Every VPN says “no logs” and “military-grade encryption,” but most people don’t know what actually keeps them safe — so in this video I tested whether Private Internet Access (PIA) is still a smart privacy pick in 2026, even though it’s US-based. I break down the security fundamentals you actually get: AES-256 encryption, WireGuard (the default on most platforms and what I used in testing), plus built-in leak protection for DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC. On desktop, the leak protection held up cleanly — but only if you don’t skip setup. The single setting that matters most is the kill switch. PIA has a standard option and an advanced one, and I recommend turning on Advanced Kill Switch because it blocks all internet traffic unless the VPN is connected. That means if your Wi‑Fi drops, your laptop sleeps, or your network switches, your real traffic won’t slip out during reconnects. On the privacy side, I address the US jurisdiction concern (including 5 Eyes) and why PIA still comes up in serious conversations: transparency reports, independent audits, and a no-logs claim that’s been tested in the real world. I also cover the “PIA identity” tools that still matter in 2026 — RAM-only servers, open-source apps, and MACE for blocking ads, trackers, and known malicious domains — plus why PIA remains a high-value VPN with unlimited devices on long-term plans.