how does this compare to mullvad? https://obscura.net/

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It uses mullvad doesn't it?

It uses Mullvad for the second hop, so basically strictly better?

(Disclosure: am investor)

Strictly different, potentially better :-)

I had at least one occasion where this punched through an airport wifi firewall where my regular Wireguard connection didn't.

I mean in terms of privacy, in comparison, it’s basically strictly better? It switches who learns the list of client IPs, but now matching that to plaintext traffic takes two entities working together instead of just one of them.

Just noticed it's using Wireguard on top of QUICK, so even if QUICK was broken you'd still effectively have a Wireguard connection to Mullvad. So then indeed it should be strictly better. I initially assumed they used something else to get to Obscure and Wireguard only for the second hop.

https://obscura.net/#faq-technical

I think it uses mullvad as one of its exit nodes.

Mullvad broke down my entire phone system with a simple text message (Dark Horse Sting) and I have no idea what this is.

for one thing you need an app to create an "account." Mullvad all done with webbrowser and you get the wireguard conf to use with common tools.

Starting to think you have a lot to do with the ill-treatment I’ve been living thru for no reason.

Thoughtful design that addresses one of the biggest issues around VPN use & privacy: a single chokepoint point of possible privacy failure & exposure to demands for access.

There are still lots of things VPNs don't do..that people think they do.. but this kind of thing is nudging consumer VPNs closer towards what people think when they use them :)

Example of what ppl think VPNs do but they don't: hiding from most websites you visit. Unless you are actively resisting things like browser fingerprinting, cookies, trackers & never logging in, you're still identifiable to most of the sites you visit.

Here's another: a state can still find you if you use a VPN. Trivially, if they can get enough traffic logs. For example, if SERVICE A still has an IP address + time pairing associated with you that is uniquely identifiable (e.g. you touch your email inbox over your VPN connection).. then there's a good chance that a state can quickly associate you with your other activity on SERVICE B. All they need to do is make a legal request that SERVICE A complies with. Then they see what IP is associated with you at that time, maybe get your useragent & a few other things and ...boom.

Proton vpn doesn't share their logs (or at least they say they don't...)

VPNs protect your data from being harvested and sold by your ISP.

needs more eyes, will take time, cautiously optimistic

Moving from one phone call to 2 for data to be compromised is a marginal improvement

nostr:npub126ntw5mnermmj0znhjhgdk8lh2af72sm8qfzq48umdlnhaj9kuns3le9ll is cooking something with their router that can make a bigger improvement in this area

incredibly bullish on start9

+1

What are they cooking specifically?

Eyes on it 👀

Or do you just want bots and paid whores so you aren’t questioned ~

I used Obscura for a month. It kept disconnecting and It slowed my connection speed. Also, only works on Mac for now.

Will try mullvad next.

Mullvad is basically the gold standard, theyre the best

So I understand from my cybersecurity guru.

Would like to see how they evolve.

MullVad Sign up/top up is next BTC ⚡️level simple.

Definitely better than just using Mullvad, but still doesn’t seem too difficult for two entities to collude and negate the privacy gains

They forward your encrypted VPN traffic over their servers onto Mullvad servers. They themselves can't decrypt the traffic, because it is encrypted using the wireguard to the public key of the mullvad exit node (verifiably). They also handle the mullvad subscription for you so you don't leave any data with mullvad. Basically mullvad sees your traffic, but not your originating IP address or PII and Obscura sees your originating IP, PII but never what traffic you send through the wireguard tunnel (except total bandwidth and rough shape).

If I am already with Mullwad (and paid for a couple of months in advance) can I join the scheme from there?

I am not an Obscura user, but I don't think so. They seem to manage subscription with Mullvad in bulk.

Thanks, I also presumed it would work like that

just needs more compatibility

Not mobile phone 🥺