VPN Provider

Your Internet Service Provider has the power to see information about the websites and data services you access while using their modem. This is often used to build user profiles for targeted advertising.

While they cannot see the data being transmitted, they can see the servers you connect to. Behind a Virtual Private Network, your ISP can see that you've connected to a remote server but all of your traffic and data is encrypted.

If you're looking for additional privacy from your internet service provider – such as downloading files with qBittorrent or obscuring your AdGuard Home lookups – then a VPN service could be an option. Gluetun can connect individual containers to your VPN allowing you to circumvent geo-restrictions by changing your location – such as a MeTube server that can access Swedish internet content.

Learn more about the advantages of using a VPN provider.

Not all VPN providers are created equal. Your VPN provider has the potential to snoop on data just like your ISP. They may store logs and submit them to law enforcement agencies when asked. If they don't follow industry practice, they may have their databases hacked. Some providers have been implicated in data collectionsfor government surveillance purposes.

Some VPN providers volunteer for third-party audits to ensure consumer privacy. Privacy Guides is a non-profit that educates about personal privacy and independently reviews service providers. They recommend Proton VPN, Mullvad, and IVPN services.