Best Tech Gifts for Digital Privacy & Ownership: 2025 Guide
Give the gift of digital freedom this holiday. Discover the best tech gifts for privacy, including VPNs, portable SSDs, and secure routers to protect your data.
By Team Gimmie
Updated August 27, 2026
The Best Tech Gifts Are the Ones That Keep Your Options Open
It’s December 23. You’re staring at a tracking number that hasn’t moved since Tuesday, or maybe you’re realizing that gift card feels a little impersonal. Meanwhile, the entire internet is arguing about a 60 Minutes segment on El Salvador that got yanked from the airwaves yesterday.
If you haven’t heard, the new regime at CBS News pulled a report on the CECOT prison system at the eleventh hour. Naturally, the internet did what the internet does: it found a way. The clip is bouncing around via Canadian broadcasts and iCloud links, turning a news segment into "digital contraband."
I’m not here to debate the politics of the newsroom. I’m here to tell you that this situation highlights a massive gap in how most people use technology. We rely entirely on platforms that can shut off the tap whenever they want.
So, if you’re looking for a last-minute digital gift—or just something to spend your Christmas money on—let’s talk about the gear that gives you actual ownership of your digital life. Because the best gift you can give this year isn’t a gadget; it’s access.
The Virtual Private Network (VPN)
The only reason anyone saw that censored report is that people in the US routed their traffic through Canada to watch the Global TV feed. It’s a classic move, but it reminds us why a VPN is a non-negotiable tool for the modern web.
Stop thinking of VPNs as shady hacker tools. They are digital skeleton keys. Whether you’re trying to watch a blacked-out sports game or access news that’s been geoblocked, a VPN is the only way to ensure your internet experience isn't curated by your ISP or local restrictions.
The Pick: If you’re gifting a subscription, go with ExpressVPN or NordVPN. I’ve used both for years. They’re fast enough to stream 4K video without buffering, and their apps are idiot-proof enough for your dad to use on his iPad. Avoid the "free" VPNs—if you aren't paying for the product, you are the product.
