Every business owner or employee of an organization occasionally connects to a public Wi-Fi network. It’s very convenient, but not always very secure. That’s why it’s a good idea to use a VPN. Countless companies offer VPN services. But not all of them are equally sustainable. In this article, you’ll learn why Proton VPN is the right choice for environmentally conscious businesses and organizations.
- Why it’s not a good idea to use a public Wi-Fi network without protection
- What a VPN is and why you need one
- 9 reasons why Proton VPN is good for your cybersecurity and the environment
- Which is better: NordVPN or Proton VPN
- How to use Proton VPN in practice
The silent threat of public Wi-Fi networks
You’re on the train, at the library, in a hotel lobby, or at a coworking space, and you want to get some work done. Fortunately, there’s public Wi-Fi, which is getting faster and faster these days. It’s very convenient when you’re on the go. But did you know that using public Wi-Fi networks comes with risks?
This can happen if you use an unsecured public Wi-Fi network:
- Losing control over your own data: Hackers can intercept your data, such as login credentials and other sensitive information.
- Losing control over others’ data: personal and financial information belonging to your customers, participants, or students could end up in the wrong hands.
- Identity theft: If your personal information is stolen, a hacker could impersonate your company or you personally. This, in turn, could result in reputational and financial harm.
You’d really like to avoid unpleasant situations like that. One solution is to use a VPN on a public Wi-Fi network.
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for virtual private network. It is a secure connection that encrypts your internet traffic and hides your real IP address. This enhances your online privacy and makes it harder to track your activities.
You can set up a VPN on your computer or cell phone by downloading an app or program, signing up with a provider, and using the service. Often, you can use a single account on multiple devices, depending on your subscription plan.
One unique VPN is the one built into the Mozilla Firefox browser. You can use it directly from your browser. Do you use this service? If so, only your activities in Mozilla Firefox are protected. Do you also want your other online activities – such as banking in your app – to be invisible to others? If so, look for a VPN that you can download as a program or application and that protects all your online activities.
Why do I need a VPN? For work and travel abroad
So, as soon as you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, you should use a VPN. This applies to business owners, employees, and private individuals alike. Are you on vacation abroad, connected to a public Wi-Fi network, and want to check your bank balance? Be careful and turn on that VPN!
A VPN protects you from:
- Data breaches via unsecure connections: You definitely don’t want your own data – or that of your customers, colleagues, participants, students, or children – to end up in the wrong hands. That’s just asking for trouble.
- Secure access to professional environments: Do you work with an accounting system, a company website, or another environment where you need to log in to access sensitive data? Use a VPN.
- Cyberattacks: A VPN blocks a lot of cyberattacks. But keep a critical eye on your email. A VPN can’t check your email for spam or malware.
Why choose Proton VPN? And is Proton safe and reliable?
1. Easy to use
Proton VPN is very easy to use. You sign up, create an account, download the apps for your phone and computer, log in, and you’re good to go. You can also increase the level of security in Proton VPN; see the section below about NetShield.
2. Proton runs on servers powered by green energy
Proton VPN is a product of the Swiss company Proton. Sustainability is one of the company’s core values. The company claims that its data centers run entirely on renewable energy. This energy reportedly comes primarily from hydropower.
When you use Proton VPN, Proton utilizes thousands of servers worldwide. Through the app, you can choose the country you want to connect to. Are you in Canada and need a Belgian IP address to work in your online business environment? Simply select Belgium as your preferred country, and Proton VPN will connect you from Canada to Belgium, allowing you to access your professional digital workspace.
As for these other thousands of servers worldwide: if a sustainable option is available, Proton will choose it.
Did you know that you can also host your own website on a sustainable server? You can do that with a green hosting provider. Read here all about sustainable hosting.
3. NetShield: blocks ads and trackers, so it saves data
One way to save a lot of data is to use the NetShield feature. This is an extra layer of security from Proton VPN that blocks a lot of ads and stops trackers. You can recognize NetShield by the shield icon in the app. Click on it, and you’ll immediately see how many ads it blocked, how many trackers it stopped, and how many bytes you’ve saved.
NetShield offers a double benefit: not only is it good for the environment (because you’re reducing your digital footprint), but it’s also good for your wallet. That’s because it can save you quite a few gigabytes in a month. And so, with thoughtful use, your mobile data bill can go down! One note: NetShield is only included in Proton VPN’s paid subscription, not in the free basic plan (see below).
4. Proton VPN uses a freemium model
“Freemium” means there is a free basic version. For example, you can use Proton VPN for free on one device, such as your cell phone or laptop. Once you want to use it on both devices, you’ll need to pay. This gives you the chance to thoroughly test Proton VPN!
5. Proton VPN is affordable
6. Proton is subject to Swiss law
Proton is based in a suburb of Geneva. As a result, Proton is subject to Swiss privacy laws, which are quite strict. So, in terms of privacy, you’re in good hands. However, in 2025, Proton indicated that the company was concerned about potential proposals regarding surveillance by Swiss authorities. This led to discussions about possibly moving certain services to another country.
A quick disclaimer: don’t do anything stupid with Proton VPN, because the company says it cooperates with legal investigations.
7. Open source: it does what it’s supposed to do
Open source means that the source code is accessible to everyone. This allows Proton to be audited by third parties. Proton VPN would therefore focus solely on what it’s supposed to do: provide a reliable VPN infrastructure that respects privacy and the environment.
Proton VPN is a European alternative and is open source. Another example is the open-source language models developed by the French company Mistral AI.
8. Proton does not keep logs
Proton itself states that it does not store customers’ internet activity. This means you are safe as well. This is confirmed by external audits.
Once again, here’s the disclaimer: don’t do anything stupid, because this company will cooperate with the Swiss authorities as soon as the law requires it to do so.
Another company that doesn’t collect user data is the German company Ecosia. Find out here how this eco-friendly and privacy-friendly search engine and chatbot works.
9. Friendly and easily accessible customer service
Proton’s customer service is easily accessible via the website. They respond to questions or requests within a few days, are friendly and professional, and do their very best to help.
Which is better: NordVPN or Proton VPN?
Right now, both NordVPN and Proton VPN are two major players in the exciting world of online privacy. But how do they stack up in different areas?
- Sustainability: Since 2025, the data centers of both Proton VPN and NordVPN have been running on renewable energy. Proton had actually been working on this for some time.
- Privacy: Both companies have a strict no-logs policy, which means they do not store any customer data. They score equally well in this regard.
- Country of registration and jurisdiction: Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, and NordVPN in Panama. Switzerland is said to have stronger privacy laws due to its banking secrecy and culture of privacy.
- Security: Both companies have their security policies reviewed through external audits. In this regard, they are equally strong.
- Value for money: Proton VPN operates on a freemium model, whereas with NordVPN you have to pay even for the basic plan. And with Proton VPN, that’s free, which makes it a very attractive option.
These days, NordVPN and Proton VPN are neck and neck when it comes to sustainability and privacy. Still, Proton VPN has a longer history of environmental awareness. This company is also based in Europe.
How I use Proton VPN – with kill switch and NetShield
As a web designer and photographer, I’m often on the go. That’s why I want to protect the personal information of my clients, my business, and myself as best as I can.
Here’s how I do that when I’m working on the go:
- 4G or 5G whenever possible: There are no longer any roaming charges in the European Union, so I turn my cell phone into a (password-protected) hotspot so I can work securely.
- If there’s absolutely no other option – a public Wi-Fi network: on a high-speed train or in a coworking space with thick walls, the 4G or 5G signal doesn’t always work. In that case, I’ll use a public network, along with a VPN, of course.
- A VPN with a kill switch whenever possible: Actually, my VPN is always on, with the kill switch feature enabled. That means I can only connect to the internet when the VPN is on. It’s harder to connect to the internet without a VPN.
- Maximizing VPN use with NetShield: By keeping NetShield turned on, I don’t have to deal with intrusive ads. This also saves me a few gigabytes every month.