Your browsing history is private — your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can see every site you visit.

That includes the websites that you visit, how long you spend on those sites, the files you download, unencrypted passwords, and even your location... the list goes on. That's a lot of personal information, and you might not want your broadband supplier keeping a log of all of that.

If you're looking to keep your browsing history — and everything else — to yourself, you're not alone.

Now, more than ever, Britons are looking to encryption via Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to go about their daily routine without an extra pair of eyes tracking their movements. and enable the military-grade encryption since the UK Government introduced its long-awaited on July 25, 2025— adding strict age verification barriers to popular websites, forums, and social media services.

Any firms that fail to comply with the Online Safety Act could face a large fine or even be banned from the UK altogether.

Ahead of the new rules, research commissioned by regulator Ofcom showed that over 7 in 10 (71%) people in the UK felt the measures would make a positive impact on the safety of children online. Created in partnership with parents, children, and experts in the field, the Online Safety Act is designed to stop those under 18 from accessing adult material.

Websites, mobile apps, and streaming services that host adult material must implement robust age checks to block those under 18 from accessing inappropriate content. To visit a website that hosts content that needs to be protected by the new age checks, you'll need to verify your age by entering your credit card details, providing a facial scan so the AI can estimate your age, taking a photo of your passport, and other approved methods.

SORA | GB NEWS

Understandably, Britons are a little cautious about these strict new checks, with so many turning to VPNs instead of sharing a facial scan or a photo of their passport with the verification system on your favourite website.

This has placed a spotlight on online privacy again, with Britons turning to VPNs — once typically only found on work-issued laptops — for their personal gadgets to keep browsing data, facial scans, downloads, and everything else encrypted and locked-away from prying eyes.

Aside from the tough new age checks implemented across the web in the UK as part of the Online Safety Act, the broadband supplier that powers your Wi-Fi network can see the following:

You're probably wondering — why would an ISP even want to track all of this data?

Innocently, these telecom brands collect the data in a bid to improve user experience. By learning about the type of websites, the time of day you head online, the amount of time spent visiting websites and streaming serrvices, they can improve the reliability of their service.

The other reasons they want to track you behind the scenes include:

1. Select countries and regions must comply with data retention laws, meaning they need to collect customer data for a specific period. This data is then used when needed to investigate criminal activities, terrorists, or when cooperating with the police
   
2. ISPs can profit by selling your data, but only if you give them consent. Online marketers typically buy up the data so that they can target you in ad campaigns on the sites you visit
   
3. They can mess with your connection speeds if you're using too much bandwidth in your online activities. This is to regulate online congestion speeds so there are no interuptions to your browsing
   
4. ISPs can implement restrictions if they find you're dabbling in illegal or age-restricted sites. This is to ensure Ofcom, the UK's regulator, complies with regulations.

SURFSHARK PRESS OFFICE | VPNs work by encrypting all of your online traffic before it's sent over the internet. This prevents your ISP, advertisers, hackers, and fraudsters from tracking your online activity, stealing your personal data, or placing restrictions on you

Enlisting the help of a VPN is a sure-fire way for Britons to avoid handing over this data to your broadband firm.

VPNs work by creating an encrypted tunnel for all of your online traffic. When you activate a VPN, any data transmitted between your device and the website or online service is routed via the provider's servers.

The encryption scrambles your data into an unreadable format, preventing third parties from monitoring your activity. It stops advertisers, broadband providers, and Governments from checking what you've been up to online.

Heading online without a VPN is a little like sending a postcard, with your personal message easily visible on the back as it makes its way to the intended recipient through the Royal Mail system.

But with a VPN enabled, the postcard is placed inside multiple envelopes and packages (really stretching the metaphor here, I know...) so the message on the back is hidden from everyone as it makes its way to its final destination.

But be careful — not all VPNs are created equally.

There are risks associated when downloading an unvetted VPN, especially one that offers access to all encryption without charging you a subscription. If you're considering a free service without paid tiers or restrictions, you should question their revenue source.

Certain VPN brands have faced regulatory complaints over the years for sharing personally identifiable data with advertisers, whilst others lack transparent privacy policies or physical addresses.

If you're looking to invest in a VPN yourself, there are several deals that you can dip into this week.

If you're looking for the most affordable monthly VPN subscription, look no further than this Surfshark deal. For a limited time, . You'll need to sign up for a two-year plan to unlock this saying, but with a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 customer service, there's no risk for new customers

For a limited time, newcomers to NordVPN will be treated to to spend on anything they want from the online superstore. If you switch to , the award-winning VPN provider will send-out a £20 Gift Card. But that's supercharged to £50 when you upgrade to . The latest deals are limited to the two-year plans, which all arrive with

ExpressVPN has . If you sign up for a 12-month plan, you'll be gifted with a . ExpressVPN includes a number of advanced features, like a password manager, that cost extra with rival providers. ExpressVPN accepts a variety of payment types, including Apple Pay and Google Pay for speedy checkout

CyberGhost has cut its monthly subscription by 82%. If you sign up for a 24-month plan, you'll be gifted with 2 months of access to the award-winning VPN service for free. CyberGhost has one of the longest money-back guarantee period, with a generous 45 days to decide whether you want to stick with your new VPN subscription

Is it legal to use a VPN?

Let's set the record straight — using a VPN to safeguard your data online is not a legal offence.

If you've been issued a company laptop to work remotely, the IT department will likely require you to use a VPN before you start a shift. Needless to say, this isn't against the law.

But while VPNs were once solely used in enterprise and government spheres, these apps are becoming increasingly popular with people across the world to improve personal online security. As all of us rely on the internet for more and more of our daily lives, VPNs are an essential way to enhance privacy, block advertisers from tracking your movements, unlock streaming TV shows and sports coverage, and even find cheaper flights.

VPNs are illegal in 10 countries:

If you're currently based in any of these nations or plan on visiting one soon, consider uninstalling any VPN apps from your devices. Outside of these countries, VPNs are legal and can be used without restrictions.

But while it might be legal, it's worth noting that using a VPN might be against the Terms Of Service of some websites or mobile apps, so it's always worth checking the T&Cs to make sure you're in the clear.