VPNs Free or Paid versions?

[dobrowol]

I've noticed alot of free VPN services popping up lately some on Microsoft store; others just doing a simple google search. Paladin comes to mind. They state free unlimited bandwith and a no logs policy. What's the catch with a free service versus some like Cyber Ghost or Nord?

[DonMcK]

No such thing as free.

VPN Free vs Not [nordvpn.com]

[Omega]

99% of free VPN services are spyware trash, they are free because they sell your data. Avoid them.

If you want a free VPN service which is trustworthy look at ProtonVPN, it is by the Proton email company and they are very well regarded.

However, a VPN on its own is worthless if you are intend on browsing the web privately. Besides using a trustworthy provider (Most are not), you should wipe your browser data every session (Basically, just enable incognito mode in your browser) and not log in to any services you have ever used without the VPN doing so would instantly identify you.

Also, there is Tor, use that if you really care about browsing the web privately.

[DevaVictrix]

Yeah, protonvpn is worth looking at. It’s generally pretty quick but limited servers unless you pay. I get about 30-50ms ping using protonvpn.

It’s worth looking into a browser that reduces fingerprinting too. I found Brave to be the best. There’s a website that helps you get an idea of how well your browser is performing.

[Omega]

引用自 DevaVictrix：

Yeah, protonvpn is worth looking at. It’s generally pretty quick but limited servers unless you pay. I get about 30-50ms ping using protonvpn.

It’s worth looking into a browser that reduces fingerprinting too. I found Brave to be the best. There’s a website that helps you get an idea of how well your browser is performing.

If you want to avoid fingerprinting you just run a stock Chromium or Firefox browser, no adblockers or other extensions which interact with the page. The only tweak you should make is ensure it reports your system as Windows 10 or 11, if your system isn't either of these already.

[Lord Flashheart]

A 'free' VPN is very suspicious.

I use a VPN.
More specifically hire a VPS (virtual private server) for the purpose.
Installed VPN software + pihole to stop a lot of ads & tracking.
It i good for the phone to save data usage, especially blocking the video ads.
Also good for accessing streaming services from home. I use jellyfin & navidrome.

I control it & so are not spying on myself with it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COz3SopM92U

[dobrowol]

Thanks. This will help me choose a paid service instead of a free one.

[Elucidator]

Whether you pay for something or not "You are the product"
people think they aren't when paying....
Look at microsoft for example. Windows Home costs 145 euroes. You pay a hefty sum, yet they still run trackers, send data to everywhere, etc.

In other words, you will still get their ads, they will still track you and pushing you to get the highest tier subscription
... Some client sided annoyances may however be slightly less
Keep in mind that ads make a lot of money so unlikely.
Do not believe anything you read about them protecting privacy (they don't).

What you do need to consider though, is that with free versions there is a higher chance your VPN wil be blocked due to abuse.
People use VPNs to hide their origin and to attack platforms. That is the only thing you should consider when paying for VPN.

Just use Tor.

[plat]

引用自 Elucidator：

Just use Tor.

Tor is mad-slow, though. Is it the lesser of two evils?

Free vpn is an oxymoron. Plus some of the iffier ones slow down your browsing also.

Mullvad has a decent rep at the moment. It is not free, however; in the US, it's 6USD per month.

https://mullvad.net/en

I don't use a vpn---for me not necessary. But have tested them briefly in the past.

[DevaVictrix]

引用自 Omega：

引用自 DevaVictrix：

Yeah, protonvpn is worth looking at. It’s generally pretty quick but limited servers unless you pay. I get about 30-50ms ping using protonvpn.

It’s worth looking into a browser that reduces fingerprinting too. I found Brave to be the best. There’s a website that helps you get an idea of how well your browser is performing.

If you want to avoid fingerprinting you just run a stock Chromium or Firefox browser, no adblockers or other extensions which interact with the page. The only tweak you should make is ensure it reports your system as Windows 10 or 11, if your system isn't either of these already.

There certainly doesn't seem to be much between any of them (I think the Gnome browser - Web - was the worst). I tried loads of browsers, all on Linux and a few on iOS and OSX using this site... https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/

I can't remember the details but do remember trying to decide between my existing Brave installs or switching to DDG browser but settled back with Brave. That crypto crap though! ...

Ultimately, it's all down to who/what you're trying to achieve and even then you'll fail. I use a VPN for everything (have done for years) except for playing WoT and logging into websites that block VPNs... like justeat, Eon, Nectar etc.

I haven't logged into anything like Google or MS for years and have never used social media stuff (Twitter, Facebook etc) and I still get adverts on youtube for my favourite takeaway around the corner (on the TV, that is. Brave obviously gets rid all all adverts really well). I made the assumption it's fingerprinting. fwiw, I started using Brave and a VPN before I ever used that takeaway or signed up to justeat. I guess I slipped up once (at least). Not that it matters, really. I now see protonvpn as a freebie that comes with my email.

I'm moving house again soon so I'm thinking about logging the router into the VPN instead of using openVPN on the computer. Despite having almost no apps installed on my phone it'll be that that's 'leaking'.

I agree with above post... just use Tor if you want to hide but it can't be used for everything. We all need to submit meter reads to energy companies etc and no doubt they'll have some Google crap built into their websites. They all do.

[skOsH♥]

A paid VPN will have the features you would like, like getting around regional blocking of media, which is one of the more annoying things when you don't use a VPN

you can also basically have no targeted ads, too, so your internet won't look like the notes from some stalker who was hiding in your closet

[DevaVictrix]

Does anyone here have success with vpn regional blocking features? I have all that enabled but sitting in the UK and using a UK server (node, or whatever it's called) I still can't use things like BBC or electric/water company websites etc. I can't even listen to BBC radio on the computer. I have to turn the wireless on for that!

[A&A]

引用自 DevaVictrix：

Does anyone here have success with vpn regional blocking features? I have all that enabled but sitting in the UK and using a UK server (node, or whatever it's called) I still can't use things like BBC or electric/water company websites etc. I can't even listen to BBC radio on the computer. I have to turn the wireless on for that!

With NordVPN l was playing on Google Stadia, because it was restricted in my country, but VPNs for privacy is terrible idea.

[Elucidator]

引用自 plat：

引用自 Elucidator：

Just use Tor.

Tor is mad-slow, though. Is it the lesser of two evils?

Tor is blocked, usually.
but it provides privacy and no tracking and you don't need to go on Tor sites. You can use Tor to visit google, etc.
the difference is that your IP will always be hidden, and your useragent can be fake.

The Brave Browser allows your connections to go through Tor.
I don't think you can watch netflix through Tor though.
For Netflix, a VPN maybe handy, except that as usual companies hate it when you don't show your real location (due to taxes and for profit reasons)

[[N]ebsun]

Setup your own VPN server with something like openvpn and then use that to create a tunnel to your own network if you need to connect from insecure networks.

[Electric Cupcake]

Whether they've had actual security and privacy audits is what matters the most.