Molloy DSG Professional Digest

Using a VPN or proxy service to conceal illegal activities is a flawed strategy, particularly given the data collection practices of modern operating systems and the advanced tracking capabilities of law enforcement. VPNs today are often marketed as tools for changing your location, masking your IP address, or bypassing geographic restrictions, however relying on them for anonymity creates a false sense of security. Operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Android and all major browsers collect and upload extensive metadata—such as device identifiers, timestamps, sensor data, and network interactions—that can easily reveal patterns of behavior, even if a VPN or proxy is used to mask your IP address.

A proper understanding of VPNs helps explain why they fall short in providing complete anonymity. In enterprise networking, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a tool designed to securely tunnel remote users into private networks over the public internet. The primary function is to encrypt data and establish a secure communication link between the user’s device and the corporate network, not to hide identities or locations. These VPNs ensure that sensitive business data stays protected from unauthorized access. In contrast, consumer VPNs repurpose this technology for more lightweight uses, such as accessing geo-restricted content, without addressing all the complexities of online anonymity.

However the truth of the matter is, a lot of people using these services are using it behind closed doors for either piracy or concealing a habit from their partner, or worse, attempting to access illegal content from jurisdictions where it is legal. The risks of using either tool for illegal activities are significant. Even with encryption, metadata collected by operating systems, apps, and websites can build detailed profiles of user behavior. Law enforcement agencies now can purchase metadata commercially, enabling the correlation of data points from multiple sources to identify individuals. Despite claims of “no-logs” policies, VPN providers can be compelled to turn over information during investigations; agencies typically can get more information via commercial partnerships anyway. While VPNs can enhance privacy for legitimate purposes, they are not designed to provide absolute anonymity. In the context of illegal activities, relying on them is ineffective, given the ease with which modern data collection and tracking systems can undermine such efforts.

Using a work asset for illegal activities can lead to severe personal, legal, and professional consequences. Legal consequences specifically carry a significant risk, because if a business asset is used for illegal activity, this can result in asset seizure, criminal charges, fines, etc, depending on the nature of the offense. If sensitive company data or client information is compromised during the illicit behavior, the company could face lawsuits, loss of customer trust, and reputational damage. The organization may also be subject to audits or investigations, disrupting operations and incurring financial losses. In cases where employees engage in hacking, fraud, accessing illegal content, or other criminal activities using company resources, the company’s infrastructure could be seized as evidence, paralyzing business functions.

In the context of today's technological situation, using a VPN to conceal traffic will only hide your tracks from your ISP and mask your location. VPNs are useful for cryptocurrency operations and avoiding ISP metrics and marketing. The appropriate way to set up a VPN is to deploy a private instance in a datacenter hosted in the same country; this type of configuration will not allow for illegal activity and provides other benefits such as hosting distributed private networks and systems.