Nostr Web Client

After seriously using VPNs for several weeks now, I have realised they are an illusion.

Sites like ChatGPT get stuck in an infinite Cloudflare loop verifying your humanity while using a VPN, the second you turn off your VPN, the test completes. I have noticed this on several sites served by Cloudflare.

Other sites like Audible redirect you to your physical country of origin even when using a VPN and on a desktop machine without the aid of GPS.

This means any site is capable of detecting which country you are physically in and whether you’re using a VPN or not, the only question is whether they are incentivised to do so.

For sites like YouTube or X, they don’t currently care so will reflect the country your VPN reports to them in terms of country logo and content language.

For sites like Porn, who actually want your business, they will happily accept your VPN status.

But for sites like ChatGPT or Audible, who generate a better service by knowing where you are, they easily detect your physical location despite a VPN.

Lastly VPNs used by default degrade your general online experience.

Search results are returned in your VPNs exit node location and language, so if your VPN is set to Finland and you’re asking for coffee shops, you’ll get results shown in Finnish for coffee shops in Helsinki.

YouTube will bias recommendations based on your VPNs local language and location

Shopping sites will show products priced in your VPN exits country.

And many sites know you’re using a VPN and will simply refuse to show you anything while you continue to do so.

As an experiment, I set my VPN exit node to the UK, where I’m actually based, and suddenly many UK sites, like the BBC, stopped working because they knew I was using a VPN.

Peer to peer VPNs, like MysteriumDark mitigate this by exiting through users home broadband connections, but this is still easily detected by any service such as Audible who know where you are physically located. N.B. this knowledge is not based on GPS data, as this happens on desktop computers with no GPS.

In conclusion, VPNs only work to bypass restrictions because the service providers are either ambivalent or incentivised to ignore them.

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Discussion

Michael 4mo ago

🎯

KaliYuga 4mo ago

Thank you for this depressing but true review of VPN usage as an escape to Online Safety Act. Note I do watch every year the Crucible Snooker Championship on BBC from continental Europe through a VPN and it works fine.

mike 4mo ago

I do not share your love of snooker, but I do know Jo Rochelle who is the current squeeze of Shaun Murphy, who you may be familiar with 😂

More-10 4mo ago

Used always-on VPNs on all devices for more than 25 years. Never had serious problems.

... amd when some site, service or app doesn't work, I immediately abondon it - like I abandon any physical ahop where they don't treat me well.

Wife and kids are the same.

mike 4mo ago

Just so you know, there are more than 5 sites on the Internet these days 😂

db 4mo ago

that means your VPN setup is leaking traffic.

mike 4mo ago

Yes, you are right, they all do.

That's the point.

db 4mo ago

well, if you use NordVPN or similar you can expect that, if you setup your own, its in your hands.

mike 4mo ago

NordVPN 😂 😂 😂

Read the full article and the full thread, then read everything I've written about VPNs over the past couple of weeks, then find out who I am and my background.

Then you'll wet yourself with laughter at your own comment 😂

db 4mo ago

Just to clarify, leaking traffic is one thing and sites detecting you are using a VPN, are two different things, no? Most of the times, you are being blocked when you are not leaking but they detect your setup. As one commenter mentioned, if they block me because I am using a VPN, then I'm more than happy in avoiding them. The point of a VPN is to protect your privacy, which breaks when your traffic is leaking. Also, most VPN providers are logging everything, thats why I've suggested setting up your own, which can be done in ways, that most service providers can't detect.

mike 4mo ago

Thanks for the advice 😂

I appreciate it's difficult to believe, but perhaps it's possible that somebody who's been designing and building the Internet since1989, might know a thing or two about stuff like this 😂