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VPN owners: 97 VPN products run by 23 companies

vpnpro.com

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Re: VPN owners: 97 VPN products run by 23 companies

#3
post #2

Nearly as disturbing as the number of people who tell me they use free VPNs. It is a bit mind boggling that folks are concerned about something and use a VPN...but choose a free one...

Yes, a more secure and practical alternative to "VPN services" is the Tor network, which externalizes the cost of infrastructure to volunteers and thus reduces the risk inherent with centralized control. While Tor is also not without risk, I really wish more privacy oriented services and software had decentralization as a core tenet of their design.

Re: VPN owners: 97 VPN products run by 23 companies

#4
post #3
post #2

Nearly as disturbing as the number of people who tell me they use free VPNs. It is a bit mind boggling that folks are concerned about something and use a VPN...but choose a free one...

Yes, a more secure and practical alternative to "VPN services" is the Tor network, which externalizes the cost of infrastructure to volunteers and thus reduces the risk inherent with centralized control. While Tor is also not without risk, I really wish more privacy oriented services and software had decentralization as a core tenet of their design.

Tor has a terrible user experience though. You can't just browse without bandwidth woes.

Re: VPN owners: 97 VPN products run by 23 companies

#6
post #2

Nearly as disturbing as the number of people who tell me they use free VPNs. It is a bit mind boggling that folks are concerned about something and use a VPN...but choose a free one...

Agreed. With the possible exception of Psiphon which is built by and for activists.

https://www.psiphon3.com

Tor is obviously another option but I don't strictly speaking categorise that as a VPN.

Re: VPN owners: 97 VPN products run by 23 companies

#7
post #5

Here's the research they're summarizing (never linked directly in the computerweekly article): https://vpnpro.com/blog/hidden-vpn-owners-unveiled-97-vpns-2...

Ok, we changed to that from https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252466203/Top-VPNs-secre.... Thanks!

Re: VPN owners: 97 VPN products run by 23 companies

#8
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, a more secure and practical alternative to "VPN services" is the Tor network, which externalizes the cost of infrastructure to volunteers and thus reduces the risk inherent with centralized control. While Tor is also not without risk, I really wish more privacy oriented services and software had decentralization as a core tenet of their design.

Tor has a terrible user experience though. You can't just browse without bandwidth woes.

I can load YouTube just fine over Tor

Re: VPN owners: 97 VPN products run by 23 companies

#10
post #2

Nearly as disturbing as the number of people who tell me they use free VPNs. It is a bit mind boggling that folks are concerned about something and use a VPN...but choose a free one...

One of the most popular paid ones, NordVON, is super mysterious anyhow.
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