U .S. Senator Ron Wyden is urging the National Security Agency (NSA) to provide public guidance on best practices for using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to protect against foreign surveillance. Despite previous recommendations to use VPNs, there is no guidance on which services offer sufficient protection. Wyden's letter highlights concerns that many VPNs may not adequately secure user data due to vulnerabilities like decrypted traffic and unencrypted metadata.
He requests clarity on the effectiveness of single-hop versus multi-hop VPNs, as well as certain services like Apple Private Relay and Tor. Wyden stresses the need for trustworthy standards for assessing VPN options to help users make informed choices. The NSA has until October 14 to respond.