Author Topic: VPN's (Read 7812 times)

Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) · « **on:** March 30, 2017, 03:04:44 PM »

Well with the news that our ISP can now (or soon) track us and sell that data I figure now is the time to get a VPN.

My only real goal for this is to stop my ISP (and possibly the Gov't) from snooping on my surfing.

I don't do anything that I really have to worry about (other than minimal torrenting, but that is mainly handled by a server in Germany), but for me it sounds like a good idea anyway.

So does anyone have any suggestions on where to start. I've read that some providers that claim not to store logs still do and when the Gov't comes knocking none of them are really going to refuse to hand over their data.

Also...seems like overkill, but is it really necessary to add something like TOR? Again...I just don't want to be tracked. I'm not planning on doing anything (highly) illegal.

lsd2525 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2017, 04:03:57 PM »

The Opera browser has VPN built in I beleive

Fried Chicken Boy · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2017, 04:38:51 PM »

I was using the Private Internet Access VPN for a few years and I liked it, but got lazy and let it lapse. It's been a while since I've read their legal docs but I recall that they were based overseas, didn't log user's activity, and offered different payment methods (including Bitcoin) to help a user keep their anonymity. And yeah, with the recent Senate vote that eliminated privacy rules for ISPs, I think I'm gonna sign up again before too long.

Can't really weigh in on Tor as I haven't used it. But I have some friends that swear by it due to their conviction that Chrome, Internet Explorer, et al, are mining and reading everything we do via our browsers.

Some links that might help:
https://www.wired.com/2017/03/want-use-vpn-protect-privacy-start/
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2403388,00.asp
https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/tor-vpn-proxy
http://lifehacker.com/what-is-tor-and-should-i-use-it-1527891029

mattmiller · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2017, 12:25:19 PM »

Quote from: Fried Chicken Boy on March 30, 2017, 04:38:51 PM

I was using the Private Internet Access VPN for a few years and I liked it, but got lazy and let it lapse. It's been a while since I've read their legal docs but I recall that they were based overseas, didn't log user's activity, and offered different payment methods (including Bitcoin) to help a user keep their anonymity. And yeah, with the recent Senate vote that eliminated privacy rules for ISPs, I think I'm gonna sign up again before too long.

I use PIA and have been happy with it. They don't log any activity, and the price is right at $40/year for up to five devices.

Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2017, 01:54:19 PM »

Doing some more reading on this. It looks like it's possible to just use a router as the client so your entire home network goes over the VPN.

Looks like DD-WRT (aftermarket router firmware) will do this. Also looks like many Asus routers have this option.

Fried Chicken Boy · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2017, 02:40:23 PM »

^ Hmmm, that would be pretty cool. Wouldn't mind putting the whole network in my house through a VPN. Unfortunately, the ISP we use issued us a modem/router all-in-one box. Not sure with daisy-chaining another router (with the proper firmware) how much/if it would affect the speed?

Brian Skalinder · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2017, 07:14:44 PM »

Quote from: Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) on March 31, 2017, 01:54:19 PM

It looks like it's possible to just use a router as the client so your entire home network goes over the VPN.

I've considered the same, but like the ability to turn my VPN (PIA) on / off by device. IME the occasional website won't allow access while I'm on VPN ('This IP has been automatically blocked'). Only happens when I'm on VPN, even a local IP range, and only certain websites. (How do they know?) At any rate, a mild hassle, but enough of one that I like the ease of disconnecting & reconnecting without first punching out to my router settings / config.

* Craigslist is one, can't remember the others.

scrtaper · « **Reply #7 on:** March 31, 2017, 09:39:39 PM »

I Use PIA Manager ( Private Internet Access ) Only issue is with sites like ticketbastard, they wont load unless you turn it off but i stopped gettin copyright complaints when i started using pia manager and i have been using it for 3 years now

voltronic · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2017, 10:28:05 AM »

PIA looks really attractive. I especially like that the price includes 5 devices. What kind of performance hit do you guys see when using it?

dean · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2017, 12:07:56 PM »

Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2017, 02:18:24 PM »

Good info on the sites that don't work with a VPN...especially ticket sites. It would suck to find that out at 10:00:05 AM with some mega hard ticket to get.

I think I will start with PIA on my computers. Since you get 5 devices I can use my desktop, phone and tablet...and maybe use the other 2 devices for my roommates devices (phone and laptop, I think).

page · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2017, 09:28:15 PM »

I use StrongVPN as I'm in the same boat; I'm purely getting to drop out onto the internet somewhere, not necessarily to cover up some nefarious activity. I do however use it to dodge the hockey broadcast blackout all season as my static IP is in a country where it's not broadcast natively... I've been with them for 2-3 years now.

nulldogmas · « **Reply #12 on:** April 02, 2017, 07:39:57 AM »

I have PIA as well, and don't notice any performance hit at all. Agreed with all above that it's important to have the ability to shut off a VPN temporarily to access sites that block them.

Fried Chicken Boy · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2017, 03:24:34 PM »

Quote from: nulldogmas on April 02, 2017, 07:39:57 AM

I have PIA as well, and don't notice any performance hit at all.

I recall the same. If I noticed any hit during regular browsing, it was pretty minuscule at its worst. That said, I never used my VPN while torrenting so I can't say how much it would affect that.

voltronic · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2017, 03:52:13 PM »

Quote from: Fried Chicken Boy on April 02, 2017, 03:24:34 PM

Quote from: nulldogmas on April 02, 2017, 07:39:57 AM
I have PIA as well, and don't notice any performance hit at all.

I recall the same. If I noticed any hit during regular browsing, it was pretty minuscule at its worst. That said, I never used my VPN while torrenting so I can't say how much it would affect that.

Torrenting is pretty much a crap shoot with speeds; I was thinking of speed performance in general. As in, try your favorite speed test sites with and without the VPN enabled.

PIA is looking more attractive by the minute.

hoserama · « **Reply #15 on:** April 03, 2017, 12:11:09 PM »

For DIME users, PIA is banned on their site (at least its never worked for me through PIA).

Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) · « **Reply #16 on:** April 03, 2017, 01:01:09 PM »

Quote from: hoserama on April 03, 2017, 12:11:09 PM

For DIME users, PIA is banned on their site (at least its never worked for me through PIA).

Can you browse with PIA?

I do all my downloading to a seedbox in Germany so I won't be torrenting from home.

H₂O · « **Reply #17 on:** April 03, 2017, 01:26:23 PM »

So here is where the rubber hits the road. Due to the Gov't allowing the changes to Rule 41 in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the FBI can legally install malware on your computer if it thinks you might be doing any illegal activity on your computer. They do need a warrant but now they can get a warrant from any Judge in the country instead of a local judge - and the warrant could be a blanket list of IP's that a Judge in Hicksville, AL may just say better safe then sorry. I have no idea what mechanism they have in place to let you know they have a warrant out on your IP.

Since the FBI cannot see the data in your Tor or VPN connection and sees you using these services they may assume you are part of a Child Porn ring or something and get a warrant.

The Rule changed in December 2016.

http://fortune.com/2016/11/30/rule-41/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_41

There really is no real secure way to browse or use the Internet in the US anymore. If the Gov't, etc wants to monitor you they easily can

You would have to use a known list of VPN services or Tor itself for this to be an issue - Point-to-Point encryption to your seed server is probably the best way to go.

H₂O · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2017, 03:56:55 PM »

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/judge-invalidates-fbi-nit-warrant,34092.html

Looks like a judge just invalidated the changes to Rule 41 - so VPN and Tor away!

Brian Skalinder · « **Reply #19 on:** April 10, 2017, 12:42:38 AM »

Quote from: voltronic on April 02, 2017, 03:52:13 PM

As in, try your favorite speed test sites with and without the VPN enabled.

mattmiller · « **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2017, 08:36:08 AM »

Quote from: Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) on April 03, 2017, 01:01:09 PM

Quote from: hoserama on April 03, 2017, 12:11:09 PM
For DIME users, PIA is banned on their site (at least its never worked for me through PIA).
Can you browse with PIA?

Yes, you can browse, you'll just see a tracker error in your torrent client when you try to download with PIA enabled.