Nostr Web Client

Do you really need a VPN?

Basics recap for consumer VPNs:

1. Not everyone needs a VPN. It depends on your threat model / jurisdiction you live in / expectations around privacy. You need to understand the extent of protection they provide to assess that.

2. Despite what most VPN providers will tell you in their marketing speak, using a VPN alone will be ineffective or useless for:

- Achieving anonymity or "perfect privacy"

- Preventing tech corporations from profiling you

- Protecting your passwords

- Hiding your mobile phone location

- Providing better security when working from home

3. Trustworthy VPNs can be effective at:

- Encrypting your data and DNS requests so your ISP or mobile network operator cannot monitor or log your online activity

- Masking your IP address from websites and servers you connect to

- Circumventing censorship or geo blocks

- Increasing your security on untrusted public networks by preventing MITM attacks (not common)

If you see claims from a VPN provider contrary to any of the points above, they are either lying to you or are incompetent. 95% of them won't pass this test.

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Discussion

Rand 1y ago

vpns also send a message to the overlords that people r tired of the shit/ like a vote & yes i vote with my $ t-y^

Konstantine 1y ago

high quality education is the best marketing. gj nostr:npub1wlx4wqeyzzspw43gk56hlfj4k8ava262let5wvammn8djwx7jx3qp5zy3z!

nostr:nevent1qqsdazlr7m34uyx9sephuf7jp592hat2zg8vvjpm3x49sqsxrsn0dnqpzemhxue69uhkummnw3ex2mrfw3jhxtn0wfnj7q3qwlx4wqeyzzspw43gk56hlfj4k8ava262let5wvammn8djwx7jx3qagv5jk

Girino Vey! 1y ago

I was in a hotel once where i couldn't resolve the dns for some domain no matter what i did. I then realized they were intercepting all DNS calls at the router level, and responding with their own dns (which was buggy). I don't think they intended to do a MitM attack, but i also don't trust their competence at protecting their router from intruders who could do such things. So when in hotels or public wi-fi I ALWAYS use:

1- Private DoH or DoT DNS (all modern OSes support one of them)

2- A VPN

(I actually always use DoT on my android phone, since i don't truste the phone companies either, specially while on roaming)

Sascha-Oliver Prolić 1y ago

VPNs are nothing but honeypots. Worse than TOR exit nodes, almost all are run by the CIA.

IVPN on Nostr 1y ago

Can't say we agree as sovereign, doxxed individuals working on a privacy focused VPN service for 5-15 years (varies by team member), prioritizing team visibility and transparency so you will know who you trust with your data.

Having said that, you can't verify our claims directly - there are ongoing projects to tackle that problem, but we are not there yet.

Sascha-Oliver Prolić 1y ago

Great you can trust each other. But that doesn't mean anyone else can trust you as well. I'm fed up with putting trust in people.

Vivi Nella Verita 1y ago

I like these guys lol. I should switch to them when Mullvad subscription is up

nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqa7d2upjgy9qzatz3df407n9tv06e6454ljhguemhhxwmyudaydzqqsdazlr7m34uyx9sephuf7jp592hat2zg8vvjpm3x49sqsxrsn0dnqm3jzyx

YODL 1y ago

Could you elaborate on the mobile phone location? Who can see that, and what’s the best way to mask it?

Hazey 1y ago

Your mobile phone service provider (ie Verizon, at&t or whoever) knows your location and can see (and *will* sell the metadata of) your data traffic, just like your home ISP does. VPN allows only the VPN provider to see it

YODL 1y ago

That’s like… that’s not cool man.

Seriously though, thanks for reply . Helpful