"Rising VPN Usage Amid Online Anonymity Concerns"

Searches for VPN software surged in Texas after Pornhub restricted access due to a state law requiring age verification, leading to a 1,750% increase in Google searches for "Texas VPN." VPNs allow users to bypass restrictions by establishing private connections, but raise concerns about privacy and trust. Similar laws have led to Pornhub shutting down in multiple states, prompting debate over the effectiveness of such measures. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton praised Pornhub's withdrawal, while the website advocates for age verification on user devices without sending data to third parties.