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Ask HN: What VPN service are you currently using?

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Re: Ask HN: What VPN service are you currently using?

#121

Post by frio »

spindle wrote: post #61

Mullvad, because it has a good interface for port forwarding, and I kinda like the fact that it supports wireguard. It's also fast and reliable (but so are many of the others), and apparently has good privacy. I've previously used AirVPN, which was great except for not having any servers near me, and ExpressVPN, which was great except for not having such a good interface for port forwarding (and also it's the most ex…

I keep mullvad + Wireguard in my back pocket for when there's no choice but VPNing. It's been a perfectly workable combo so far.

Re: Ask HN: What VPN service are you currently using?

#122

Post by vmlinuz »

Since my main use for a VPN is to access things in the UK from the UK, I use a Raspberry Pi which I left hidden behind the TV in my parents' living room, running things including OpenVPN. Their upload bandwidth isn't great, so I try to avoid loading it during the day - one useful effect of being in a very different timezone!

I also setup OpenVPN access on my mum's laptop, so she can access things in the UK when she's traveling...

Bandwidth costs and blocking of known IP blocks makes a VPS-based solution not so attractive to me. I do have a couple of 'lifetime' accounts with random VPN providers as a backup. I also have the OpenVPN client running in a docker container on my PC with a SOCKS server in front of it, for flexibility.

Re: Ask HN: What VPN service are you currently using?

#123

Post by elliotec »

dfee wrote: post #77

This might sound dumb. But, I use ProtonVPN because Mozilla partnered with them and I place trust in Mozilla’s ability to make a more informed choice than I can make — largely due to their access to information and on hand knowledge and expertise. https://blog.mozilla.org/futurereleases/2018/10/22/testing-n...

I also use ProtonVPN, and proton mail, which I can also highly recommend.

Re: Ask HN: What VPN service are you currently using?

#124

Post by discordance »

hannob wrote: post #41

The first question you should ask is why you want a VPN. Because I believe many people newer ask this question and have some vague idea about "it somehow improves security and/or privacy". In most situations this likely isn't true. You add an additional attack vector and you centralize your communication to a single point.

Mostly because I don't trust my ISP/telecomm provider

Re: Ask HN: What VPN service are you currently using?

#125

Post by sandGorgon »

frio wrote: post #121
spindle wrote: post #61

Mullvad, because it has a good interface for port forwarding, and I kinda like the fact that it supports wireguard. It's also fast and reliable (but so are many of the others), and apparently has good privacy. I've previously used AirVPN, which was great except for not having any servers near me, and ExpressVPN, which was great except for not having such a good interface for port forwarding (and also it's the most ex…

I keep mullvad + Wireguard in my back pocket for when there's no choice but VPNing. It's been a perfectly workable combo so far.

how do you use wireguard from your phone (i assume that's what you meant by pocket).

I thought wireguard was all cli based for now and no good UI (I use Linux desktop and Android phones)

Re: Ask HN: What VPN service are you currently using?

#126

Post by ACow_Adonis »

muppetman wrote: post #48
hannob wrote: post #41

The first question you should ask is why you want a VPN. Because I believe many people newer ask this question and have some vague idea about "it somehow improves security and/or privacy". In most situations this likely isn't true. You add an additional attack vector and you centralize your communication to a single point.

100% this. VPN marketing appears to have really gotten to people, everyone's always asking about it. Real reasons I can see to use a VPN service 1) You want your traffic to reliably egress in that country. i.e. I live in New Zealand but to access some Australian TV on demand, I need to "appear" in Australia. 2) Errr, I can't think of any others. If you are really trying to hide your traffic from your ISP: 1) Change I…

As an Australian:

1) Protect against logging and data retention laws

2) Avoid ISP legal universal blocking regimes

3) Shop for and compare cheaper prices: many places implement what we call the 'australia' tax, artificially inflate the prices when they see we're shopping from an Australian location. This is independent of actual tax collection issues.

4) Torrent: Australian's frequently access shows via torrenting still because our licensing/supply regime gives us a vastly sub-standard catalogue, and you can't access individual shows without signing up to full carrier packages, and we can't sign up to the international carrier's catalogue

5) Avoid data-shaping/non-net-neutral policies

6) Easy International and Geo-IP Testing

7) Logging onto services in public places via public wifi or access points

8) Accessing services during international travel

9) Accessing media explicitly geo-blocked in our country

Your solution (i believe) additionally doesn't meet the criteria of being able to egress from multiple countries/sources, nor does it cover the users who don't want the extra step of setting up the VPS.

I haven't checked, but i'm guessing a VPS comes at a far higher price for less (out of the box VPN specific features) than a specialised VPN provider.

Re: Ask HN: What VPN service are you currently using?

#127

Post by cyberferret »

jorgesborges wrote: post #14
woodruffw wrote: post #4

I use Algo[1] on a variety of VPS providers. It supports IPSec, but I only use Wireguard through it. Supporting OpenVPN is an explicit anti-goal for Algo[2]. I generally strongly recommend against using VPN providers on false advertisement grounds -- VPNs fundamentally cannot provide strong anonymity properties, but that doesn't stop many providers from listing anonymity as a selling point. In terms of the property V…

Another option via this route is Streisand. https://github.com/StreisandEffect/streisand

I've used Streisand for a couple of years now with good result (running on a couple of Digital Ocean $5/mo instances). It takes a bit of setting up on new devices initially, but once done, is super smooth and easy to use.

Re: Ask HN: What VPN service are you currently using?

#128

Post by zenlot »

dfee wrote: post #77

This might sound dumb. But, I use ProtonVPN because Mozilla partnered with them and I place trust in Mozilla’s ability to make a more informed choice than I can make — largely due to their access to information and on hand knowledge and expertise. https://blog.mozilla.org/futurereleases/2018/10/22/testing-n...

There are a lot of previous discussions on Proton{VPN,Mail} to read up: https://hn.algolia.com/?query=protonvpn&sort=byPopularity&pr...

Re: Ask HN: What VPN service are you currently using?

#129

Post by latch »

sandGorgon wrote: post #125
frio wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I keep mullvad + Wireguard in my back pocket for when there's no choice but VPNing. It's been a perfectly workable combo so far.

how do you use wireguard from your phone (i assume that's what you meant by pocket). I thought wireguard was all cli based for now and no good UI (I use Linux desktop and Android phones)

There's an android app (1). Works fine. Running it 24/7.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wireguard....

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