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NordVPN library and client code open-sourced

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Re: NordVPN library and client code open-sourced

#211

Post by lxgr »

yurishimo wrote: post #103
mig39 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you know for sure that Mullvad sells DNS data? They claim to not log anything, including DNS.

I don't believe Mullvad sells DNS data, largely in part to their much higher pricing model when compared to Nord/Express/et. al Their FAQ confirms this, assuming you trust them. https://mullvad.net/en/help/no-logging-data-policy/#no-logs

A higher price point isn't proof of anything.

If a provider can sell a VPN for $1/month as a loss leader and make $5/user after selling all data, what keeps a $10/month VPN from making >$15 doing the exact same thing?

Re: NordVPN library and client code open-sourced

#212

Post by lxgr »

duxup wrote: post #114
VonGuard wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They, and ALL VPN PROVIDERS, sell your DNS data, as well. That's the real business model.

I think it is a risk that peole should be aware of / understand. But I don't buy into the idea that anyone can say "ALL VPN PROVIDERS" do a thing.

I'm sure that some VPN providers don't sell their users' data, but if you have no way of finding out which do and which don't, does it matter?

Re: NordVPN library and client code open-sourced

#213

Post by lxgr »

causi wrote: post #105
tenacious_tuna wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is an exceptionally broad statement. I think it's probable that Netflix doesn't work with large-scale VPN providers because it's broadly easy to identify the traffic source. However, using a wireguard tunnel from my ipad back to my house, netflix works fine.

He obviously didn't mean to include people who are just tunneling back to their residential IP.

What about a VPN that tunnels relevant traffic (i.e. usually the one to their backend API and/or DRM key/licensing server, not to their CDN) through residential connections in the same geography as the VPN relay?

Re: NordVPN library and client code open-sourced

#214

Post by lxgr »

LeeroyWasHere wrote: post #188
medo-bear wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

seems like torrenting is still easier (and safer) than using netflix and co

I was suspended by Disney+ for accidentally turning on my VPN to a location they didn't like...I instantly cancelled my subscription. I couldn't believe the suspension message, banned a paying user... Never again.

What location was that, out of curiosity, and what was the reason given?

Re: NordVPN library and client code open-sourced

#215

Post by lxgr »

WirelessGigabit wrote: post #195

If you Google "NordVPN port mapping" you get an article from them, which explains port mapping, what it is, and then at the end "We don't support it". Really annoying that every service has like a whole essay on what functionality is and then 1 one liner saying they don't support it.

Their "articles" largely seem to be SEO/content farm pieces without any meaningful content.

For example, their article on SOCKS vs. HTTP proxies vs. VPNs is factually nonsensical (by e.g. describing HTTP proxies as "always unencrypted", or SOCKS as having higher performance due to "not rewriting packet headers"): https://nordvpn.com/blog/socks5-proxy/

Re: NordVPN library and client code open-sourced

#216

Post by [deleted] »

selfmodruntime wrote: post #112
neodymiumphish wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thats not selling out. If he keeps the old video up and doesn't make the claim that NordVPN does things it doesn't actually do, then he's just advertising. There are legitimate uses for VPNs, they're just not the reasons these VPNs advertise (the the parent comment says).

He‘s still selling his advertisement time to a company that employs shady business tactics?

[deleted]

Re: NordVPN library and client code open-sourced

#217

Post by ganoushoreilly »

disadvantage wrote: post #204
wackget wrote: post #182

NordVPN, eh? I'll never forget there was a reddit thread on /r/vpn where a NordVPN customer complained about a billing issue or something. NordVPN's official response was to get defensive; they proceeded to actually publicly post a screenshot which included the customer's email address . I couldn't believe it. That tells you all you need to know about NordVPN's terrible attitude towards privacy.

> terrible attitude towards privacy A VPN is inherently not a privacy tool. It is perceived that way because of the acronym Virtual 'Private' Network but privacy is not in the design specs at all. It's just for tunneling over untrusted networks like Starbucks Wi-Fi and spoofing your geo-location. That's it. You can't verify the no-logs claims by providers unless you're physically in their building and auditing the se…

I'm curious as to why you're being down voted. Technically VPN is a private network, but what you're getting at isn't wrong either. If you don't own / control the network you have no way to verify. I'm not passing judgement on Nord one way or the other but I get what you're saying.

EDIT: At the time you were downvoted, I see it's not longer the case. Further comments about Nord and questionable behavior have also been posted in the thread.

Re: NordVPN library and client code open-sourced

#218

Post by buggeryorkshire »

mynameisvlad wrote: post #134
causi wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He obviously didn't mean to include people who are just tunneling back to their residential IP.

There’s many ways Netflix could detect VPN use, especially on mobile devices. It’s not obvious at all. Netflix could be doing something as simple as checking the IPs or could be actually checking the use of VPN at a system level. Both are equally valid readings of the GP comment.

iirc they also use the TTL of the request to see if it differs from others on the same IP. This was a while ago however.

Re: NordVPN library and client code open-sourced

#219

Post by [deleted] »

vykintasmak wrote: post #209

Hey, Vykintas from NordVPN here. Hackernews looks to be a tough crowd, so I wanted to add a few things. Today as you correctly spotted we released a Linux app as well as Libtelio and Libdrop open source - a step towards more transparency. Can see quite a few conspiracy theories there, happy to address them. While no service out there is perfect, we are aiming to create the best VPN service. Nord isn't keeping any log…

[deleted]

Re: NordVPN library and client code open-sourced

#220

Post by boomboomsubban »

mtlmtlmtlmtl wrote: post #81
zpeti wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think its sketchy, it's just that the VPN business has extremely large revenues compared to costs of the service, which means A LOT of money remains for marketing. They can spend exorbitant amounts on youtube ads and affiliate review sites. It's a bit of a unique market in this way, people are willing to pay $5-$10 per month for something that costs $1.

Nothing shady about fleecing your customers ;) The fact they're in Panama suggests some kind of money laundering scheme to me at the very least.

While I can agree that something about the business seems sketchy as hell, I don't see how it would be money laundering.

Do you think they're buying a bunch of YouTube sponsorships with drug money to then attract customers to an unprofitable business? Or they're buying their product themselves and then advertising to make it seem like they have a legitimate business?

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