Net Neutrality, Cambridge Analytica Scandal Fuel VPN Use

The demise of net neutrality rules and Facebook's recent data privacy scandal have helped at least one group: VPN makers.

New research suggests that both events have prompted consumers to flock to VPN services in an effort to mask their internet activities and protect digital privacy.

Market data from Edison Trends shows that paid subscriptions for VPN services saw spikes on Google Play and Amazon's app store last December, when the FCC voted to repeal Obama-era net neutrality rules.

On Google Play, paid subscriptions for VPNs also peaked starting in late March when the media coverage of the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica controversy made headlines.

The findings were gathered from 2.9 million Americans, who agreed to have their e-receipt data collected and anonymized by Edison Trends for market research.

While the findings can't definitively prove why more people bought VPN services in recent months, both the net neutrality repeal and Facebook's data scandal had to have "at least some influence," Edison Trends told PCMag.

For the uninitiated, VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, and they're designed to help keep your online activities private. To do so, VPN providers essentially route your internet traffic through their servers, preventing ISPs from learning what sites you've been visiting.

The recent net neutrality repeal may have encouraged consumers to pay for VPN services as a way to counter ISPs from meddling with their internet traffic, Edison Trends said. With a VPN in place, the ISP can't see what you're accessing, and so will have to treat all your traffic on an equal basis.

In the case of Facebook, a VPN won't stop the company from learning what you share over the social networking serivce. For that you need to change your privacy settings or consider deleting your account. Nevertheless, the Cambridge Analytica scandal may have gotten people thinking about their digital privacy and what to do to protect it.

Which VPNs have consumers been paying for? Edison Trends found that NordVPN ($3.09 Per Month + 3-Months Free (Up to 69% Off 2-Year Plan) at NordVPN) grew its market share the most in recent months. At PCMag, it's one of our Editors' Choice VPN services.

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