Using a virtual private network (VPN) is one way students try to bypass restrictions and access blocked content on school WiFi networks. But does connecting to a VPN prevent the school from seeing your browsing history?

What A VPN Does

A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server operated by the VPN provider. All your network traffic is routed through this tunnel.

This provides several key benefits:

• Your real IP address is hidden. Instead, you use one assigned by the VPN server. This masks your identity and location.
• Your data is encrypted. This prevents anyone on the network from snooping on your activity.
• You can bypass geographic restrictions and access blocked sites. The requests seem to originate from the VPN server location rather than your real one.

So when connected to a VPN, your school’s network admins can see that you’re using a VPN, but not what you’re doing in the encrypted tunnel. They can’t view the sites you visit or content you access.

Limitations Of VPN Privacy

While a VPN prevents the school WiFi network from logging your activity, it doesn’t make you entirely anonymous. Here are some important limitations:

• The school may be able to determine your real IP address and identity when you first connect to the VPN. Make sure the VPN has a no-logs policy.
• If you’re using a school-managed device, it may have monitoring software that logs your activity locally before the VPN connection is established. Use a personal device if privacy is a concern.
• Geoblocks can leak your real location data even when using a VPN. Disable location services for maximum privacy.
• Using school WiFi to access illegal content or cheat on tests is still unethical even with a VPN. Make sure you abide by the appropriate school policies.
• If the school outright bans VPN usage, you could get in trouble for bypassing their network policies even if they can’t see what sites you visit.

Choosing The Best VPN For School

To make sure your VPN keeps your browsing history private, choose one with these features:

• Proven no-logs policy to prevent tracking. NordVPN and ExpressVPN are two good options.
• Large server network spread across multiple countries to bypass geo-blocks.
• Uses OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec protocols which are difficult to block.
• Fast speeds to avoid lags even on slower school networks.
• Easy-to-use apps with one-click connect features.
• Allows multiple simultaneous connections for use on mobile and laptop.

NordVPN in particular checks all these boxes. It has over 5200 servers in 60 countries, can unblock popular sites like Netflix, and offers fast connection speeds. The no-logs policy is independently audited for user privacy.

You can use NordVPN on up to 6 devices together, making it easy to encrypt all your browsing regardless of the device. It uses next-gen encryption protocols and has specialty servers for streaming, P2P sharing, and improving speeds.

The easy-to-use apps have one-tap connect features and built-in geoblock evasion tools. NordVPN is also very affordable, especially if you take advantage of the limited-time discounts.

Staying Secure On Public WiFi

School WiFi networks can be vulnerable to attacks from other connected users. Here are some tips to keep your browsing secure:

• Don’t access sensitive accounts like banking or email without a VPN to encrypt the connection.
• Beware of shoulder surfing when accessing accounts in public areas like the library.
• Adjust privacy settings on sites to not store browser history, cookies etc.
• Use anti-tracking and ad blocking browser extensions to prevent unknown third parties from logging your activity.
• Turn off file/printer sharing and Bluetooth discovery on your devices when on public networks.
• Update your operating system and apps to the latest versions to have the most secure configurations.

The Bottom Line

A VPN like NordVPN allows you to hide your browsing history from your school’s WiFi network. Just be aware of the limitations in keeping your activity truly private based on the device used, network monitoring software, geoblocking methods etc.

Also make sure you comply with any acceptable use policies your school has in place even though they can’t see what sites you visit. Using a VPN responsibly allows you to access more of the open internet without leaving a footprint on the school’s network logs.