Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

PIA VPN to be acquired by malware company founded by former Israeli spy

telegra.ph

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

371–380 of 381 posts

Re: PIA VPN to be acquired by malware company founded by former Israeli spy

#371

Post by pron »

kuschku wrote: post #370
pron wrote: post #368

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The NSA, Israeli Intelligence, BKA, FSB, etc are all not much better than the StaSi I guess it depends on your definition of "much better", but for roughly the same definition you'd need to use to make that statement, you could also make it about Google and Facebook. And note that we're not talking about Israeli intelligence; we're talking about people who, when they were in their late teens and early twenties serv…

> you could also make it about Google and Facebook Would you trust Google or Facebook to run a VPN? No, I don't trust them at all. I only use them in the most limited amount necessary, and only entrust them with data which is already public. I self-host everything else, because I don't trust them at all.

That's fine, but you should know that VPN implementors often particularly seek out former intelligence agency people to design their security, and that's pretty much where VPNs started. Feel free to trust whomever you like, but the assumption that people who've served in an intelligence agency can be trusted less than those who haven't isn't very logical. Those are often the people who understand security best, and as far as allegiances go, how can you trust anyone? When intelligence agencies want to insert backdoors etc., they can and do cover up their tracks. I.e., you won't know that the people involved are doing their bidding, nor would you have some special reason to suspect them. Your point of view might well lead to a less secure system.

Re: PIA VPN to be acquired by malware company founded by former Israeli spy

#372

Post by excursionist »

rasengan wrote: post #286
DCKing wrote: post #279

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is exactly my rationale. The fact that you have to explain that the company that bought you is not shady is writing on the wall, even if you have a good explanation. For the record, I think the explanation is pretty decent. But PIA is a commodity product from a technical perspective. It's the trust and reputation that's not the commodity, and being bought by a shady company ( even if it's "formerly shady") you d…

Trust is a fleeting concept. If you used PIA only for the trust and not for the verifiable transparency, then we have failed you. You can't trust some random VPN on internet. Anyone could have set it up. You can only verify. Don't trust. PIA will continue on its mission to increase transparency and set a new standard and expectation in the industry. With PIA, we will make sure you know what you're getting. Some may c…

> You can only verify.

What are you talking about? Verify what?

Re: PIA VPN to be acquired by malware company founded by former Israeli spy

#373

Post by excursionist »

rasengan wrote: post #278
NeedMoreTea wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trust and ethics are important. A company that is identified as using questionable ethics in business, for an extended period, is not automatically "reset to neutral" by airdropping in a new management team and a rebrand. Honestly? That sounds more like a move to bury the bad news, which has a long and effective history, just as the day a story goes public does - The Friday News Dump, Thanksgiving News Dump, etc. So,…

Nice comments. When Trump became president, was it still Obama’s administration? Given my knowledge on corporate governance and publicly held companies, I disagree with your first statement. The CEO and management team are absolutely the ones who define the ethics of a company and are legally responsible as well. As for Teddy, I’m not sure how knowing his background and being able to public verify his moves would cau…

> Transparency builds trust in real life and there is nothing but transparency here.

What transparency? I all see are unverifiable claims. Such claims actually make you more suspect imo.

> PIA has never logged nor has KAPE.

So you say.

> And to Zero Trust we are headed.

How is 'Zero Trust' in any way related to the issue of transparency you bring up?

Re: PIA VPN to be acquired by malware company founded by former Israeli spy

#374

Post by yodono »

As a general rule I have trusted PIA for years and I now trust your judgement in choosing a partner. Seriously I've considered all alternatives, other companies don't say anything about themselves; who owns the other VPN companies? couldn't find any info. Service has been great, price has been right. and I appreciate the honesty. The fact that you are here responding means a lot; and more than I can say for other companies.

Re: PIA VPN to be acquired by malware company founded by former Israeli spy

#375

Post by mirimir »

mijoharas wrote: post #235
mirimir wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, I actually wouldn't trust anyone with that. But Amazon, less so. Because they're totally profit driven. And wouldn't think twice before pwning me. I want to remain pseudonymous. Basically so I don't need to worry about damaging my meatspace reputation. And what would be the point of going to all that trouble, if I were going to compromise myself?

Sorry, I just realised my question was super ambiguous as to which part of your post I was asking "Why" to. I was specifically asking why you go to such large efforts to obscure your identity. You've answered that, but it definitely seems a lot of effort to go to.

About being lots of effort.

It was lots of effort. Some years ago. Mostly in learning how to do it.

But now it's only maintenance.

Not much more than maintaining my perimeter router.

Re: PIA VPN to be acquired by malware company founded by former Israeli spy

#376

Post by kragen »

mirimir wrote: post #375
mijoharas wrote: post #235

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, I just realised my question was super ambiguous as to which part of your post I was asking "Why" to. I was specifically asking why you go to such large efforts to obscure your identity. You've answered that, but it definitely seems a lot of effort to go to.

About being lots of effort. It was lots of effort. Some years ago. Mostly in learning how to do it. But now it's only maintenance. Not much more than maintaining my perimeter router.

It would be really interesting to see a how-to writeup so that other people can obtain the same levels of privacy without having to go through the steps of learning everything the hard way like you did. Also, it would probably help your privacy if there were other people doing the same thing.

Re: PIA VPN to be acquired by malware company founded by former Israeli spy

#377

Post by asdf-foo »

slg wrote: post #311
rasengan wrote: post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trust is a fleeting concept. If you used PIA only for the trust and not for the verifiable transparency, then we have failed you. You can't trust some random VPN on internet. Anyone could have set it up. You can only verify. Don't trust. PIA will continue on its mission to increase transparency and set a new standard and expectation in the industry. With PIA, we will make sure you know what you're getting. Some may c…

How do you propose we verify the transparency? I legitimately have no idea how I can verify what specifically is running on your servers. It seems to me that the entire VPN industry has a huge inherent information asymmetry since it is incredibly difficult for an end consumer to confirm any claims a provider makes about the quality of their product. Economic theory tells us that results in a market for lemons [1]. We…

Great question, raising both our concerns AND giving him a specific concern with which to answer.

THANKS A LOT. You scared him off.

Like a level 1 support intern, he's only allowed to answer off a script. And you broke that flow.

Re: PIA VPN to be acquired by malware company founded by former Israeli spy

#378

Post by asdf-foo »

excursionist wrote: post #372
rasengan wrote: post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trust is a fleeting concept. If you used PIA only for the trust and not for the verifiable transparency, then we have failed you. You can't trust some random VPN on internet. Anyone could have set it up. You can only verify. Don't trust. PIA will continue on its mission to increase transparency and set a new standard and expectation in the industry. With PIA, we will make sure you know what you're getting. Some may c…

> You can only verify. What are you talking about? Verify what?

Aint nobody got time to answer specifics

Re: PIA VPN to be acquired by malware company founded by former Israeli spy

#380

Post by Fnoord »

rasengan wrote: post #278
NeedMoreTea wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trust and ethics are important. A company that is identified as using questionable ethics in business, for an extended period, is not automatically "reset to neutral" by airdropping in a new management team and a rebrand. Honestly? That sounds more like a move to bury the bad news, which has a long and effective history, just as the day a story goes public does - The Friday News Dump, Thanksgiving News Dump, etc. So,…

Nice comments. When Trump became president, was it still Obama’s administration? Given my knowledge on corporate governance and publicly held companies, I disagree with your first statement. The CEO and management team are absolutely the ones who define the ethics of a company and are legally responsible as well. As for Teddy, I’m not sure how knowing his background and being able to public verify his moves would cau…

The irony. You were spreading FUD concerning ProtonVPN and their connections here on HN and Reddit. Now it is you who gets grilled. Karma is a bitch, isn't it?
Post reply on HN