ProtonVPN downloads spiked in 62 countries in 2025 but with VPNs 'more important than ever' the countries responsible weren't all those you'd expect

Date:
Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:21:02 +0000

Description:
ProtonVPN downloads spiked in 2025 across 65 countries worldwide, with shutdowns and censorship driving the surge

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successful An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter VPN usage spiked massively worldwide in 2025 according to Proton VPN's 2025 year end report .

The report found that in the past year, 62 countries have seen spikes in
usage from one of the best VPNs . These spikes reached as high as 35,000% above the previous benchmark. Surprisingly, peaks were not limited to repressive countries, where VPN downloads showed how quickly populations adapted to censorship. Article continues below You may like VPN interest spikes in Uganda as the internet gets disrupted ahead of the general
elections Internet censorship hit 'half the worlds population' in 2025, Surfshark warns and 2026 is already looking grim AI, age verification and censorship: how the VPN industry tackled 2025's biggest issues and what it plans to do next The threat to digital privacy has also expanded elsewhere. Democratic countries have seen several spikes in line with new legislation such as age verification measures, amid growing concerns around surveillance and data protection. The findings Populations under repression are becoming faster and more adept at circumventing restrictive measures, David Peterson, General Manager of ProtonVPN, told TechRadar.

Indeed, the report shows that in many countries, sudden spikes in VPN
activity were to bypass blocks introduced to control access to information.

When the general election in Tanzania in October led to a suspension of internet access, sign-ups for ProtonVPN rose by 2,000%.

In March, Papua New Guinea imposed an internet blackout, calling it a trial aimed at combating disinformation. The result? A surge in VPN usage of over 14,000%.

Afghans reacted similarly when a 24-hour internet blackout was imposed, with ProtonVPN recording a staggering 35,000% surge in sign-ups. The signup surge in Afghanistan was one of the largest seen by Proton VPN in recent times (Image credit: Proton) The bigger picture Elsewhere, however, the rise in cases was driven by concerns about surveillance and political positioning rather than by necessity. What to read next 5 ways VPNs have surprised us
this year Legislation, loopholes, and loose ends what does 2026 hold for the VPN industry? Age verification changed the internet in 2025 here's what it means for your privacy in 2026

In July, the UKs Online Safety Act introduced age verification requiring internet users to provide sensitive data to access certain websites. While people could have simply trusted the process, many turned to VPNs instead.

Sign-ups surged by over 1,200%. The move was fuelled by fears stemming from previous data breaches that disclosed information such as government-issued identity documents and biometric data.

Similarly, the US-China dispute over TikTok, which saw the platform temporarily cease US operations in January, led to a 520% increase.

It seems evident that ProtonVPN won over many users precisely when censorship and surveillance concerns intensified, and as digital awareness continues to rise.

People increasingly see encryption and privacy as basic needs rather than luxuries, often taking proactive steps such as installing multiple VPNs in anticipation of blocks, bans, or political interference, Peterson explains. What the future holds Looking ahead, Peterson expects more surveillance mandates disguised as security measures and more internet shutdowns in autocratic regimes.

Some totalitarian countries, most notably Iran, have already taken extreme measures, he notes.

He warns that globally, a fragmented internet is no longer theoretical. A splinternet exists, with different rules, access, experiences depending on location, and global parity in innovation, human rights, freedom of
expression and access to information has never been further apart.

While digital resilience is growing worldwide, threats to online freedom and privacy are not likely to disappear any time soon. This makes tools like VPNs more critical than ever, he concludes. Proton VPN : up to 65% off (from $3.49/month) Proton VPN has carved out an impressive niche in the VPN sphere thanks to an awesome suite of security tools. Currently, it's offering a massive 65% off on its 2-year subscriptions, cutting the price to $3.49 a month. Pick up one of these plans and you'll also be covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. View Deal



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-services/protonvpn-downloads-spiked-in-62-co untries-in-2025-but-with-vpns-more-important-than-ever-the-countries-responsib le-werent-all-those-youd-expect


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