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We are removing the option to create new subscriptions

mullvad.net

71–80 of 453 posts

Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions

#71

Very interesting. Mullvad seems to be the most extreme and reputable VPN service out there when it comes to privacy. At least it seems that way.

A VPN will hide you from your ISP, but that's about it, isn't it? Does a VPN really provide that much real privacy?

Hiding your activity from your ISP is a Huge Deal in the USA. Can't speak to other countries though.

Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions

#72

Have Mullvad's privacy guarantees been tested by subpoena?

If your threat model includes nation state intervention, a 5 Euro VPN isn't going to help you. In fact, no VPN is going to help you. The best you can get is probably Tor + Tails, but even then you better be looking over your shoulder.

Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions

#73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A VPN will hide you from your ISP, but that's about it, isn't it? Does a VPN really provide that much real privacy?

It also stops sites you visit from seeing your real IP.

Sure but with fingerprinting that's only a minor nuisance to most advertisers and sites who are tracking you.

Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions

#74
post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A VPN will hide you from your ISP, but that's about it, isn't it? Does a VPN really provide that much real privacy?

Well, yes and no. For most people, they're over-rated. You don't even need a VPN to securely pay your credit card bill on public Wi-Fi. However, there are two cases where they are useful: - IP address hiding (something like iCloud Private Relay for iOS/Mac users does this at the browser level, VPN brings it to the entire system) - Legal protections - Location simulation If you want to hide your IP address, this could…

You forgot the most important use case, unless you're talking about Europeans and USians only. I use a VPN simply because half the internet doesn't work without it (some guy in a suit decided what you can and cannot read, and there's nothing you can do about it).

Free tiers provided by various "cloud" services work fine for this one (Oracle is the most generous among them).

Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions

#75
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a very good question. I wonder why companies don't push hard to disallow third-party services from storing their customers' data. I had this issue as an employe. My employer used a third-party service for onboarding. This service had a breach and my data (including my SSN) was leaked. I've been begging my employer (one reason I wish I lived in California) to take action and have them remove my data, because an…

If you accept payment, it's very hard not to relay some information to a third party, except if you build your own payment provider service... But I'd love to see Stripe make more effort here and e.g. start allowing EU hosting for EU customers and so on.

I don't mind sending data to the service, but the moment the information is no longer needed, we should have the expectation that you delete the data.

Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions

#76
post #29

Have Mullvad's privacy guarantees been tested by subpoena?

This does not apply. They’re european, a subpoena from the us government wouldn’t have any effect on them.

that's not true, the USA has agreements to exchange information on citizens with the vast majority of European countries. While a local yokel might have a rough time, the federal government would only have to put in a request and wait a while. The only cost is the effort to file for it.

Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions

#77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Part of the advantage of the recurring subscription model is having predictable revenue every month due to it being recurring. And many businesses count on that "gym membership" effect, where people who don't use a service also don't take the time to cancel it for a while.

that's me and my audible subscription. i should cancel it, but before that i have to use the credits.

Holy cow, that’s evil.

https://help.audible.com/s/article/do-i-keep-my-credits-if-i...

Do I keep my credits if I cancel my Audible Premium Plus membership? No. If you end your Audible Premium Plus membership, your credits will be lost with your other membership benefits.

Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions

#78
post #65

I like this a lot even though my primary reason is unexpected subscription renewal. I started a membership site and tried to use every single thing I would want as a customer. One of the things was a reminder that my yearly membership was about to expire, and by doing nothing this would indeed happen. No automatic renewal (but keeping the account in an inactive state). Confident customers can renew for 3 years with a…

This is a nice approach. Have you considered giving customers the option to turn on automatic renewal?

There are certain specific things that I would want always to auto renew (like domain names, hosting related stuff etc)

If I ever get round to building a subscription SaaS I might consider “off by default” auto-renewal and leave it to customers to turn it on if want it… though this does add a bit of complexity I guess.

Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions

#79
post #17

This is a great idea! In practice, how would you go about this e.g. if you're using Stripe? After a few weeks, delete the customer information in Stripe?

Mullvad deletes all transactions as soon as they are allowed by law/contract with pay agent. That's 45 days for some things and 60 for others I believe. They have more details on their site. This assumes you trust them to shred that info though. They also supposedly don't keep ip logs, but I assume their ISP does, so I guess that's of limited value.

Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions

#80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Part of the advantage of the recurring subscription model is having predictable revenue every month due to it being recurring. And many businesses count on that "gym membership" effect, where people who don't use a service also don't take the time to cancel it for a while.

that's me and my audible subscription. i should cancel it, but before that i have to use the credits.

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