5 ways VPNs have surprised us this year

Date:
Wed, 24 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Description:
Looking back at a year of innovation

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Demand for today's best VPNs is bigger than ever, and its not surprising when you consider how the internets changing. Age verification requirements are rolling out across the UK, and the EU isnt far behind, digital surveillance
is an ever-present fact of life, even trying to watch your favourite shows will lead you into a battle with geo-blocks sooner or later.

Were keeping a close eye on these developments and the corresponding uptick
in VPN usage, but its not all bad news.

Weve also seen the VPN industry evolve to keep up with the threats to your privacy, and along the way weve encountered a few pleasant surprises (as well as one not-so-pleasant surprise). From forward-thinking security upgrades to
a concerning trend in how malicious free VPNs are flooding app stores, here are five VPN developments that have caught our attention in 2025. 1. Quick adoption of PQE

The threat of Q-Day has been looming over the VPN industry for the last few years. Its the point at which quantum computing becomes powerful enough to break current encryption methods.

While that day hasnt arrived yet, the threat of harvest now, decrypt later attacks means that any data encrypted using current standards is vulnerable
to future quantum-based decryption. So, even if Q-Day isnt here yet,
preparing for it is essential. Who can you trust? (Image credit: Getty
Images) Wondering which VPNs we recommend trusting with all your digital details? Check out our secure VPN rankings .

Thats why were pleased to see that some of the best VPNs have already become early adopters of post-quantum encryption. NordVPN launched its own quantum-resistant upgrade for the NordLynx protocol in May 2025, which works across all of its apps, including Android TV and Apples tvOS.

ExpressVPN has also accelerated its post-quantum encryption implementation , switching from the Kyber algorithm to ML-KEM in January 2025. ML-KEM is
backed by the National Institute for Science and Technology, so its good to see that ExpressVPN is keeping up with the best practices for post-quantum encryption.

While ExpressVPNs work has focused primarily on upgrading the proprietary Lightway protocol , it also updated its WireGuard implementation with post-quantum encryption in August 2025. 2. ExpressVPN prioritizes affordability

ExpressVPN hasnt just been busy upgrading its protocols. It also announced a restructured pricing strategy in September 2025. We welcome this move, given that ExpressVPN had previously made a name for itself as a luxe, but pricey, option.

ExpressVPN now offers a tiered pricing structure . Select from a Basic, Advanced, or Pro package, and choose the plan duration: a month, a year, or two years.

The Basic plan protects ten devices simultaneously, while the Advanced plan offers an extra password manager and more advanced ad-blocking options alongside phishing protection. The Pro plan bumps the number of devices you can protect simultaneously to fourteen and also adds a dedicated IP.

If you buy the ExpressVPN plan for two years on Basic coverage, youll only
pay $3.49 a month. While thats still a little more than youd pay for
Surfshark or Private Internet Access during the same period, its nice to see that ExpressVPN is giving users a cheaper option. As usual, all of
ExpressVPNs plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. 3. Norton VPN steps up to the plate

Norton is well known for its antivirus software, but this year the companys been investing heavily in its VPN product. After several significant
upgrades, Norton VPN is edging steadily closer towards taking on the top players in the VPN industry.

First up, Norton VPN now offers 25 Gbps servers in key international locations, including New York, Chicago, London, and Tokyo. There are also
five new P2P-optimized cities to choose from, alongside new virtual locations in India and a new server in Berlin.

Norton VPN is edging steadily closer towards taking on the top players in the VPN industry.

As far as protocols go, Norton now offers OpenVPN in both UDP and TCP. The Windows implementation of OpenVPN has also received a speed upgrade by integrating Data Channel Offload, which it claims can double connection
speeds and reduce latency by 15%.

Norton VPN also commissioned an audit of its proprietary, quantum-resistant Mimic protocol from VerSprite alongside a no-logs audit. While the no-logs audit shows that Nortons service doesnt collect logs, were yet to see the results of the Mimic audit, but were keenly waiting to see VerSprites
verdict.

Well continue to keep an eye on Norton VPN going into 2026, as we suspect Nortons nowhere near finished with improving its VPN product. 4. Non-stop innovations

If youve ever used a top-tier VPN, youll be aware that VPN subscriptions come with more features than just data encryption and location spoofing. Theyre built to enhance your privacy and security across the board with anti-virus tools, password managers, and ad-blockers all bundled into a single package.

Weve seen that some providers have gone a step further this year and
delivered on unique features that turn VPN clients into full-on privacy solutions. Shiny new protocols (Image credit: Getty Images) We've put
together a jargon-free run-through of VPN protocols , covering what they are, what they do, and the proprietary options on the market.

For example, NordVPN has made it easier to use its VPN in countries where
ISPs block VPN usage by releasing NordWhisper this year. Its a new protocol designed to bypass VPN blocking by disguising VPN traffic as a regular HTTPS connection.

As for ExpressVPN, it has launched Lightway Turbo , an optimized protocol variant that further improves connection speeds. Its aimed at power users who need the fastest possible VPN connections without sacrificing security.

Surfshark also upgraded its Multi-IP and rotation IP features , which it's calling Nexus, giving you more control over how you appear to websites and online services. The rotating IP feature periodically changes your IP address without disconnecting you from the VPN, making it harder to track your activity between websites.

Meanwhile, Proton VPN expanded split tunneling support to Linux users, which has been long-requested by the privacy-conscious open-source community. 5. Fake VPNs in app store

However, it's not all good news. Weve seen a troubling surge in the number of fake and malicious VPN apps appearing in major app stores throughout 2025. These apps masquerade as an alternative to paid VPNs, but they can put your data at serious risk. At worst, some have been found to have undisclosed ties to authoritarian countries like Russia and China.

Weve previously reported on academic research that revealed hidden
connections between over 20 seemingly independent VPN apps, revealing that they share codebases, infrastructure, and security vulnerabilities. With a combined download count of over 700 million, these apps are giving the
average consumer a false sense of choice.

While you think youre downloading an app that can improve your privacy, the reality is that youre handing over your data to bad actors who are looking to exploit it in any way possible.

We recommend sticking to premium VPs with proven track records where
possible. If youre still looking for a free VPN, check out our free VPN rankings to find a free service that wont put your data at risk.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-services/5-ways-vpns-have-surprised-us-this- year


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