Virtual private networks, or VPNs, first emerged in the 1990s as a way for employees to securely log in to their office computer from home. Now, VPN providers market them to people looking to protect their web searches, location, and personal data from advertisers and other prying eyes. They’re used for everything from streaming television shows to accessing websites blocked by authoritarian regimes. Bloomberg reporter Austin Carr joins this episode to talk about whether VPNs can live up to their promise to keep your online data safe and private. 

Read more: VPNs Are Going Mainstream, and So Are Their Trust Issues

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