Should you use a VPN in 2026?

🔒 This video is sponsored by NordVPN (#ad). Get the exclusive NordVPN deal + 4 EXTRA months here 👉 https://nordvpn.com/networkchuck — it's completely risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee! So… do you REALLY need a VPN? I got sponsored by a VPN to make this video — which means I have to be EXTRA harsh to keep any shred of dignity. So I busted 6 of the biggest VPN myths, no sugarcoating, and by the end you'll know exactly what a VPN is actually good for, what it's NOT, and why I still use one every single day. In this video, you'll learn what a VPN actually does (it just changes what network you appear to be on), why "HTTPS already encrypts everything" doesn't mean a VPN is useless, and how your ISP can still see the sites you visit even with secure DNS — I prove it with a live Wireshark capture. We get into what "no-logs" really means and how to verify a provider you can actually trust (RAM-only servers, independent audits, jurisdiction), why a VPN can NOT make you invisible (cookies, logins, and browser fingerprinting still own you), and where a VPN genuinely shines: the metadata it hides, the dedicated IP that protects you from DDoS and swatting, and the all-in-one security stuff NordVPN bolted on top — phishing/malware blocking and the Hijacked Session Alert that watches the dark web for your stolen login cookies. Whether you're a security practitioner who walked in expecting a shill, or just someone wondering if you should even turn one on — this is an honest, decide-for-yourself breakdown. Grade me in the comments. 1 to 10. Be nice. (Okay… be honest.) 🎓 Join the NetworkChuck Academy!: https://ntck.co/NCAcademy RESOURCES / LINKS: 🔒 Exclusive NordVPN deal (+4 months, 30-day guarantee): https://nordvpn.com/networkchuck 📺 David Bombal — what your ISP can REALLY see (SNI / DNS over HTTPS): https://www.youtube.com/@davidbombal 🌐 EFF "Cover Your Tracks" — test your own browser fingerprint: https://coveryourtracks.eff.org 🌐 What's My IP — see what your IP gives away: https://whatismyipaddress.com 🛠️ Wireshark (the packet sniffer from the demo): https://www.wireshark.org 🐉 Kali Linux: https://www.kali.org TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Are VPNs actually useless? (and why I have to be brutally honest) 1:13 - Myth 1: HTTPS already encrypts everything, so a VPN does nothing 6:15 - Myth 2: a VPN just shifts your trust to the VPN company 7:57 - Myth 3: a VPN makes you invisible online 9:10 - Myth 4: a VPN keeps you safe from hackers 11:08 - Myth 5: a VPN is just a privacy thing 12:40 - Myth 6: normal people don't need a VPN 13:47 - The verdict: what a VPN is actually good for 14:48 - A prayer for you FEATURING: 👤 David Bombal (networking + cybersecurity educator): https://x.com/davidbombal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@davidbombal **Sponsored by NordVPN SUPPORT NETWORKCHUCK: ☕☕ COFFEE and MERCH: https://ntck.co/coffee READY TO LEARN?? 🔥🔥Join the NetworkChuck Academy!: https://ntck.co/NCAcademy 📚 CCNA Course: https://ntck.co/ccna FOLLOW ME EVERYWHERE: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/networkchuck/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/networkchuck Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NetworkChuck/ Join the Discord server: https://ntck.co/discord Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. #VPN #cybersecurity #networkchuck