> Canonical HTML: https://www.vpnhive.com/category/privacy-basics/

# Privacy basics

Practical VPN advice, privacy explainers and the news that matters.

## [Make a Simple Privacy Plan Before Choosing a VPN](https://www.vpnhive.com/blog/personal-privacy-threat-model-vpn/)

Choose one thing you want to protect and one person or organization you want to protect it from. That is enough to make a useful first privacy decision.

## [Managed Laptop VPN Privacy Limits: Start With the Device and Its Access Boundaries](https://www.vpnhive.com/blog/managed-laptop-vpn-privacy-limits/)

A personal VPN does not remove management software or employer access from a work laptop. Start with the device's ownership and policy.

## [Lost or Stolen Device? Start by Protecting Your Accounts](https://www.vpnhive.com/blog/vpn-stolen-device-local-data-privacy/)

If a device is missing, a VPN is not the recovery tool. Start with the platform's lost-device controls and protect your important accounts.

## [What Your Internet Provider Can See—and What You Can Do About It](https://www.vpnhive.com/blog/what-can-isp-see-encrypted-traffic/)

HTTPS hides page contents in transit, but connection metadata can remain visible. A VPN changes part of the route; it does not erase account logins or cookies.

## [DNS over HTTPS vs VPN: Why Encrypted DNS Is Not a VPN Replacement](https://www.vpnhive.com/blog/dns-over-https-vs-vpn/)

DNS over HTTPS encrypts DNS lookups to a resolver. A VPN can route more traffic through its tunnel. They are not interchangeable switches.

## [Incognito vs VPN Privacy: What Each Protects on a Shared Computer](https://www.vpnhive.com/blog/incognito-vs-vpn-privacy/)

Private browsing limits some browser traces after the session ends. A VPN changes the network route. Neither makes a shared computer automatically private.