VPN Statistics, Facts, and Trends: The modern web is eroding personal privacy at an alarming rate. Huge corporations are selling data for profit. Hackers are stealing information. Governments are spying more than we realize. It’s more important than ever to keep your sensitive information safe. Your life doesn’t have to be an open book. VPN technology can help you keep your private information private.
The world is spreading fast.VPN statistics show that more and more are taking the VPN plunge and protecting their privacy. Check out the stats on internet usage below to learn more about the prevalence of VPNs and the state of internet privacy in 2022.
Check out the stats on internet usage below to learn more about the prevalence of VPNs and the state of internet privacy in 2022.31% of internet users worldwide have used a VPN service. 62% of all VPN users are male. More than 56% of all VPN users access Netflix each month.
You’re not as safe online as you might think. This is where VPN services come in. These tools serve as the last line of protection for most systems making them practically invisible to cyber criminals. In this regard, you must be aware of key VPN software trends and the top reasons for using VPN platforms. These data will help you put into context your need for VPN software and for choosing a particular solution.
Table of Contents
VPN statistics and Facts: The Basics
VPN stands for “virtual private network” a service that helps you stay private online. A VPN establishes a secure encrypted connection between your computer and the Internet providing a private tunnel for your data and communications while you use public networks.VPN technology is widely used in corporate environments.
Virtual Private Network
A virtual private network connects a private network to another public network which allows users to transmit and receive data as if their computers were connected to the private network physically.
- Increased functionality, security, and control of the private network are all advantages of using a VPN
- VPNs are normally used by telecommuting employees to gain access to resources that are not available on the public network
- Although encryption is popular, it is not a requirement of a VPN connection.
A VPN is built by using dedicated circuits or tunneling technologies to construct a virtual point-to-point connection over existing networks.
Why are people using VPNs?
From streaming Netflix to listening to music these statistics show more about the reasons why people are turning to VPNs.
- 50% say they use a VPN for access to better entertainment content.34% say it’s to access social networks and news services.31% say it’s to browse anonymously(The Best VPN)
- 29% of all VPN users access Netflix on a monthly basis.49% of these users are located in Canada and Mexico(VPN Mentor)
- Of those who pay for a VPN,33% are for music downloads,27% are for music streaming services and 27% are for movie or TV streaming(The Best VPN)
- More than 29% of all VPN users access Netflix each month(Global Web Index)
- 12% of internet users admitted to using a VPN to access the dark web with the highest amount coming from India with 26%(VPN Mentor)
- When asked why people use the dark web,39% said it was for anonymity while 26% said it was to bypass restrictions based on their location(VPN Mentor).
How Commercial VPNs Work
A commercial Virtual Private Network is a private service that offers to securely relay your Internet communications via their network. Commercial VPN services use the same principle as a company’s virtual network. The advantage of this is that all of the data you send and receive is hidden from local networks, so it is safer from nearby criminals, untrusted local ISPs, or anyone else spying on your local network.
A VPN may be hosted in a foreign country which is useful both for protecting communications from a local government and bypassing national censorship. The downside is that the traffic is decrypted at the commercial VPN’s end. That means you need to trust the commercial VPN and the country where it is located not to spy on your traffic. The VPN server facilitates secure and private communications between the VPN client and web servers.
A Brief History of VPN Services
VPN technology was first used in 1996 when a Microsoft employee developed the PPTP(Peer to Peer Tunneling Protocol). This protocol was a method of creating a secure network between users by encrypting data and forming a tunnel over a LAN or WAN connection. The protocol created a more secure private connection between a user’s device and the internet. In 1999 the specification was published and in the early 2000s VPNs were primarily associated with and used by businesses.
VPN technology was originally developed only by big companies and organizations for their own goals, and it wasn’t meant for average online users. Companies needed a secure and private method to make communication and file-sharing between different offices possible and to allow employees to access important files remotely without there being any risk of unauthorized users stealing sensitive data.
25 VPN Statistics
Now our little bit of history is ending and let us see the stats themselves and what are say about these VPNs. We will start the collection off with some General VPN statistics and then we will move on to more specific stuff like Business VPN facts. We here gave 25 VPN statistics
General VPN usage statistics
1. How many VPN users are there?
VPN use has been increasing rapidly around the globe although this increase is more drastic in some countries and regions than others. Thanks to the diversity and sheer size of the VPN provider market. It’s difficult to get an exact number of how many people use a VPN globally. However, it’s estimated that out of the 5 billion internet users in the world about 1.2 billion of them are using a VPN as of 2022.
2. What are the main reasons for VPN use in the U.S.?
A US VPN is a super simple way of increasing your online anonymity and as the level of US governmental and third-party surveillance reaches new highs seemingly everyday demand for the best VPN is ever rising.VPNs aren’t just good for staying safer online though. Pick the right US VPN and you’ll be able to tap into Netflix libraries from around the globe as well as region-restricted streaming sites like BBC iPlayer and Crave.
Services that dominate in the US are typically the best overall. you’ll be getting a great product. Accessing geo-blocked US content from Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services as well as major sporting events is a huge reason for using VPNs so it’s well worth picking a provider that has a long history of effective unblocking.
3. Why people aren’t using VPNs?
One reason you may not use a VPN is when gaming or downloading, as a VPN can sometimes slow your connection speed. The other time to pause your VPN is when you want to access content that is only available in your location. With some VPNs, our connection can be slower. Certain websites block VPN users.VPNs are illegal or questionable in certain countries. There’s no way of knowing how well a VPN encrypts your data. Some VPNs log and sell browsing data to third parties and that there are more expensive.
4. How do people around the world use VPNs?
Virtual private networks serve a host of different functions across worldwide web usage from accessing entertainment content and social networks to anonymous browsing.35 percent of desktop respondents said they use VPNs for anonymous browsing and 30 percent use VPNs to access work files and services through IT-approved VPNs.For more information and check out our guide to setting up and using VPNs and take a look at the fastest VPNs we’ve tested.
5. VPN users love streaming entertainment content :
Enjoy Netflix, Hulu and the BBC, and other sites with a VPN.Use a VPN to get the internet you expect, without sacrificing security or privacy. Stream and download your favorite content with unlimited bandwidth. Access your favorite apps securely anywhere even on public Wi-Fi with servers in 94 countries. Bypass content-based throttling, government censorship, and blocking by schools or offices.
6. How often do people use VPNs?
VPNs have a wide range of uses and functions and so it stands to reason that people use them for a variety of reasons. Additionally, the reasons are likely to change depending on the political circumstances of the country that which a particular user resides. However that all began to change in the mid-2010s when the popularity of VPNs began to take off. Here are all the latest VPN usage statistics for 2022. The difference could be chalked up to different usage by country though it could also be caused by the rising use of VPNs.
7. Is VPN popular among different age groups?
Yes, 36% of men use a VPN. Next is the 23-37 age group which has a 36% usage rate. The percentage drops down to 25% with people aged 38 to 55. Finally, 16% of the 56-64 age group use VPN. About 39% of VPN users are between the ages of 16 and 24.
8. How to choose a VPN?
The best VPN for you will depend on your needs and what you want to pay. Free VPN services may not offer all the features you need and some services may offer free service in exchange for access to your data. If VPN providers don’t charge user fees they may pay for their costs through advertising or by gathering and selling your data to third parties like data brokers and marketers.
Choosing the right VPN for you might mean paying for one if you value your online privacy. Remember a VPN gives you the ability and control to add additional layers of online privacy and security to your online activities. It should offer a secure private network that will help keep your personal information safe from cybercriminals and anyone else who might attempt to intercept your data.
9. Which VPN service has the most server locations?
ExpressVPN boasts over 3,000 servers across 94 countries.CyberGhost has 7,000+ servers in slightly fewer countries (91 in total).NordVPN offers over 5,400 servers though spread across just 58 countries. Deciding on the best IP address to use isn’t necessarily straightforward. Much like deciding what clothes you should wear in the morning it all depends on what you’re planning to do. Below we’ve broken this question down into different categories recommending the best VPN locations for internet freedom, fast connections, and unblocking sports or streaming. We’ve also recommended VPN providers to help get you started.
10. Which VPN service has the widest coverage?
ExpressVPN received a CNET Editors Choice Award for best overall VPN. We evaluate VPNs based on their overall performance in three main categories: speed, security, and price. Express isn’t the cheapest but it’s among the fastest and so far is the most secure. This encrypted connection gives you an added layer of security on public Wi-Fi networks as well which is especially important if you ever send or receive sensitive information over the internet.
11. Increased Usage During COVID-19 Pandemic
With the stay-at-home orders, many people had to start working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic sparking an increase in VPN usage. Atlas VPN found that between March 8 and 22 March 2020.VPN usage in the U.S increased by 124 percent. That’s a lot for two weeks. In the same vein data from NordVPN found that VPN usage increased during specific periods in 2020.
For example, when former President Donald Trump announced a TikTok ban the average consumer interest in VPNs increased by 74 percent. Interest also increased when the Olympics were postponed by 78 percent and during the withdrawal of Trump’s travel plan by 55 percent. As the threat of internet censorship and stay-at-home orders increased people found themselves spending more time online using VPNs than ever.
12. Increase your online security with the VPN by Google One
If you want more protection from hackers and online monitoring you can make your connection more secure with a virtual private network (VPN) by Google One. On your device, in the Google One app, you can encrypt your online activity for an extra layer of protection wherever you’re connected. After you turn on the VPN you can
- Shield against hackers on unsecured networks like public Wi-Fi
- Hide your IP address. When you hide your IP address others can’t use your IP address to track your location.
13. How has COVID-19 impacted VPN use among businesses?
Internet service providers (ISPs) worldwide saw a double-digit increase in broadband usage. In the UK, BT claimed network traffic jumped as much as 60% in March. Meanwhile in the US. Comscore reported that in-home data usage surged to nearly 20% in just the first two weeks of March compared to the same period in 2019.
The growth in Internet usage was driven by large-scale adoption of home working, remote teaching, and a shift in media consumption habits. While most industries faced financial difficulties due to COVID-19. Internet streaming platforms have seen record subscriber growth. However, demand for online video content has also led to greater VPN usage.
14. Some organizations are still reluctant to adopt VPNs :
While scouring the internet some mind-numbing figures and stats point out that the adoption of cloud technologies by successful organizations is high and the trend is expected to continue in the upward direction going forward. However every so often one comes across an example of a company that is averse to cloud technologies. Of course, a logical argument is always presented. However as one digs deeper some reasons become apparent. Some of those companies did turn around when they switched to remote work but an entire 71 percent remained skeptical despite moving their work online
15. Will the trend for business VPN usage continue?
According to the same Open VPN or an entire 99 percent of respondents said that even after the pandemic is over and things are back to relative normalcy they expect their companies to keep using VPNs. The study also considers the market’s key dynamics and historical databases as well as its future projections.
16. How much is the virtual private network market worth?
The global virtual private network market reached a value of US$ 31.2 Billion in 2021. Looking forward IMARC Group expects the market to reach a value of US$ 77.8 Billion by 2027 exhibiting a CAGR of 15.60% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic on different end-use industries. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.
17. The biggest acquisitions in the VPN market?
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Virtual Private networks (VPN) estimated at US$44.6 Billion in the year 2022 is projected to reach a revised size of US$77.1 Billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 15.3% over the analysis period. Larger companies buy out other companies all the time so that’s nothing suspicious but Kape’s case is a little on the murky side. As of 2020 Aura is the proud owner of VPN Hotspot Shield and password manager. It also happens to own smaller VPNs like TouchVPN and Betternet through prior acquisitions.
18. Is the VPN market growing
A VPN can be defined as a way to offer secure communication between members of a group through the use of public telecommunication infrastructure, maintaining privacy through the use of a tunneling protocol, and security procedures.VPNs mask users’ internet protocol (IP) addresses so their online actions are virtually untraceable.VPN solutions & services establish secure and encrypted connections to provide greater privacy
19. North America is the largest region for VPN usage
North America accounts for the largest share of the total global VPN market with 35% as of 2021. Considering that 41% of VPN users in the U.S and the U.K reported that they use a VPN at least once a week it’s safe to say that VPN usage has become integrated into general internet usage for many people.
20. Which country uses the VPNs most
Indonesia uses VPNs the most with 55 percent of its residents being VPN users. Indonesia is followed by India where 43 percent of the population uses VPNs and the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and Malaysia.38 percent each according to data from the Global Web Index. Saudi Arabia has the highest number of VPN users in the region with 10 million people using a service of VPN sources which is around 29 percent of its population is done there along.
21. Asia-Pacific region sees highest VPN use growth
Asia Pacific VPN Market size exceeded USD 7 billion in 2020. It is poised to expand at a CAGR of 15% between 2021 and 2027. The development of innovative VPN services by SMEs will boost market expansion. Increasing smartphone users and the adoption of cloud services are fueling the Asia Pacific VPN market growth.
VPN BREACH STATISTICS: 49% of US companies have suffered a data breach.
22. The IPvanish data privacy scandal
IPVanish is very fast on local connections. We recorded an average download speed of 93Mbps on nearby servers. This works out as a speed loss of less than 10%. So it makes it one of the fastest VPNs we’ve ever reviewed. We also found IPVanish to be very reliable and stable. The client connected to the VPN server remarkably quickly sometimes in less than one second.IPvanish is one of the fastest VPNs.
23. Millions of free VPN usage logs leaked :
Free Virtual Private Network service provider Bean VPN has leaked personally identifiable information on millions of its users. Cybersecurity researchers from Cybernews stumbled upon a database with more than 18GB of connection logs generated by the app.
24. Free VPN services leaked 1.2TB of user data :
According to the latest report coming from vpnMentor, seven VPNs (Virtual Private networks)in total have leaked 1.2TB of user information. Here are the details.
Incidents of hacking and data leak are increasing. While we stay at home and spend more time connecting with everyone virtually. The more we stay online the more are hackers trying to attack us and steal our data and money. We recently witnessed the Twitter hack incident which is one of the biggest this year.
Now according to the latest report coming from vpnMentor, seven VPNs in total have leaked 1.2TB of users. We recently witnessed the Twitter hack incident, which is one of the biggest this year. Now according to the latest report coming from vpnMentor, seven VPNs in total have leaked 1.2TB of user information.
25.The NordVPN “Leak”
A vast trove of user data was found on hacking forums in early 2021. The leak included full names, phone numbers, emails, location information, and more. In total, 533 million users were impacted. According to Facebook, the hackers behind the breach took advantage of a security flaw that was fixed back in 2019.
Conclusion
A VPN connection establishes a continuous secure connection between users and the internet. Where the VPN, all your data traffic is routed through a virtual tunnel. If your IP address when you use the internet, making its location invisible to everyone. Whether It is easy to see the benefits of using a VPN. If you’re concerned about data privacy, you should be using a good one around the network cities. I hope you found this blog helpful and if it is so share it with your friends. Follow Publish Square for more blogs like this.
