5 ways VPNs have surprised us this year

5 ways VPNs have surprised us this year Features (Image credit: Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images) Sam Dawson published Looking back at a year of innovation Demand for today's best VPNs is bigger than ever, and it’s not surprising when you consider how the internet’s changing. Age verification requirements are rolling out across the UK, and the EU isn’t 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. We’re keeping a close eye on these developments and the corresponding uptick in VPN usage, but it’s not all bad news. We’ve also seen the VPN industry evolve to keep up with the threats to your privacy, and along the way we’ve 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. It’s the point at which quantum computing becomes powerful enough to break current encryption methods. While that day hasn’t 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 isn’t here yet, preparing for it is essential. Wondering which VPNs we recommend trusting with all your digital details? Check out our secure VPN rankings . That’s why we’re 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 Apple’s 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 it’s good to see that ExpressVPN is keeping up with the best practices for post-quantum encryption. While ExpressVPN’s 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 hasn’t 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...

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