Virual Private Networks - Installation and Use

Judd · 18 August 2019 18:26

I’ve been using a paid for VPN for around two years as an extra line of security. Since the Wikileaks revelations, many websites now use the extra secure https system as used by banks and online email providers, even OFF has started using a https based web server so the connection between you and the site is secure. Maybe VPNs will eventually become of no use? Standard (not secure) websites are still out there and can be at risk from hackers.

A VPN also allows you to spoof your IP address. For all intents and purposes, my IP address is based in Southampton at the minute but I can change this at will to any one of a dozen more. Want to watch Netflix in the USA? No problem, use an American IP address.

Judd · 18 August 2019 18:35

One thing that you should be aware of when using a VPN is that your browser can leak your real IP address which rather defeats the object of using a VPN. To overcome this you need an addin like WebRTC to prevent your browser giving your IP address to all and sundry. There are web sites that will test your IP security via your VPN service.

This is the one I use with Firefox but there are others:

https://mybrowseraddon.com/webrtc-control.html

If you are interested this is the VPN I use, it costs me about $50 a year

https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/

The reason I chose this one is because they also offer a SOCK5 proxy so that you can use a torrent (file share) without having to permanently connect to a VPN service. You just enter the proxy into your Torrent program.

BTW personally I am wary of free VPN because in any free service on the internet you are not a customer but a product. However I have no reason to think they are shady but I would read some reviews of their services first.

PIA is also the one I use. It doesn’t seem to slow my internet connection down unduly - I check it every now and then with a BB Speedchecker just to make sure. You can do a couple of leakage tests from within the program to make sure that all is as secure as it should be.

Susan68 · 18 August 2019 18:41

How do you do that? Does any VPN just do that automatically or do you have to choose specific settings?

Omah · 18 August 2019 18:48

Is this leakage the same one that Bruce mentioned … :?:

If so, is this leakage the same as a “DNS Leak” because if so then NordVPN has a test for it …

Judd · 18 August 2019 18:48

Once installed, you can choose the Auto option which will allocate an IP address for you or you can choose one yourself from any number of countries on offer. You can disconnect form any IP location and reconnect to another one in a matter of seconds.

Omah · 19 August 2019 10:06

I tried another US movie last night - the quality was terrible but so was the movie, so I didn’t bother switching server …

Bruce · 19 August 2019 12:10

There are a lot of technical questions there. The main thing to remember that web sites need to know who you are to be able to send the correct information to you rather than the bloke down the road.

You have an IP address which is sort of your ID, I have a fixed IP address so when ever I am on line my IP number similar to 220.263.157.234 stays s the same (I have changed some digits in that number). Other providers give you a different number each time you use their service. but that IP address is assigned to the location you live in.

When you use an VPN service you set up a tunnel or an encoded path from your computer to the VPN using your IP address. The VPN service then assigns you another IP address which is local to them (ie if I was using my Swiss VPN server I would appear as if I am resident in Switzerland).

A powerful computer would be able to analyse the server’s incoming traffic and compare it with the out going traffic to work out over a long time who you were contacting but it is not easy just because of the sheer mass of traffic. So unless the NSA or GHQ was looking for you no one would bother.

To check your IP address and location click on this link

Actually they think I am in Armidale in northern NSW which I am not so they are not fool proof but you will be surprised what they know about your computer.

Someone previously put up a good explanation of reasons for using a VPN service so I won’t delve into that.

The information that your browser supplies is, as I say, necessary for the web site like Ebay or OFF to be able to contact you back with the information requested (by clicking for example) and normally it is not something to worry about. The information about what you bought would not normally be available to anybody so generally speaking no worries there. Nothing is 100% but the chances are remote as long as you take normal precaution like anti virus using httpS sites etc.

Personally I have my browser set so that when I exit it all cookies are deleted - there are disadvantages to this because, for example, your browser will no longer be recognised by OFF next time you visit them and will have to log in every time you visit.

Judd · 19 August 2019 12:20

There are a lot of technical questions there. The main thing to remember that web sites need to know who you are to be able to send the correct information to you rather than the bloke down the road.

You have an IP address which is sort of your ID, I have a fixed IP address so when ever I am on line my IP number similar to 220.263.157.234 stays s the same (I have changed some digits in that number). Other providers give you a different number each time you use their service. but that IP address is assigned to the location you live in.

When you use an VPN service you set up a tunnel or an encoded path from your computer to the VPN using your IP address. The VPN service then assigns you another IP address which is local to them (ie if I was using my Swiss VPN server I would appear as if I am resident in Switzerland).

A powerful computer would be able to analyse the server’s incoming traffic and compare it with the out going traffic to work out over a long time who you were contacting but it is not easy just because of the sheer mass of traffic. So unless the NSA or GHQ was looking for you no one would bother.

To check your IP address and location click on this link

https://www.iplocation.net/find-ip-address

https://www.whatismyip.com/

Actually they think I am in Armidale in northern NSW which I am not so they are not fool proof but you will be surprised what they know about your computer.

Someone previously put up a good explanation of reasons for using a VPN service so I won’t delve into that.

The information that your browser supplies is, as I say, necessary for the web site like Ebay or OFF to be able to contact you back with the information requested (by clicking for example) and normally it is not something to worry about. The information about what you bought would not normally be available to anybody so generally speaking no worries there. Nothing is 100% but the chances are remote as long as you take normal precaution like anti virus using httpS sites etc.

Personally I have my browser set so that when I exit it all cookies are deleted - there are disadvantages to this because, for example, your browser will no longer be recognised by OFF next time you visit them and will have to log in every time you visit.

I use Ccleaner to perform this function automatically every time I close my browser. It has been set to preserve certain cookies such as this site and a few others so I don’t have to keep logging on. All other cookies are deleted.

Bruce · 19 August 2019 12:21

Unfortunately he is far too predictable (as well as long winded and boring) to be much of a challenge for anybody. Though to be fair my last message was in his verbose league.

Judd · 19 August 2019 12:23

Yes, PIA also has this facility to do leak tests. For further checks you can also visit the Gibson Research website and use their online tools.

One of the tools allows you to check whether an https site is what it claims to be.

I’ve just checked OFF and it’s reported as safe.

Omah · 19 August 2019 12:52

That’s good to know …

Realist · 19 August 2019 21:58

adjusted font size

Worth a read

[size=2]5 Ways Your VPN Is Not As Provate As You Think It Is[/size]

and this one

[size=2]Don’t use VPN services[/size]

gist.github.com

https://gist.github.com/joepie91/5a9909939e6ce7d09e29

vpn.md

# Don't use VPN services.

No, seriously, don't. You're probably reading this because you've asked what VPN service to use, and this is the answer.

*Note: The content in this post does not apply to using VPN for their intended purpose; that is, as a virtual private (internal) network. It only applies to using it as a glorified proxy, which is what every third-party "VPN provider" does.*

- A Russian translation of this article can be found [here](https://tdemin.github.io/posts/2017-08-13-dont-use-vpn-services_ru), contributed by Timur Demin.
- A Turkish translation can be found [here](https://write.as/nwz9t04yfjwlv0yj.md), contributed by agyild.
- There's also [this article](https://schub.io/blog/2019/04/08/very-precarious-narrative.html) about VPN services, which is honestly better written (and has more cat pictures!) than my article.

This file has been truncated. show original

Longdogs · 20 August 2019 09:12

Thanks Ray.

Longdogs · 20 August 2019 09:13

I suppose £30 pa is pretty good if it proves to be good.

thanks.

Longdogs · 20 August 2019 09:14

Omah · 27 August 2019 11:29

I’ve tried several movie-streaming services using NovaPN and Sony Crackle (US) seems a good’un - I watched Cher’s “Suspect” last night - having seen it many times, I could keep one eye on Cher (and the plot) and one eye on video quality.

Actually, the video quality was very good, apart from pixellation on some distance shots.

But …

I was unable to pause video streaming, presumably because I wasn’t “signed-in” … :confused2:

So, the question is … will “signing-in” with a UK email address inhibit the US-supplied service … :?:

Judd · 27 August 2019 12:58

You could always get a Gmail address - as these are .com they shouldn’t be region specific.

Omah · 27 August 2019 13:20

I am a Gmail user - the account has region-specific information that I can see, e.g. language (UK), country code (UK) and, obviously, bucketsful of information that Google retains, regarding history, location, etc.

So, I wanted to know if anyone has tried accessing a US service, preferably Crackle, though a VPN,with a UK Gmail account.

Longdogs · 27 August 2019 13:58

There are a lot of technical questions there. The main thing to remember that web sites need to know who you are to be able to send the correct information to you rather than the bloke down the road.

You have an IP address which is sort of your ID, I have a fixed IP address so when ever I am on line my IP number similar to 220.263.157.234 stays s the same (I have changed some digits in that number). Other providers give you a different number each time you use their service. but that IP address is assigned to the location you live in.

When you use an VPN service you set up a tunnel or an encoded path from your computer to the VPN using your IP address. The VPN service then assigns you another IP address which is local to them (ie if I was using my Swiss VPN server I would appear as if I am resident in Switzerland).

A powerful computer would be able to analyse the server’s incoming traffic and compare it with the out going traffic to work out over a long time who you were contacting but it is not easy just because of the sheer mass of traffic. So unless the NSA or GHQ was looking for you no one would bother.

To check your IP address and location click on this link

https://www.iplocation.net/find-ip-address

https://www.whatismyip.com/

Actually they think I am in Armidale in northern NSW which I am not so they are not fool proof but you will be surprised what they know about your computer.

Someone previously put up a good explanation of reasons for using a VPN service so I won’t delve into that.

The information that your browser supplies is, as I say, necessary for the web site like Ebay or OFF to be able to contact you back with the information requested (by clicking for example) and normally it is not something to worry about. The information about what you bought would not normally be available to anybody so generally speaking no worries there. Nothing is 100% but the chances are remote as long as you take normal precaution like anti virus using httpS sites etc.

Personally I have my browser set so that when I exit it all cookies are deleted - there are disadvantages to this because, for example, your browser will no longer be recognised by OFF next time you visit them and will have to log in every time you visit.

I tried that location link and it was about 45 miles off. :-p:-p

Judd · 27 August 2019 14:03

As an experiment, I’ve just tried signing up to Crackle (movie streaming) but my anti-virus pops up claiming that the site is fraudulent so won’t let me continue. Any more that you’re interested in?