[m3nu]

The real problem with VPNs is that they are sold as a full privacy and security solution to people who don't understand what's going on technically.

There are some legitimate reasons to use a VPN. Those are far fewer than the marketing claims of those companies. What I've seen over time:

* hide your IP from the service you're using (related to geoblocking)

* get around limitations of your ISP (blocked ports or throttling, torrenting)

* hide traffic/service you use from your ISP/government (China, UAE, Iran)

* get around bad routing of your ISP

[mr_toad]

A large number of free VPN users seem to be students, using them to get around their schools blocking access to Facebook etc.