You might want a VPN on your phone. Here’s how to get started

The internet is increasingly being locked behind identity checks, alarming privacy advocates. VPNs offer more than just a way around them: They keep your personal data out of the hands of third parties—and hackers.

Interest in virtual private networks (VPNs) has surged in America and Europe this year. Countries on both sides of the Atlantic have recently enacted new age-verification laws designed to prevent users from accessing certain websites unless they first confirm their legal identity. Using a VPN can bypass these age checks by making a website think you are in a country that doesn’t require ID verification.