Around a quarter to a third of Australians use a VPN, with recent surveys from early 2024 showing usage around 27% to 32%, a significant jump from previous years, driven largely by younger, tech-savvy individuals seeking online privacy and security, though many still opt for less secure free services.
VPN Usage: Consumers vs Business
According to auDa 2024 report, 27% of Australian consumers and 36% of small businesses use VPNs.
Yes, using a VPN is completely legal in Australia for privacy, security, and accessing geo-restricted content, but it doesn't make illegal activities like downloading copyrighted material or hacking lawful. While the VPN itself is legal, users are still bound by Australian laws, so any unlawful actions performed while using a VPN remain illegal.
Yes, a VPN is generally worth it in Australia for enhancing online privacy, securing public Wi-Fi, bypassing geo-restrictions for content, and preventing ISP throttling, though you need a reputable paid service for best results, considering potential speed drops and choosing providers with strong no-log policies.
It's estimated that over 1.75 billion people use VPNs — that's about one-third of all internet users worldwide and a fifth of the world's population (as of May 2025)! However, these numbers are approximate, as they only account for countries where VPN market penetration is above 10%.
It depends on your usage habits — if you use your laptop for remote working, accessing public Wi-Fi, or want to access content on the go, then you do need a VPN to boost your network security, enhance your privacy, and ensure accessibility.
No, Netflix doesn't ban you for using a VPN. However, it will try to block the VPN IP addresses you use to bypass geo-restricted libraries.
A VPN might reduce your connection speed even if your internet service provider isn't throttling your speed; Using a VPN on mobile will increase your mobile data usage; Some apps may require your IP to come from your country of residence. This is particularly common with banking apps.
No, using a VPN for Netflix isn't illegal in Australia, as VPNs themselves are legal, but it violates Netflix's Terms of Service, meaning they can block your access or even terminate your account, though it's not a legal issue like piracy. You'll likely just see content available globally, not another country's catalog, as Netflix actively blocks VPNs to respect licensing deals.
The good news is that there is almost no way to track live, encrypted VPN traffic. Law enforcement can only obtain data, if available, about websites visited and so on. Otherwise, hackers and snooping government agencies are generally blocked by the fact that the data is encrypted.
Law enforcement and VPN tracking
Law enforcement can't see what you're doing through a VPN unless they gain access to the VPN's metadata. If the VPN provider logs your activity, authorities can request or compel them to hand it over. Some VPNs cooperate voluntarily.
For the best VPN in Australia, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark are consistently top-rated for speed, security, streaming, and value, with NordVPN often cited as the overall best for its features and server count, while ExpressVPN excels in speed and reliability, and Surfshark offers great value for multiple devices, though Proton VPN is also highly praised for privacy.
Online banking interactions are now a matter of digital information exchanges, abstract data flows that we cannot see but that cyber-criminals know how to track, intercept and interfere with. Using a VPN for online banking is a smart choice because it adds another layer of encryption to all your online activities.
Using a VPN is legal in Australia. In other countries, you should always follow local laws when it comes to using the internet. Even if a VPN says it protects you on public Wi-Fi, it's still possible for others to see or steal your personal information.
Perhaps to little surprise, VPNs are most used in countries with strict internet restrictions, particularly in Arab countries like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
VPNs enhance online privacy by encrypting traffic and masking IP addresses but cannot prevent all tracking methods like cookies, malware, or digital fingerprinting. Techniques such as DNS leaks, IP leaks, and logging into personal accounts can expose user activity even when using a VPN.
Can Netflix detect a VPN? Yes, Netflix can identify if you're using a VPN. However, there are several VPN services that have optimized servers that will go undetected by Netflix.
All online activity leaves a trail — but a VPN can make some of your digital footprints virtually untraceable by hiding your IP address, location, browsing history, and even the files you download, giving you true digital privacy. The best VPNs can even hide the fact that you're using one.
It can't prevent cookie tracking, viruses, or malware, and it can't protect against phishing scams. Data leaks could occur. But most pivotally, a VPN is only as secure as the company that runs it. A VPN provider that uses out-of-date protocols, leaks IPs, and logs your data isn't one you can trust.
Yes, you should leave your VPN on all the time. VPNs offer the best online security, so keeping it on will protect you against data leaks and cyberattacks, especially while you're using public Wi-Fi. It can also safeguard against intrusive snoopers such as ISPs or advertisers. Always use a VPN when you go online.
A VPN helps prevent ISP throttling by encrypting your internet traffic and masking your online activity. Since your ISP can no longer see what sites or services you're using, it becomes much harder to target your connection based on your activity, helping to ensure a smoother and more reliable online experience.
How do I change my Netflix region on my TV? To change your Netflix region on your TV, you need to find a VPN that's compatible with your TV, be it Chromecast, Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, or another service. Once you have signed up for and downloaded the VPN, log in and connect to another country's server.
VPN services have blocks of IPs. Netflix can easily compare your IP (the public facing IP of a VPN) to this list.
Are VPNs legal to use? Yes, VPNs are legal in most countries around the world, including the US, Canada, and most of Europe. However, you might risk heavy fines or even imprisonment for using a VPN in a country that bans it, for example, North Korea or Iraq.