Let Surfshark VPN Keep You Safe While Black Friday Shopping

Data brokers spying on your purchases might spoil the surprise by advertising what you've just bought. So, protect yourself and your holiday shopping with Surfshark VPN, on sale during Black Friday.

The Black Friday shopping season is a hectic mess where you might forget to protect your privacy and data. Chances are you've searched for the perfect gift only to have it show up in your loved one's ads — that's because everything you do is being tracked and sold online.

There are many uses for a VPN service like browsing the web privately, blocking ads, or skirting streaming exclusivity deals. But the most relevant one right now might be how one like Surfshark can protect you and your data while shopping online.

Surfshark VPN: Get a 2-year subscription for $1.99/mo. + 4 months extra
Surfshark One: Get 2-year subscription for $2.49/mo. + 4 months extra

Keep reading to learn more about protecting your holiday shopping during the Black Friday sales event. Though, if you're already convinced, get a 2-year Surfshark One+ subscription for $3.99 per month + 6 months extra (until the end of November).

Staying safe during Black Friday shopping with a VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) lets you "tunnel" all your internet traffic through an encrypted VPN server so websites can't identify you. Of course, if you log into a website like Amazon, your search history and purchases will still be tracked on that webpage.

Person holding a smartphone displaying a VPN app interface with a connected status, location set to Germany, and options to disconnect or pause.

Don't get caught with your data out in the open while Black Friday shopping - Image credit: Surfshark

Avoiding all tracking is possible when shopping online, but it takes some careful consideration. The most important step is using a VPN provider like Surfshark to mask your IP address and limit the chances your search history, website visits, and purchases will inevitably be shown to other users on your home network via ads.

When you do make a purchase online, don't use your usual account if possible, or stay logged out. Providing your name and email address could lead to data brokers collecting and selling your data, again leading to potential gift spoilers via ads.

However, there's good news for Surfshark users. A feature called Alternative ID will let you shop using a different name and email address. Just couple that with a single-use card number offered by some providers or services, and your personal data is almost completely eliminated from the transaction.

These methods not only help you make a purchase without revealing data to data brokers, but it can keep you safe from the website too. If the retailer is breached in the future, almost all of the data provided is rendered useless.

Person holding an iPad displaying a VPN interface with a plate of toast and jam in the background.

Surfshark VPN has features beyond simple tunneling - Image credit: Surfshark

The only thing users can't mask easily is the home address. While Surfshark Alternative ID can generate a fake US address to use, you have to provide a real address to have a purchased product shipped to you.

However, by hiding the user's name and other details, the surface area of a potential advertising target has gotten much smaller. And there's always the option of using a friend's address for delivery.

Taking these steps is simple with Surfshark and ensures your data and gift ideas are kept safe. Don't compromise on privacy just to buy gifts during the Black Friday sales rush.

Surfshark VPN can help Black Friday shopping in other ways beyond simple data protection. It can also give users the ability to avoid regional price gouging by tunneling to a region with better prices.

Since Surfshark VPN lets users sign into unlimited devices, do comparison shopping by tunneling to the UK on your iPhone, Germany on your iPad, and Canada on your Mac. Doing so will also avoid account or IP-based pricing that targets users seemingly willing to pay higher prices.

Activate Surfshark Black Friday coupon

The Surfshark Black Friday 2024 sale is available through the end of November. Go to Surfshark's website or download the app and purchase a subscription before the end of the Black Friday shopping season to access the discounted price.

Person using a computer with a VPN interface on the screen, a small potted plant nearby, and books and binders in the background.

Surfshark VPN lets you run it from an unlimited number of computers - Image credit: Surfshark

The standard Surfshark VPN is available for $1.99 per month on a pre-paid two-year subscription that includes four extra months. That's $55.72 due at checkout.

Get the Surfshark One subscription at $2.49 per month for two years plus four months extra. That's $69.72 due at checkout.

The Surfshark One+ two-year subscription is discounted to $3.99 per month and includes six extra months with the Black Friday VPN deal. That's $119.70 due at checkout. You can learn more about Surfshark in our hands-on Surfshark VPN review.