VPN – Very Precarious Narrative

Post by quickthrower2 » Mon, Apr 08, 2019, 5:37 AM UTC

thinkloop wrote: post #113

lifthrasiir wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He made this point explicit: > Networks like these make it easy for attackers to get a copy of your network data, and if you send something unencrypted, the results can be quite harmful. The web should be ideally end-to-end encrypted with HTTPS. But in case this assumption breaks down, VPN gives an additional headroom for security. Not much (as explained in the article, and thus should not be advertised so), but stil…

The VPN only protects the first hop, it would not be a good backup for https.

Post by mirimir » Mon, Apr 08, 2019, 5:44 AM UTC

droithomme wrote: post #98

kmonsen wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, if you are doing illegal stuff very little of what you can find online will protect you. But if you are hiding from non-law enforcement it is easy to get pretty anonymous.

I guess since I have nothing to hide I have nothing to fear! Thanks friend! We are definitely not living in a surveillance state and we have nothing to worry about as long as we do our jobs cheerfully, obey authority, and conform. I love my life, my job, and my government. There is nothing to see here, everything is normative and fine. Those engaging in crimes though, such as watching region locked content outside th…

Post by sigmar » Mon, Apr 08, 2019, 5:48 AM UTC

cantrevealname wrote: post #57

> If you are using your device on a public network, VPNs can help you protect your data. I have a ProtonVPN subscription myself, just for those instances where I am sitting in an airport waiting for my plane Seems like a contradictory message. He just got through telling us how most of the web is now end-to-end encrypted with HTTPS. So why does he need a VPN at the airport? Is he checking his email? I can't imagine t…

Post by tedunangst » Mon, Apr 08, 2019, 6:06 AM UTC

sigmar wrote: post #125

cantrevealname wrote: post #57

> If you are using your device on a public network, VPNs can help you protect your data. I have a ProtonVPN subscription myself, just for those instances where I am sitting in an airport waiting for my plane Seems like a contradictory message. He just got through telling us how most of the web is now end-to-end encrypted with HTTPS. So why does he need a VPN at the airport? Is he checking his email? I can't imagine t…

>most of the web is now end-to-end encrypted with HTTPS. So why does he need a VPN at the airport? What percentage of (typically rushed) people at an airport will notice that a website is loading over http instead of https? SSLsplit is pretty useful.

Post by mr_toad » Mon, Apr 08, 2019, 6:17 AM UTC

m3nu wrote: post #120

The real problem with VPNs is that they are sold as a full privacy and security solution to people who don't understand what's going on technically. There are some legitimate reasons to use a VPN. Those are far fewer than the marketing claims of those companies. What I've seen over time: * hide your IP from the service you're using (related to geoblocking) * get around limitations of your ISP (blocked ports or thrott…