Can you use a VPN to reduce adverts and trackers? Everything you need to know

What is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is software that protects and anonymises everything you do online.

VPNs can conceal your online activities by routing traffic through an encrypted tunnel that connects to secure servers worldwide. The most reliable VPNs employ the same encryption standard as governments in the United Kingdom and the United States, ensuring that even your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can’t keep tabs on the websites you visit, the duration of your sessions on each site, or your current location.

What are "trackers"?

Internet trackers are small pieces of code embedded in websites that collect and store data about your online activity.

This normally includes pages visited, clicks, browsing habits, location, and device info — to build profiles for personalised experiences, targeted advertising, or analytics, often shared with third parties, working invisibly to follow you across the web.

One of the most common trackers is "cookies", which are small files stored in your browser that remember you, login details, or items in your shopping cart

Advertisers then use these profiles to show you ads they think you'll be interested in, based on your browsing history and activity.

Does a VPN help protect from ads and trackers?

VPNs can be a massively helpful thing to reduce ads and trackers – but you must choose a premium VPN that does so.

That’s because not every single VPN can help protect from ads and trackers. Many free VPNs, for example, don’t have many features and have limits compared to premium VPN services.

Many modern VPNs now include built-in ad and tracker blockers that effectively reduce them, preventing IP-based targeting and blocking ads from external networks.

It’s not a complete solution, however, because though some website-served ads and browser-based tracking could persist unless paired with an ad-blocking browser extension.

What VPN should you use to block ads and trackers?

The good news is that there’s one VPN that has been proven to help prevent ads and trackers.

ExpressVPN's Threat Manager prevents all apps and websites on your device from communicating with a set of third parties known to track activity or engage in malicious behaviour. This gives you more control over your online privacy and how your data is being used.

ExpressVPN is an award-winning VPN with gongs from the likes of Techradar, CNET, and Tom's Guide, with praise for its servers dedicated to fast, reliable streaming from anywhere in the world.

Monthly prices start from £1.99 a month, and unlock ExpressVPN across up to 14 devices. Once installed, you can connect to a UK server from ExpressVPN's network of over 3,000 servers across 105 countries.

The service uses proprietary Lightway protocol for enhanced speed and reliability, ensuring smooth streaming of festival performances.

It works across all your devices — Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, smart TVs and streaming devices like Fire TV Stick. You can even use ExpressVPN's MediaStreamer feature to watch on devices that don't normally support VPNs, such as PlayStation or Xbox.

ExpressVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to watch the entire festival risk-free and recover your investment if you're not satisfied with the service.VPNs are not illegal and are often mandated by companies to improve online security for employees.

However, it's your responsibility to ensure that you're using these popular apps for legal use. Always check the terms and conditions of the streaming service.

Benefits of ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is particularly well-suited for streaming as it boasts VPN server locations in 105 countries, providing access to global coverage.

It offers ultra-fast speeds on a 10-Gbps network, essential for high-quality streaming without buffering. With military-grade encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and features like split tunnelling and a kill switch, your online activity stays private.

Based in the British Virgin Islands — outside Five Eyes jurisdiction — it avoids mandatory data retention laws, which means that even if the company were collecting data (it's not), law enforcement from the UK and US would be unable to compel ExpressVPN to hand over any information about its subscribers.

ExpressVPN supports a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, and routers. There's no limit on the number of ExpressVPN apps that you can download on your devices, and with a single subscription, you can connect to the VPN on 10x gadgets at once.

It also has a dedicated team that optimises the service for major streaming platforms. Round-the-clock customer support is available if you encounter any issues during race weekend.

ExpressVPN isn't the cheapest VPN. However, its 30-day money-back guarantee makes it a risk-free choice for privacy-conscious users and frequent streamers. It should also give new customers the confidence to subscribe to one of its longer contracts, which unlock the biggest discounts.