So I am not very informed when it comes to security beyond virus protection and malware but everyone seems to be pushing for the use of VPNs these days. I was told a few years ago that they offer little to no benefit for people at home and are more useful on public networks. Yet at the same time, various people mention how important they are to not only security but privacy. So do they actually make that big of a difference or not?
Under the right circumstances, yes they do. I think they are more valuable than people realize. They add an added level of security and privacy assuming you are using the right VPN service. Some of the bigger name ones you will find being recommended on YouTube all the time will sell your information so you have to be aware of that.
Yes! I would argue they make a massive difference but it depends on which service you use and how you use it. As mentioned, a lot of bigger VPN clients out there do indeed sell your data. You need to look heavily into your options. The only one I trust (for now) is Windscribe.
VPNs encrypt your internet traffic, offer a mask of anonymity, allows you to by-pass geographical restrictions, and protects you from ISP monitoring. All of this combined makes a big difference especially when you self-host your own VPN.