VPNs

[Sumbitch]

Couldn't find a thread devoted solely to this topic and their benefits and disadvantages so...

Added free Chrome extension DotVPN then read that its disadvantage is security, ie anonymity, so bought a yearly subscription ($8.32/mo) with expressVPN. Problem with both is that they slow down internet transactions to practically 1 Mbps and before VPN I was getting over 70 Mbps. Like TD times out before it even opens. So I've disabled both but plan to enable them in time for any critical downloads or uploads. What's the diff?

[Looper]

^sounds a tad expensive.

My annual subscription to PIA just renewed and it was US$45 annual fee I think.

Download speeds are slower with the VPN connected so I run it on my media machine which just does downloads.

I only fire up the VPN on my regular machine when I am hitting the illegal tethered goat porn fetish sites on the weekends

[Sumbitch]

^ That's a good idea. I have an old computer also.

[CaptainNemo]

^sounds a tad expensive.

My annual subscription to PIA just renewed and it was US$45 annual fee I think.

Download speeds are slower with the VPN connected so I run it on my media machine which just does downloads.

I only fire up the VPN on my regular machine when I am hitting the illegal tethered goat porn fetish sites on the weekends

Tethering on your phone to get that are you? That sounds expensive.

[Looper]

[BaitongBoy]

What's a VPN?...And what's with the goat harness?...

[Sumbitch]

Every computer has an IP address:

a unique string of numbers separated by periods that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network.

for example when I type in whatismyipaddress.com in the address bar this information is available for anyone to see:

IP:146.88.50.153
Decimal:2455253657
Hostname:bb_dyn_pb-146-88-50-153.violin.co.th
ASN:132280
ISP:Symphony Internet Service Provider
Organization:Symphony Communication PLC. Services:None detected Type:Broadband
Assignment:Static IP
Blacklist: Blacklist Check

Geolocation Information

Continent:Asia
Country:Thailand
State/Region:Bangkok
City:Bangkok
Latitude: 13.7083 (13° 42′ 29.88″ N)
Longitude: 100.4562 (100° 27′ 22.32″ E)
Postal Code:10110
Don't want this known? Hide your IP details
Location not accurate? Update your location

A VPN or Virtual Private Network is a method used to add security and privacy to private and public networks. Privacy is increased with a VPN because the user's initial IP address is replaced with one from the VPN provider. This method allows subscribers to attain an IP address from any gateway city the VPN service provides. For instance, you may live in San Francisco, but with a VPN, you can appear to live in Amsterdam, New York, or any number of gateway cities.

https://www.whatismyip.com/what-is-a-vpn/

[BaitongBoy]

Cheers, Sumbitch...How about an LPN?...No, not a nurse...

A "Literal" Private Network...

[cyrille]

I also use PIA. No complaints. Makes my Skype connection much better.

[Sumbitch]

^ can you elaborate on how PIAs provide security?

[cyrille]

I didn't really get it for security.

[thailazer]

ZenMate is great for getting the news and being under the radar. The free version is fast enough for the casual user. Since it is a FireFox plugin, you can click the icon to turn it off and on.

[Hugh Cow]

I use Optus browser with free VPN. Have downloaded movies and speed was no problem. (Only legal downloads of course). NB I do have a good high speed connection.

[Sumbitch]

https://vpnreviewer.com/zenmate-review

Logging and Privacy

According to the Privacy policy, “no personal data is collected, processed or permanently stored.” However, there are 5 different situations when the above rule does not apply:

• When selecting a certain server to use ZenMate;
• When the customer support is contacted;
• When a user is subscribing to newsletters;
• When ZenMate is providing further information upon user request;
• When users are generating postings in forums, communities and through comment functions.

For sign-up they require only the email address. However, in the Privacy Policy they admit to store the IP address of user “temporarily” to “prevent attacks against ZenMate” – whatever that means, as no time-frame is defined.

As they say I guess you get what you pay for.

Have u checked your internet download and upload speed when connected vs disconnected?

[Jesus Jones]

I have paid for IPVanish and can barely browse when connected. Used it two years ago and it was great. Decided to sign up again recently and it takes minutes to open a page. Like being on dial-up again.

[Sumbitch]

I have paid for IPVanish and can barely browse when connected. Used it two years ago and it was great. Decided to sign up again recently and it takes minutes to open a page. Like being on dial-up again.

That basically is what this thread is about. I've been hoping for someone to come up with a magic bullet.

[Sumbitch]

Security is essential if you're doing any torrent downloads or, heaven forbid, buying on the Dark Web.

[Sumbitch]

If you do go into the Dark Web, by design you have to use the Tor browser:

instead of having your traffic routed from your computer and through an onion-like layer of servers, it stays within the Tor network. You won't know exactly what system you're accessing unless they tell you, and they won't know who you are unless they do - or unless one of you is careless.

And TD has discussed the loopholes in the Tor browser before. But it does provide a level of security and you do pay for it in terms of download and upload speed.

[cyrille]

When I used zenmate it absolutely hammered my speed.

What do you go onto the dark web for?

[Sumbitch]

I just turned on my VPN to start a download then tested the internet speed: Download speed = 34 Mbps. Traffic is light on New Year's day, no doubt.

For the sake of comparison, turned it off and tested it again: Ping= 38 ms, Download = 72.5 Mbps, Upload = 40 Mbps. So yeah. No traffic on New Year's Day.

[Slick]

expressVPN. Problem with both is that they slow down internet transactions to practically 1 Mbps and before VPN I was getting over 70 Mbps. Like TD times out before it even opens. So I've disabled both but plan to enable them in time for any critical downloads or uploads.

This is what I use. Set it on the USA-Denver Colorado server location and US Netflix works pretty well. I get up to 1080p within about 1 minute on Macbook Pro & Safari, 3BB 50/15 mbps. Use Express VPN all the time browsing, no problems, just have to switch server locations when needed.

Tor, yeah has holes but its still pretty solid alone. Works pretty fast in the USA, but thailand its slow as balls. Never tried it with VPN Enabled, but I imagine it would be a matter of research, trial, & error to find a VPN + server location.

The thing with Tor and The Dark Net - PGP Encryption. Thats really the money shot of it all. Its not illegal to visit the dark net (country specific) but its illegal to illegal things ON the dark net and thats where PGP comes in.

If the speeds are a suckin' then you have to switch server locations.

[Slick]

I just turned on my VPN to start a download then tested the internet speed: 34 Mbps. Traffic is light on New Year's day, no doubt.

Gotta list your server locations. A lot of people say that Singapore server locations actually increase international speeds.

[Sumbitch]

Set it on the USA-Denver Colorado server location and US Netflix works pretty well. I get up to 1080p within about 1 minute on Macbook Pro & Safari, 3BB 50/15 mbps. Use Express VPN all the time browsing, no problems, just have to switch server locations when needed.

No doubt that's close to home, EH? Where do you relocate your server when needed?

The thing with Tor and The Dark Net - PGP Encryption. Thats really the money shot of it all. Its not illegal to visit the dark net (country specific) but its illegal to illegal things ON the dark net and thats where PGP comes in.

Right and PGP can be a bitch to learn which is why a lot of buyers skip it. I tend to think the TOR browser is all you need also but there are some computer geniuses here (not being sarcastic) who say you still should use a VPN.

[Slick]

PGP Encryption is a way to encrypt text in a way thats still uncrackable by the NSA. Allows 2 people to talk without anyone else ever being able to know whats actually being said. Bit complicated at first.

Edit

Yep a bitch to learn for sure.

[Sumbitch]

PGP Encryption is a way to encrypt text in a way thats still uncrackable by the NSA. Allows 2 people to talk without anyone else ever being able to know whats actually being said. Bit complicated at first.

Can you post a layman's instructions here?