy in a couple of different ways. Advertisers will have a harder time tracking you, and your ISP can't see what you're doing. When you're traveling, it means you can sometimes use streaming services or websites as if you were still at home."

Kyra adds a relatable example:

Kyra Blackwell [05:03]: "If I'm in Canada and you usually can't use HBO Max somewhere, then if you have a VPN located in New York, you can still use HBO Max."

Limitations of VPNs

Despite their advantages, VPNs aren't universally adopted due to certain drawbacks.

Max Eddy [05:20]: "Most of your traffic is already encrypted, and you have to pay for a VPN, which means another subscription on top of your Internet service provider subscription. Additionally, VPNs can slow down your Internet connection, especially if you're connecting to a server that's geographically distant."

Who Should Use a VPN: At Home and Abroad

Max delineates scenarios where VPNs are particularly beneficial.

At Home:

• Privacy Protection: Preventing ISPs from monitoring and selling your data.
• Reducing Ad Tracking: Limiting exposure to online advertisers.
• Accessing Region-Locked Content: Using streaming services or websites restricted to specific regions.

Abroad:

• Peace of Mind: Especially in areas with restrictive internet laws or surveillance.
• Accessing Home Services: Continuing to use streaming platforms or banking services as if you were in your home country.

Max Eddy [07:45]: "Anyone who's in a position where they might be targeted by a repressive government, a minoritized person, a journalist, or an activist should use VPNs. For example, students in Shanghai are required to use VPNs to bypass government censorship and surveillance."

Selecting the Right VPN

When considering a VPN, several key factors should influence your decision:

1. Transparency and Privacy Policies:

   • Commitment to not logging user data.
   • Clear explanations of data collection and protection measures.
   • Max Eddy [08:26]: "The most important thing I look at with VPNs is their commitment to transparency. A VPN could monitor its servers and see all the traffic that all of its users are accessing, and that's not good."

2. Third-Party Audits:

   • Recent independent evaluations to verify security claims.

3. Transparency Reports:

   • Insights into how the VPN handles law enforcement requests.

4. Avoiding Fear-Based Marketing:

   • Selecting services that provide factual information without unnecessary alarmism.

Max Eddy [09:30]: "Companies that try to convince you that you need this to survive, we don't think that's fair."

Top VPN Recommendations

The episode highlights specific VPNs that stood out during Wirecutter’s testing:

1. Mullvad VPN:

   • Affordability: Approximately $5 per month.
   • Privacy-Friendly: Requires minimal personal information.
   • Limitation: Only offers servers in 50 countries.

   Max Eddy [09:45]: "Mullvad VPN is a great choice for affordability. It's only $5 a month and doesn't require you to reveal much personal information when you sign up."

2. IVPN:

   • Ideal for Travelers: Offers low-cost, short-term subscriptions (e.g., a week for $2).
   • Ease of Use: Simple sign-up process without extensive personal information.

   Max Eddy [10:20]: "IVPN is cheap, easy to use, and great for traveling because they offer very low-cost, short-term subscriptions."

Testing VPNs: Methodology and Insights

Max explains the rigorous testing process undertaken to evaluate various VPN services:

Max Eddy [12:21]: "We had volunteers from Wirecutter staff test VPNs from different locations—rural areas, big cities, and mid-sized cities across the country. This highlighted that your location and personal situation greatly impact VPN performance."

The findings emphasized the importance of selecting a VPN based on individual needs and geographic factors.

Managing VPN Usage Post-Travel

After using a VPN for travel, it’s crucial to manage its usage effectively to maintain optimal internet speeds and security.

Max Eddy [13:52]: "If you no longer need a VPN, you should turn it off, uninstall it, and cancel your subscription. VPNs can impact your Internet speeds by adding more distance to your connection."

Additional Security Measures

Beyond VPNs, Max Eddy advocates for a multi-layered approach to online security:

• Password Managers: To generate and store strong, unique passwords.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adds an extra layer of security even if passwords are compromised.

Max Eddy [15:27]: "In a perfect world, you should have a password manager, Two-Factor Authentication, and a VPN when you're traveling abroad."

Conclusion

The episode underscores the importance of VPNs for travelers seeking enhanced privacy and access to home-based services abroad. Max Eddy's expert insights guide listeners through selecting reliable VPN services, understanding their limitations, and integrating them into a broader security strategy. For more detailed recommendations and Wirecutter’s comprehensive VPN guide, listeners are encouraged to visit the Wirecutter website.

Notable Quotes:

• Max Eddy [02:58]: "A VPN is a service you subscribe to, install an app for on your device, and it routes all your internet traffic through an encrypted connection."

• Kyra Blackwell [05:03]: "If I'm in Canada and you usually can't use HBO Max somewhere, then if you have a VPN located in New York, you can still use HBO Max."

• Max Eddy [08:26]: "The most important thing I look at with VPNs is their commitment to transparency."

• Max Eddy [15:27]: "In a perfect world, you should have a password manager, Two-Factor Authentication, and a VPN when you're traveling abroad."

For Further Information:

To explore Wirecutter's detailed coverage on VPNs and access the specific recommendations discussed in this episode, visit Wirecutter's website.