Nepal Police’s Cyber Bureau has cautioned users against indiscriminate use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), citing potential risks to personal data and security.

The advisory on Thursday comes amid government warnings that social media platforms operating without official registration in Nepal may be blocked.

The bureau warned that using unauthorised or unreliable VPNs could lead to personal data leaks and banking app hacks, resulting in financial losses. Users could also face higher risks of malware or virus attacks.

The advisory emphasised that a VPN’s security depends on the trustworthiness of its service provider. During previous incidents, such as the temporary TikTok ban, use of VPNs and OpenDNS surged, raising concerns among internet service providers over international bandwidth.

VPNs encrypt user data, routing it through a secure server before reaching websites, effectively creating a ‘protected tunnel’ for internet traffic. This also allows users to access websites or apps that are restricted in Nepal.

However, because VPN hides users’ IP addresses and locations, they can be misused for cybercrime or illegal activities. Authorities have noted that VPN use can pose challenges in cybercrime investigations.