VPN app downloads surged in the UK following the implementation of age verification laws on sites like PornHub and Reddit. Users are employing VPNs to circumvent these new restrictions, masking their location to access age-restricted content. While VPN usage has spiked dramatically, experts warn of potential security and privacy risks associated with free VPN services, particularly data harvesting and vulnerability to attacks. Concerns exist regarding children's access to and use of these services to bypass online safety measures.

Prepared by Jonathan Pierce and reviewed by editorial team.