Do you need a VPN at home? Your internet provider is betting you won’t get one.

October 13, 2026

By Kim Komando

“Kim, I only use Wi-Fi at home. Isn’t a VPN really only for people who travel? Thanks for your shows and newsletters. I really feel like you have all of our backs!” — Joseph in Boston

Joseph, that made my day. (It’s going on the fridge.)

Most people think a VPN is a travel gadget you pack next to your phone charger. Ready for a shocker? The coffee shop isn’t the biggest snoop in your life. Your internet provider is.

🏠 Your couch isn’t private

Everything you do online at home runs through your provider’s network first. Without a VPN, it can see:

• Where you go. The websites you visit and when, every single one, even the embarrassing ones.
• What you use. Which devices in your house are online, and there are a ton.
• What you do. How much you stream, game, download and everything else.

The Federal Trade Commission dug into six of the biggest providers. It found they combine browsing, app and location data to target ads. The privacy choices they offered? Buried and hard to use. (Shocking. Truly.)

Then there’s speed. When your provider can see what you’re doing, it can slow down specific activities like streaming or gaming. That’s called throttling. If movie night buffers like it’s 2009, this could be why.

A VPN wraps your connection in encryption. Your provider sees you’re online. That’s it. Not the sites. Not the shows.

Pro tip: Test your speed at Fast.com, which Netflix runs from its own servers. Do it with the VPN off, then on, at different times. If Fast.com crawls until you turn on the VPN, your provider may be slowing your streaming.

🔒 Why my family uses NordVPN

I tested all the big VPNs before picking the official one of The Kim Komando Show. That’s NordVPN. I use it, and so does my entire family. Here’s what you get:

• One account, 10 devices. Phones, laptops, the smart TV, the kids’ tablets. Covered.
• Scam and phishing protection. It blocks known malicious sites before they load, like a sketchy link in a text or ad.
• High speed. Its NordLynx protocol is built for fast streaming and video calls.
• Next-level encryption. NordVPN uses post-quantum encryption, built to hold up against tomorrow’s code crackers.
• Set it and forget it. Turn on auto-connect, and it kicks in on its own.
• Ready for the holidays. Hotel, airport and vacation rental Wi-Fi get the same protection as your living room.
• No risk. Every plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

✅ Get up to 76% off a 2-year plan from $3.37/month, plus 4 extra months. Grab the deal here.

📩 Send this to someone who thinks VPNs are only for travelers.