VPN Logging Explained And Why It Matters
Before we talk about Hide.me it helps to understand what logging means in the VPN world. Logging is the practice of recording details about your connection or your activity while you use a VPN. Activity logs record the sites you visit, the videos you stream, and the files you download. Connection logs record metadata such as your source address, the time you connect, the server you choose, the amount of data you use, and the time you disconnect. Diagnostic logs capture app crashes and error messages. Payment records and support emails sit in a separate bucket and should never be linked to usage events. If a provider stores activity or personal connection histories then an agency can request them. If the records exist, they can be handed over. 🔒
Why You Should Care About Logs
Logs reveal patterns. A single session might look harmless, yet a list of sessions over days can paint a picture of where you connect from, what hours you are online, and which services you use. That is why a genuine privacy service avoids keeping identifiable usage records. If the data does not exist, there is nothing to correlate and nothing to surrender. This is not about hiding from the world. It is about limiting unnecessary exposure so your daily life is not turned into a permanent file. I care about this because my work takes me across public networks and I want my tools to leave no trail behind me. 🧭
Watch The Video Then Use This Guide
The video above walks through how some providers record user activity and why that matters. It was created by the experts at Hide.me and highlights some of the issues you may experience with other VPN providers. Use this article as the plain language companion to the video. I have translated some of the technical bits into clear steps you can check yourself below!
How Hide.me Solves The Logging Problem
Hide.me is designed for a strict no logs stance. The service does not monitor what you do online and does not store session addresses that could identify you. During a connection the servers handle your traffic and resolve your DNS inside the tunnel using Hide.me operated resolvers. There is no reliance on public consumer DNS while you are connected. The apps include Kill Switch options that contain all traffic inside the tunnel on Windows and macOS, and they protect against DNS and IPv6 leaks on every platform. For browsers the extensions add WebRTC protection which closes the last common leak path. In daily use that means your traffic stays in the tunnel and the service does not keep a record of where you went. ✅
What Hide.me Does Not Collect
- No activity logs of websites, videos, searches, or messages
- No permanent session address logs that tie your use to an exit address
- No ad injection and no traffic inspection for monetization
The company earns money from paid plans, not from selling or mining your data. I have reviewed enough providers to know that this clarity is rare and important. 🧠
What Hide.me Temporarily Stores And Why
For short term operations the service may process connection time and duration without personal details. This is an aggregate number used for capacity planning and abuse control and it is removed within hours. There is no personal trail to retrieve later. This kind of ephemeral housekeeping is common for serious privacy services because it helps keep the network healthy without creating a user history.
Requests From Agencies And Copyright Notices
When a provider keeps usage records it can be ordered to disclose them. Hide.me takes a different path. Since there are no activity logs and no personal session histories the company cannot identify a specific customer. For copyright complaints the practical response is to block a specific server port or address when needed. There is no customer account to expose because no usage trail exists. The result is simple. The service cannot hand over what it does not have. 🔏
Independent Audit And Transparency
Trust improves when promises are verified. Hide.me submitted to an external audit by DefenseCode led by Leon Juranic. The review examined the no logs design and confirmed that identifiable usage logs are not kept. I treat independent verification as a major trust signal. It separates marketing claims from an inspected implementation.
Jurisdiction And Company Details
Hide.me is operated by eVenture Ltd in Labuan Malaysia. The company sits outside the most known data sharing alliances. Jurisdiction is not a magic shield, yet it supports the overall model. When there are no usage logs on the servers, location becomes one more layer rather than the only line of defense.
How To Check A No Logs Claim Yourself
- Read the privacy policy and look for plain language that rules out activity logs and permanent session address logs.
- Confirm that the provider runs its own DNS while connected. If your queries leave the tunnel, the claim falls apart.
- Test for leaks. Connect, run DNS and IPv6 leak tests, then put your device to sleep, wake it, and test again. The address should never flicker back to your local connection.
- Use a browser with the extension and enable WebRTC protection. Without that, a site can sometimes learn your local address even when the VPN is on.
- Look for independent audits or other external verification. If a provider never opens its design to inspection, take the claim with caution.
Practical Privacy Behaviors In The Apps
- Kill Switch on Windows and macOS contains traffic during reconnects so your apps do not leak when networks change
- Own DNS on all servers keeps queries inside the tunnel
- IPv6 and DNS leak protection are enabled in the clients by default
- Browser extensions for Chrome Edge and Firefox add WebRTC protection, which is the only reliable way to stop that browser feature from exposing a local address
These are small switches that make a big difference. Turn them on once and forget about them. 🔧
Final Verdict
If you care about privacy you want a provider that cannot build a history of your use. Hide.me is engineered around that idea. There are no activity logs, there are no permanent session address logs, and temporary operations data is removed within hours. The company operates its own DNS inside the tunnel and the apps include the right leak protections. An external audit backs the promise. In practical terms this means that agencies and private requesters cannot compel the service to produce a file that does not exist. That is the right way to handle your everyday internet life. 😌
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between activity logs and connection logs
Activity logs record what you do, for example sites visited and videos watched. Connection logs record metadata such as connect time, session duration, and data used. Activity logs are the most sensitive. Good privacy practice is to avoid both when they can identify a user.
Does Hide.me keep any logs about what I do online
No. The service does not store activity logs and does not keep personal session address histories. Temporary operational data such as connection time and duration can exist for a short period and is removed within hours.
Can Hide.me be forced to hand over my browsing history
No. There is no browsing history to hand over. When requests arrive the company cannot identify customers because there are no usage logs to search.
What happens if a copyright notice arrives for a Hide.me server
The practical response is to block a specific server port or address. Since users are not tracked there is no account level action to take and no customer data to disclose.
How does Hide.me prevent my DNS from leaking
While you are connected the servers act as DNS resolvers. Your queries stay inside the tunnel and the apps include DNS and IPv6 leak protection by default.
Is WebRTC a real risk and how do I stop it
Yes. WebRTC can reveal a local address inside a browser. The Hide.me browser extensions include a WebRTC control that prevents this. Use the extension when you watch in a browser.
Who audited the no logs design
An external review by DefenseCode led by Leon Juranic confirmed that identifiable usage logs are not kept.
Where is the company based
Hide.me is operated by eVenture Ltd in Labuan Malaysia. The design focuses on not keeping usage logs, so there is nothing to request regardless of jurisdiction.
