VPN which one is the best value and actually works?
- Thread starter Rover31
- Start date
Q
QuickNDirty
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PIA and VyprVPN
Vypr has more nodes across the globe, pricing is about the same.
Vypr has more nodes across the globe, pricing is about the same.
I’ve had constant connection issues with PIA on iOS over the last 18 months. It works 90% (correction: 97% of the time, that 3% is just fucking annoying) of the time. Currently using NordVPN, which seems to be better but I’ve only been using it for a few weeks. Both have issues with GMail, specifically sending. I’ve had an email sitting in my outbox for days now with having tried both. It’s a known issue with PIA at least, and doesn’t always do it. Some emails go through, others do not.
EDIT:: Disclaimer: I route all my mobile traffic through a VPN so I see all the bugs, any VPN (that doesn’t keep logs) is better than none.
EDIT:: Disclaimer: I route all my mobile traffic through a VPN so I see all the bugs, any VPN (that doesn’t keep logs) is better than none.
If you run it inside a plain virtual machine that you destroy each time, it's pretty close. I assume NSA could do packet manipulation to track it, but other than that, it can be anonymous.
Actually agree with both comments. It can be effectively anonymous from 99.9% of the "normal internet", but ultimately when you use a commercial VPN there is one fundamental reality to deal with:
1.) You are surrendering all trust and all exit node traffic to be potentially visible by VPN Provider. You have to take them at their word that they are doing everything they can do ensure your traffic can't be linked back to you as an individual.
I use express vpn and have had very good luck with it, both inside and outside the U.S.
Been using Vypr VPN for several years. Good pricing and reliability. Good thruput, just check the available servers for speed notations.
Depending on your goals for a VPN, that will shift where you land with a provider and also where the provider hosts their machines/servers:
If your exit node is located in the U.S. and E.U. based country, if push come to shove, unless the VPN is SUPER LOCKED In, they could get pinched hard for data records based on these 29 countries perspective of data retention, and/or get pinched to provide keys to actively monitor exit node traffic.
Scenario 1: Just looking to hide your activity from your IP provider, secure your connection from middle man attacks in your apartment/house airports/public/wifi etc, most VPNs will be just fine assuming they are using AES 256 at a minimum.
Scenario 2: Looking to hide your IP for torrenting, file sharing etc, double check the exit node's country's approach/policy to DMCA notifications, take down threats, etc.
Scenario 3: Trying to get netflix options in Australia, Canada, etc, anything is fine that works and hasn't been reported as a VPN
Scenario 4: Trying to "beat a state level actor" and get news out of a repressive country/government/etc, your game needs to step up significantly, start looking at multi-hop VPNs that have multiple nodes in various countries, that ultimately exit where data retention/take downs/international warrants are used as T.P.
Probably many others i'm not thinking of from much smarter peeps who do this shit more for a living
If your exit node is located in the U.S. and E.U. based country, if push come to shove, unless the VPN is SUPER LOCKED In, they could get pinched hard for data records based on these 29 countries perspective of data retention, and/or get pinched to provide keys to actively monitor exit node traffic.
Scenario 1: Just looking to hide your activity from your IP provider, secure your connection from middle man attacks in your apartment/house airports/public/wifi etc, most VPNs will be just fine assuming they are using AES 256 at a minimum.
Scenario 2: Looking to hide your IP for torrenting, file sharing etc, double check the exit node's country's approach/policy to DMCA notifications, take down threats, etc.
Scenario 3: Trying to get netflix options in Australia, Canada, etc, anything is fine that works and hasn't been reported as a VPN
Scenario 4: Trying to "beat a state level actor" and get news out of a repressive country/government/etc, your game needs to step up significantly, start looking at multi-hop VPNs that have multiple nodes in various countries, that ultimately exit where data retention/take downs/international warrants are used as T.P.
Probably many others i'm not thinking of from much smarter peeps who do this shit more for a living
Not an IT Professional, but my work pushes me into the data protection lane often. I use a commercial VPN for private use, and after months of looking you realize most would buckle like a twig under any real scrutiny, and/or the money they are charging isn't inline with the broader value proposition of the marketing bullshit they spew.
But what are your more in-depth thoughts regarding actual providers? I've landed on MullVad personally.
I have no thoughts on individual vendors as the whole concept is a joke, in my opinion and experience. I would never subscribe to one. They are marketing based on FUD.
I should have included: unless you're looking to circumvent streaming services' regional content restrictions, or airlines' pricing algorithms - for now..
SSL encryption means that data between your web browser and virtually all web sites is already secure. The only thing these VPN products do is attempt to obfuscate the sites you are visiting, which is tracked by ISP's on either end of the connection anyway, and sold on to companies that correlate and use it in markets where that's not regulated. The data contained within, however, is secure either way. If you want to put on a tin-foil hat then, yes, if you were targeted as part of a high-level investigation, it could possibly be extracted. No criminal or commercial entity has those kinds of resources.
Commercial VPN (not what is being discussed here) is pretty secure and a very good way to protect corporate communication from remote employees to centralized facilities. That's point-to-point - your computer directly to the company you work for.
