School me on VPN

[scottmandue]

I am a computer tech but my job focuses more on hardware and keeping ancient computers running with bubble gum and bailing wire.

We got high speed internet a few months ago at home and a few people (and a few websites) are suggesting I set up a VPN.

A quick search and it appears this is a service you have to pay for?

I get that a VPN makes out internet connection super safe, but for a casual home user is it really necessary?

TIA

[dennis in se pa]

not necessary

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

....but for a casual home user is it really necessary?

TIA

Depends.

How paranoid are you?

Do you want to access content that may be geofenced?

I use Nord.

I need to access backend systems at MSFT, Sony and Nintendo and that access is based on IP whitelisting which kind of restricts you to one or two locations, my office, home.

Using a VPN I can give them an IP address to whitelist that I can access from anywhere.

VPN will slow things down a bit but not something you'd generally notice.

Plus it's cheap as hell, currently Nord is $36 a year with a 3 year commit.

[id10t]

VPNs are useful if you travel or connect to unknown or untrusted wireless access points, etc. Basically all traffic is encrypted and tunneled over the VPN and exits to "the world" from the other end point of the VPN.

I'm too lazy to do it, so when I need that functionality, I use a SSH tunnel and either create a SOCKS4/5 proxy or simply forward X11 over the SSH tunnel.

[KFC911]

In an ancient past life...had at least 2k sales folks around the world, and many others VPN'd into "our" secure Intranet daily...solves a lot of issues.

T-Rex

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Do you want to access content that may be geofenced?

I use Nord.

I need to access backend systems at MSFT, Sony and Nintendo and that access is based on IP whitelisting which kind of restricts you to one or two locations, my office, home.

Using a VPN I can give them an IP address to whitelist that I can access from anywhere.

VPN will slow things down a bit but not something you'd generally notice.

Plus it's cheap as hell, currently Nord is $36 a year with a 3 year commit.

Yes, this is RE: my thread about internet video streaming and me thinking of signing up for HULU/Sling to get sports but after research they may block some games due to my location. A pelican suggested a VPN is a workaround for that.

[dennis in se pa]

He said " a casual home user". Don't you people read a post before responding? A casual home user does not need a VPN. Unless he becomes a non-casual home user who wants to access websites that disallow the IP from his actual locale.

[biosurfer1]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I get that a VPN makes out internet connection super safe, but for a casual home user is it really necessary?

TIA

I wouldn't say it makes it "super safe", I'd say marginally more safe. VPN's won't stop you from downloading malware, or buying things online so your identity info is out there.

If you travel a lot, they can be great since you don't have to worry about fake hotspots, network sniffers, etc but for home use, there isn't a huge benefit (except for geofencing like mentioned above)

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Yes, this is RE: my thread about internet video streaming and me thinking of signing up for HULU/Sling to get sports but after research they may block some games due to my location. A pelican suggested a VPN is a workaround for that.

Correct, geofenced content.

When you visit a site you get on the internet from your IPS's entrance ramp.

It's a known IP range and it's geographic location is known so it can be blocked.

When you use a VPN tunnel you can pick the entrance ramp you appear to be getting on from.

So if you wanted to access content that was geofenced for let's say Germany only you pick a server located in Germany and it spits you out there so it appears that's where you are located.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

He said " a casual home user". Don't you people read a post before responding? A casual home user does not need a VPN. Unless he becomes a non-casual home user who wants to access websites that disallow the IP from his actual locale.

With the prevalence of cord cutting and retaining access to content the casual home user is the largest target market for point n click VPN services.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

He said " a casual home user". Don't you people read a post before responding? A casual home user does not need a VPN. ...

I don't read my own posts....you expect me to read others' ?

Yer right...

[flipper35]

Funny, when I clicked I thought he meant VPN to connect to work with.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Funny, when I clicked I thought he meant VPN to connect to work with.

That's where I went too.....

[Eric at Pelican Parts]

I just use the Opera browser, you can enable VPN natively for free, and basically gives you an IP from a different country of your choosing. It will solve your geoblocked content, but i'm not 100% sure if it'd work with hulu/netflix.

[Eric at Pelican Parts]

I've used it for the past few years to watch sportscar racing and shows in the UK and Asia- it hasn't let me down. There was a free Le Mans stream with audio only which was pretty darn awesome.

Doesn't hurt to give it a shot on the side to see if it suits your needs!

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Eric at Pelican Parts

I just use the Opera browser, you can enable VPN natively for free, and basically gives you an IP from a different country of your choosing. It will solve your geoblocked content, but i'm not 100% sure if it'd work with hulu/netflix.

Works fine if browser traffic is all you need to deal with.

A VPN Service like Nord will handle everything going through the pipe from your device.

They have solutions for Windows, OSX, Linux, iOS, Android and Android TV's, as well as browsers.

The iOS and Android stuff is useful for mobile devices on public WIFI.

[David]

I access my company network programs, my LAN folders, my building's A/C and security systems through VPN at home. So sitting at home VPN connected to the company's network is virtually the same as being at my company computer in the office.

[widebody911]

I too use Nord; at home when I'm downloading and on my phone when I'm travelling.

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

It's a known IP range and it's geographic location is known so it can be blocked.

When you use a VPN tunnel you can pick the entrance ramp you appear to be getting on from.

So if you wanted to access content that was geofenced for let's say Germany only you pick a server located in Germany and it spits you out there so it appears that's where you are located.

Except that most of the bigger streaming services (Netflix, Hulu fersure) have lists of all the well-known VPN provider egress points, and are blacklisting them. As soon as new ranges show up, they're playing whack-a-mole with them.

Don't blame the streaming providers (they don't care/don't want to do it), it's the content providers that are licensing them content that're insisting on it. Same folks that brought you region-locked DVDs and Blu-Rays...


There's also security considerations; if you're not paying for VPN access, you're the product. The provider is almost certainly logging what you're doing/mining the data/selling it. If they're not injecting ads.

That said, here's some free services to test out; better than nothing if you're just going away for a week on holiday...

https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/top-really-free-vpn-services/
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-completely-free-vpn-services-protect-privacy/

If you're doing it for privacy reasons/obfuscate your online activities (other than to merely hide them from your ISP - you are using Cloudflare DNS, right? - which some consider sufficient motivation right there, you should probably research whether or not the provider is logging or will provide info to LEO (a provider that doesn't log at all cannot comply with a court order for more than about - oh, say- 20 minutes after the fact because simply don't have the information. And some based elsewhere aren't subject to (say) US court orders. But many providers have been caught out lying about whether they log or where LEO have jurisdiction).

Some MVNOs (like Google Fi) automatically use "known" public wifi APs - and encrypt the local end of the connection via VPN.

Some APs/routers provide the ability to terminate a VPN tunnel - so can use your home router as your VPN gateway if you're travelling for a few days and don't trust the local coffee shop/resort wifi.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by David

I access my company network programs, my LAN folders, my building's A/C and security systems through VPN at home. So sitting at home VPN connected to the company's network is virtually the same as being at my company computer in the office.

^^^^ ....and I 'R Big Brother.....carrier grade top Cisco VPN swiches...intensive mode capture for thousands....every day. Nothing ever got thrown away...no logs, from any server....EVER....

I have mined some data with some serious server hp....for months....just one law suit...one user, class action .

She had no chance ....