Virtual Private Network (VPN) Service Recommendations?

There’s an application that runs on your operating system level, whether it be Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android. Once you turn that app on, all traffic on that machine runs through the VPN. The app itself remembers your PIA login/password so you don’t have to retype it.

The major risk is sometimes the app fails, as when you restart the machine, so you need to check the icon in your task bar to ensure the VPN is connected before you start downloading anthropomorphic animal porn.

Also, stop using Chrome - Google knows too much about you. Use FireFox.

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Hey! Don’t judge me! Stop sniffing my traffic!

:grinning:

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I’m using privateinternetaccess and HMApro. both are good. If you need change your IP location and hide from the whole security you can use HMApro and if you just need secure your computer use PIA , PIA is great speed.

Outside of price, this is a good VPN comparison site to see what privacy, log, and safeguards are in place amongst over a 100 VPN providers.

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Thanks @ImperialMatt - data overload, but good stuff!

A blanket commercial VPN recommendation is hard to give. People use VPNs for different reasons and some providers are better depending on the rationale.

I lived overseas in internet restricted countries for years. I used HideMyAzz, strongVPN and a few others. My goal was to evade internet censorship and when one was shutdown, I went to another. The best solution was to setup up a personal VPN at a realitve’s home and pop out there. I used it for over a year and was never shutdown.

If you have privacy concerns from your ISP that is an other issue.

State exactly what you are trying to accomplish in terms of privacy and we can give you a better answer.

The thought originally came back into my head due to learning why @SIS was compelled to go silent at FW. What if FW hadn’t done the right thing and just said “oh, here’s all his user data”. Even if registration data was false, there’s still going to be an IP pointing back to his house, phone, tablet, whatever. I don’t care to expose myself to potential litigation based upon any comment I may make in an online forum or on a website.

Keeping traffic private from my ISP seems like a wise idea to me - why allow them to collect that wealth of information about everything I do online - especially when my expectation of some level of privacy is at the whim of congress.

Finally, just seems like a good idea from an overall security standpoint. Why disclose anything more than absolutely necessary if I can mostly lock it down for a few bucks a month?

Based on all the info given here so far (THANKS, everyone - appreciate it!), it looks to me like PIA is good if you want US based and NordVPN looks good ex-pat. I have not been able to find anyone with experience using NordVPN yet, and there are so many shill sites out there that I have to assume that many of the VPN providers have one hell of a good affiliate program.

Hi, I have been using VPN Unlimited for about 3 years now. They offer a lifetime subscription which of course means their lifetime but as I said I have been using them a while. It’s easy to use and connects well. Here’s a link to their “Infinity Plan”; KeepSolid VPN Unlimited: Infinity Plan (10 Devices) | StackSocial .

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For the last 3 months, I’ve used Azire VPN. Speed has been good, but I don’t do any gaming. Unless something goes wrong, I’ll renew with them.

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ooops.

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Thanks for sharing @wrooster - exactly why I’m trying to do my research. Not much point in shelling out the cash if you’re not ultimately getting the services claimed.

Still leaning toward NordVPN based in Panama. But, also still unable to find anyone who has used them. The search continues.

If you are reasonably adept at modest-level DIY, there are other options which may be “better”, depending on what you are trying to accomplish.

for example:

@ EUR2.99/month for 2 x x86 cores with no BW limit.

+

+

Combining the above results in a virtual host at one of two datacenters (in Holland or France), and you control the horizontal and vertical. The virtual host, the vpn configuration, the logs, the traffic – everything is under your control. Using a VPN client on your mobile phone or home kit (e.g. laptop, iPad, or similar), your traffic transits encrypted from your location to your openvpn server running on your virtual machine.

In FWF style, extra credit if you can figure out how to fund your scaleway account with untraceable gift cards…

wrooster

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@wrooster Bonus points for the person who figures out how to fund and scale it as the new FD VPN service!

Interesting idea, thanks for sharing…always better to trust yourself instead of others.

I’m an IT guy, so forgive me anyone if you don’t follow (certainly not trying to be condescending here). For my fellow ITers, what about the concern of bridging your network (or even just the PC) with the VPN network. There have to be people trying to hack machines that are on the VPN, no? I’d assume providers try to mitigate exposure, client to client, but that’s not always possible.

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i had btguard for a year, when i was into torrenting and kept my computer on 24/7. it was fine.

i don’t torrent anymore so no need. not doing anything illegal and i’ve developed some government contacts if anyone really tries anything.

What does that imply? That you can sick the government on someone if they try to hack into your machine/network? Must be nice to have them on retainer for your $1000/year tax liability… (that was a friendly jab, don’t go off the rails on me :slight_smile: )

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yeah kinda, i do a lot of intelligence work. they would rather not have me dead.

you know what’s funny… i used to always call the fbi/nsa and leave crank messages on their machines. the last time, someone actually answered the phone!

we use Private Internet Access and so far we’re satisfied it’s not a PIA to use. The service also extends to our cellphones.

I see what you did there.

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Totally.