Proton VPN: My Personal Experience Surfing the Internet Freely (and Sometimes Hilariously)

When people talk about VPNs, two things usually come to mind:

  1. Keeping your privacy safe so no one finds out you’ve been browsing “weird” websites.

  2. Unlocking blocked content, like watching Netflix from another country or gaming with lower ping.

Now, I used to be pretty skeptical about VPNs. “Ugh, it’s too complicated. The internet already works fine, why bother with this stuff?” That was my mindset. But after getting to know Proton VPN, my digital life sort of changed. Okay, not in a soap-opera-dramatic kind of way, but enough for me to share some fun experiences.

How I First Met Proton VPN

It all started when I was frustrated. Imagine this: I wanted to watch a TV series on Netflix that was supposedly “only available in Japan.” In Indonesia? Nada. Instead, Netflix kept suggesting “similar but not the same” shows.

So, I started Googling:

  • “Best VPN for Netflix”

  • “Free unlimited VPN”

  • and even “VPN to hide from ex.”

The name Proton VPN kept popping up. It’s made in Switzerland—the land of chocolate, watches, and secretive banks. So, naturally, it gave off a vibe of “serious, secure, privacy-first.”

I decided to give it a shot.

First Time Using It: Like Teleporting

The Proton VPN app opened up with a clean interface: world map, server list, and a simple connect button. I picked Japan’s server, obviously, for that Netflix show.

Click... swoosh!
Suddenly my connection teleported from “Jakarta, Indonesia” to “Tokyo, Japan.”

It felt like using Doraemon’s magical Anywhere Door. Except instead of a “whoooosh” sound effect, I just got a spinning loading circle. But when it connected—wow! My Netflix library completely changed.

The funny part? Almost everything defaulted to Japanese subtitles. I stared at the screen like a chicken looking at a calculator. Luckily, there was an option to switch subtitles back, so I didn’t have to pretend I understood Japanese beyond saying “arigatou gozaimasu.”

Everyday Life with Proton VPN

After a few days, using Proton VPN became second nature—almost like a ritual:

  • Working at a café? Turn on Proton VPN first, so nobody snatches my Wi-Fi data.

  • Downloading odd open-source files? VPN first.

  • Gaming? Sometimes I’d hop on different servers for better ping (though occasionally it felt more like gaming on potato Wi-Fi).

The funniest part is when I connected to a US server. Suddenly, all my Google ads changed. My YouTube got flooded with burger deals, pizza discounts, and streaming service ads that aren’t even available in Indonesia yet.

I thought, “If I switched servers every day, my ads would be a wild mix: ramen promos in the morning, tacos in the afternoon, and Swiss watches by evening.” Living the international life without leaving my chair.

Proton VPN’s Strengths (From My Perspective)

To make this sound like a semi-serious review, here’s what I really liked about Proton VPN:

  1. Free but legit
    Proton VPN has a free plan that’s unlimited. Sure, it only offers a few servers (usually in the US, Japan, and the Netherlands), but that’s more than enough for casual use. Compare that to other free VPNs that give you only 500 MB per month—gone after one YouTube video.

  2. Privacy-first
    Proton VPN is super strict with privacy. They follow a no-logs policy, which means they don’t track what you do. Perfect for those who like to “explore the dark corners” (I’m not accusing you, but you know what I mean).

  3. Simple and clean UI
    Honestly, the app is so easy to use that I’m convinced my grandma could connect if I gave her a quick tutorial.

  4. Streaming & torrent-friendly
    If you go premium, there are servers optimized for streaming and torrenting. I tried them—smooth as butter.

The Downsides (To Be Fair)

Of course, no product is perfect. Even instant noodles have flaws (they make you crave more). Here are Proton VPN’s quirks:

  1. Free servers get crowded
    At peak hours, the speed can drop drastically. Like surfing the web with leftover midnight data.

  2. Premium servers cost money
    Understandable, they gotta eat too. But for stingy folks like me, it feels painful. Luckily, the free plan is already solid.

  3. Heavy on old phones
    On my older smartphone, the app ran a bit sluggish. Works better on newer devices or laptops.

The Funniest Moment: Forgetting to Turn It Off

Here’s the story that had me laughing at myself. One time, I connected to a US server, watched a movie, then casually opened my online banking app.

Suddenly…
“Login failed. Suspicious location detected.”

I panicked. I thought some Russian hacker had hijacked my account. But then it hit me—oh right, I forgot to disconnect Proton VPN! To the bank system, it looked like I teleported from Jakarta to New York in 5 minutes.

After turning it off, everything went back to normal. Lesson learned: VPNs are cool, but don’t overdo it.

Why I Still Stick With Proton VPN

Simple answer: practical, secure, and makes my online life feel “international.”
Sometimes I use it for work, sometimes for fun, sometimes just to play around with different countries’ servers. It feels like virtual traveling.

Compared to shady free VPNs on the app store (the ones with creepy ads and rumors of data theft), Proton VPN is way more trustworthy. Professional, secure, reliable.

Final Thoughts: Proton VPN is More Than Just Privacy

Looking back, my experience with Proton VPN isn’t just about tech—it’s about lifestyle. I became more privacy-aware, got access to more content, and collected funny stories like “accidentally being mistaken for a hacker by my own bank.”

If you haven’t tried it yet, Proton VPN is honestly worth it. Free or premium, it’s useful either way.

And remember, if you log in to your bank from a Mexico server and get flagged as a cartel member, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Download Proton VPN

If you’re curious and want to try it yourself, grab it from the official website:

 Download Proton VPN

It’s available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and even Android TV. Whether it’s your laptop, phone, or TV—Proton VPN has you covered.




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