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With Australian data retention laws requiring ISPs to store your metadata for 2 years, a VPN is one of the most practical privacy tools you can use. But not all VPNs are equal. Here are the best options for Australians in 2025.

Why Australians Should Use a VPN

• Australian metadata retention laws mean your ISP logs every website you visit
• Public WiFi at cafes, airports, and hotels is easily intercepted
• Geo-restricted content (US Netflix, BBC iPlayer) becomes accessible
• Protection when travelling overseas

Top VPNs for Australians

1. NordVPN — Best Overall

NordVPN is our top pick for Australians. It has servers in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, a strict no-logs policy audited by independent security firms, and consistently fast speeds.

• ✅ Australian servers
• ✅ No-logs policy (independently audited)
• ✅ 6 simultaneous connections
• ✅ Works with Netflix Australia and US Netflix
• 💰 From ~$4.50 AUD/month on a 2-year plan

2. ExpressVPN — Best for Speed

ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN we’ve tested, with excellent server coverage including multiple Australian locations.

• ✅ Fastest speeds of any VPN tested
• ✅ 94 countries, multiple AU servers
• ✅ TrustedServer technology — RAM-only servers
• 💰 From ~$9.50 AUD/month

3. Surfshark — Best Budget Option

Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections at a fraction of the price of competitors — ideal for families.

• ✅ Unlimited devices
• ✅ Australian servers
• ✅ CleanWeb ad and malware blocker included
• 💰 From ~$3.20 AUD/month on 2-year plan

What to Look for in a VPN

1. No-logs policy — The VPN should not store records of your activity
2. Australian servers — For best speeds locally
3. Kill switch — Cuts internet if VPN drops, preventing accidental exposure
4. Jurisdiction — Avoid VPNs based in 5-Eyes countries if maximum privacy is your goal

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, DataGuard AU may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely believe in.

The term “data breach” gets thrown around constantly in the news — but what does it actually mean, and why should you care? This guide breaks it down in plain English.

What is a Data Breach?

A data breach occurs when someone accesses, takes, or exposes information without authorisation. This could be a hacker breaking into a company’s database, an employee accidentally emailing sensitive files to the wrong person, or a misconfigured cloud server left open to the public internet.

What Kind of Data Gets Breached?

It depends on the organisation, but commonly exposed data includes:

• Email addresses and passwords
• Full names and dates of birth
• Physical addresses
• Phone numbers
• Medicare and health information
• Credit card and banking details
• Driver’s licence and passport numbers
• Tax file numbers (TFNs)

How Do Breaches Happen?

Hacking

Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in software to gain unauthorised access to systems and databases.

Phishing

Employees are tricked into clicking malicious links or providing login credentials, giving attackers access to internal systems.

Insider Threats

A disgruntled employee or contractor deliberately leaks or steals data.

Accidental Exposure

Human error — a misconfigured database, an email sent to the wrong recipient, a USB drive left on a train.

What Happens to Breached Data?

Stolen data is typically sold on dark web marketplaces. Buyers use it for identity theft, financial fraud, targeted phishing, and account takeovers.

How Do You Know If You’ve Been Breached?

Often you don’t — until it’s too late. That’s why tools like DataGuard AU exist. By scanning your email against known breach databases, you can find out if your data has been exposed before criminals use it against you.

Check your exposure now — it’s free and takes 30 seconds.