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Top VPNs recording users, potentially leaking data when visiting their websites

vpnpro.com

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Re: Top VPNs recording users, potentially leaking data when visiting their websites

#32
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

true - i only recognize windscribe (1) and mullvad though

ProtonVPN is one of the most popular ones out there, and is also listed with 0 trackers.

on the other hand, i'm surprised that PIA and Tunnelbear have so few trackers

Re: Top VPNs recording users, potentially leaking data when visiting their websites

#33

> "2. AirVPN – 0" Shoutout to AirVPN, run by actual hacktivists: https://airvpn.org/mission/

that's great. i didn't even notice that. automatic upvote

They appear to be a group with a mission financing themselves with VPN services, as opposed to most other VPN providers, who're just there to make a buck, and wouldn't give two shits to the circumstances as to why a VPN would even be necessary.

Hell, I'm pretty sure, the guys at AirVPN are aware that working for their goals actually reduces their potential customer base, but the mission is more important, it just needs to be financed, and it appears to be going well.

Profit-oriented VPNs would probably (secretly) support legislation inhibiting digital freedoms to make more money.

Also, you can probably guess who's more likely comply with authorities in legal issues...

Find yourself a good VPN provider, worth staying loyal to, and save yourself from future headaches. When I first signed up on AirVPN, they were charging 54€ per annum, now, last I checked half a year ago, they have three-year plans for 45€. I wish them continued success!

Re: Top VPNs recording users, potentially leaking data when visiting their websites

#34
With how much of the internet is over TLS, and the fact the you still have to trust someone, be they a VPN operator or ISP, aside from georestrictions and piracy, VPN services are mostly snake oil. It shouldn't be surprising that they're employing marketing tools to sell more of it.

As for them even selling privacy, while I don't trust major ISPs, at least there are more eyes on them. You generally have no idea who's operating a VPN, so even that's dubious.

Re: Top VPNs recording users, potentially leaking data when visiting their websites

#36

Maybe it's just me, but it feels like this is trying to scare people into thinking that the VPNs mentioned are doing this tracking on the sites you visit while using their VPN, when it's really only about the VPN's own website (which people usually visit only when they sign up). It doesn't explicitly say the tracking is happening while using the VPNs in question, but I would bet a large portion of readers assume that…

agree 100%. title is perfectly clear, but also perfectly designed to mislead.

Re: Top VPNs recording users, potentially leaking data when visiting their websites

#37

Maybe it's just me, but it feels like this is trying to scare people into thinking that the VPNs mentioned are doing this tracking on the sites you visit while using their VPN, when it's really only about the VPN's own website (which people usually visit only when they sign up). It doesn't explicitly say the tracking is happening while using the VPNs in question, but I would bet a large portion of readers assume that…

I don't know what you can see, but the full title shows that it's about websites and their info section shows that they only analyzed websites. "In order to analyze these websites..." i get what you mean, but i think that's a bit more about reading comprehension than what they've been doing.

    > I  don't know what you can see, but the 
    > full title shows that it's about websites

"Top Virtual Private Networks recording users, potentially leaking data when visiting their web sites"

When the acronym is expanded, the title strongly suggests a problem with the networks, not VPN providers.

Re: Top VPNs recording users, potentially leaking data when visiting their websites

#38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know what you can see, but the full title shows that it's about websites and their info section shows that they only analyzed websites. "In order to analyze these websites..." i get what you mean, but i think that's a bit more about reading comprehension than what they've been doing.

Yes, you and I both recognize that they're only talking about the VPN's own websites, but I'd bet good money that a majority of less-technical readers (not HN readers) won't understand that distinction. It feels like the author knows that, and deliberately failed to point out the fact that the tracking in question doesn't affect a person's privacy while using the VPNs. Case in point: > Remember, these trackers are ma…

I'm a technical person, and the title absolutely baffles me.

"Top VPNs Recording Users" "Potentially Leaking Data When Visiting Their Sites" what data, and how would I be leaking it to their site? Why is this pertinent and what does it have to do with them recording users? Are they recording users history and leaking it to their own sites?

So many questions, so much click-bait. The net result is that I had to waste time trying to figure out whether this article was correctly backing up what its title conveyed. I have now given them ad-views, trust the VPNPro website even less, and the web is less well off in general because some > 0 amount of people will start mistrusting VPNs and VPN-review sites.

Re: Top VPNs recording users, potentially leaking data when visiting their websites

#39

Quick summary: Top VPNs don't actually care about your privacy. Shoooockkeer of the century

Quick summary — top vpn companies use the same trackers as most other when you visit the provider’s website to sign up or download. Says nothing about the actual operation of the VPN itself.

I block the website trackers anyway, so clearly I don’t approve of them. But TBF this has nothing to do with your experience as a customer.

Re: Top VPNs recording users, potentially leaking data when visiting their websites

#40

Maybe it's just me, but it feels like this is trying to scare people into thinking that the VPNs mentioned are doing this tracking on the sites you visit while using their VPN, when it's really only about the VPN's own website (which people usually visit only when they sign up). It doesn't explicitly say the tracking is happening while using the VPNs in question, but I would bet a large portion of readers assume that…

If the VPN company insists on tracking me to this extent when I'm on their website, why should I trust them to not track me when I'm using their VPN?

You would think a company whose core product is supposed to be about privacy would be extra careful to respect its customers' privacy on their own website.

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