The Tool That Could Keep ISPs From Spying on You

The country now waits for President Trump to put his signature on a bill blocking enforcement of FCC rules meant to keep internet service providers from selling and sharing user data. What people aren't waiting to do, however: freak out about the official loss of much of their privacy online once the bill bucking the Obama-promoted regulations is signed. Vox explains what this decision will mean to the typical American internet user, while Gizmodo takes a more proactive privacy stance, discussing in depth how users can hide their browsing history from ISPs, including via a virtual private network, or VPN. More on this technology from around the web:

• Lifehacker dives into the ins and outs of what a VPN is, the encryption technology behind it, and how it works as a "middleman between you and the internet"; further advantages and drawbacks are explored by Fortune.
• Who's not so sure VPNs are a sure bet to protect your digital privacy: Wired, which notes resorting to using such a system effectively puts "the burden of privacy entirely on consumers."
• If you do decide to spring for your own private network, don't cheap out, TNW advises. Otherwise, you may get exceedingly sluggish service. As a matter of course, those inexpensive versions "suck."
• Interest in VPNs is definitely on the upswing. TorrentFreak looks at the numbers regarding web searches for the term.

(More internet privacy stories.)