I don't have a VPN. Do I need one?

Simon Belmont · 14 Oct 2020 at 15:17

I'm with BT and smart hub 2. Am I ok without using a VPN?

Do I really need one?

Thanks

Haze · 14 Oct 2020 at 15:18

Very cryptic.... Not unless you are trying to access something they don't want you to

chroniclard · 14 Oct 2020 at 15:21

No you dont.

Simon Belmont · 14 Oct 2020 at 15:29

Thank you.

I see everyone saying you need a vpn so I was wondering if I was missing out. If I don't need it then I won't. Cheers for info

SonicSW20 · 14 Oct 2020 at 15:32

If you have to ask then you definitely don't need one for security purposes. The only other purpose would be to access region locked services, which is up to you.

sityeuropa · 14 Oct 2020 at 18:17

Some people also think because they are using a VPN everything is anonymous. Your data is still stored somewhere, just instead of with your ISP it is to another provider.

Only way you would need it would be for example if you are on a shared Wifi connection like in a hotel.

Avalon · 15 Oct 2020 at 13:25

Why use a VPN? Generally privacy - No ISP DNS blocking, bypass region blocking, prevent the ever increasing access to browsing data to pretty much man+dog thanks to the IPA, access to deals/services not normally available or priced differently in another region (Brazil Xbox Live codes are under half price, Steam games are similar), obviously your linux ISO P2P sharing etc. or if you have others sharing the connection, prevent 'speculative invoicing' from 3rd party rights holders.

I know of multiple examples where my local police force has treated any accusation - even ones with no link to online/mobile usage as an excuse to pull browsing history from any linked accounts, a mate had a great conversation about what I presume is some sort of former pet hamster appreciation site and I have been asked to explain why I have 6 mobile accounts (I pay for my own/wife/kids/parents phones) and explain the browsing on them. Privacy used to be assumed 'unless you have done something wrong', now unless you choose to protect your privacy, it simply doesn't exist.

sityeuropa said:
Some people also think because they are using a VPN everything is anonymous. Your data is still stored somewhere, just instead of with your ISP it is to another provider.

Only way you would need it would be for example if you are on a shared Wifi connection like in a hotel.

While the theory is valid, literally no VPN provider worth using does this or has been shown to.

pp111 · 16 Oct 2020 at 12:23

Using a VPN means that your messages are encrypted so your internet provider has no idea what you are doing. That has many benefits. However, you need to choose a VPN that is not hosted in a country that fails to respect your privacy ( like the UK! ) or you are no further forward.

Nasher · 17 Oct 2020 at 23:15

The UK based servers keep only the bare minimum afaik, so logs which are only really useful for debugging and can't be used to cross-reference the user to the history. The law doesn't say they have to be useful logs

But a VPN is a good idea these days. You stop your own ISP spying on you and they can't shape/throttle your traffic, or block sites. Also useful for buying cheap and tax free games from the Ukraine

Deleted member 77746 · 17 Oct 2020 at 23:20

If you have to ask the question that must mean you don’t know what ones used for so the answer is no you don’t need one.

Do some research and you tell us if you would like one.

Avalon · 17 Oct 2020 at 23:36

Nasher said:
The UK based servers keep only the bare minimum afaik, so logs which are only really useful for debugging and can't be used to cross-reference the user to the history. The law doesn't say they have to be useful logs

But a VPN is a good idea these days. You stop your own ISP spying on you and they can't shape/throttle your traffic, or block sites. Also useful for buying cheap and tax free games from the Ukraine

It depends on the VPN provider as to what they log, your ISP can still shape/throttle traffic, but you may avoid direct throttling of specific traffic protocols/ports that would otherwise be throttled (not that any major UK fixed line ISP actually throttles anymore).

MaXxBoulton · 18 Oct 2020 at 15:25

you dont need one. its all just a scam.
i have never have one and had zero problems, i do all the normal internet type stuff

only very bad people need them. and this is why i think they need banning

Deleted member 77746 · 18 Oct 2020 at 15:30

MaXxBoulton said:
you dont need one. its all just a scam.
i have never have one and had zero problems, i do all the normal internet type stuff

only very bad people need them. and this is why i think they need banning

You are wrong. A VPN can also be used to remote into a work place. when it comes to networking you can have services inside of a network. A member of staff (lets say a technician) can remote into the work place to do their duties without compromising security.

MaXxBoulton · 18 Oct 2020 at 15:51

Bouton Aide said:
You are wrong. A VPN can also be used to remote into a work place. when it comes to networking you can have services inside of a network. A member of staff (lets say a technician) can remote into the work place to do their duties without compromising security.

yes but why dose "JO Public" need one.

for downloading filmes ? NO
for shopping ? NO

you see where this is going... there is lots of things that are available to people that need them for work but not normal person on the street, this should be the same.

it would be a lot easier to find scammers, pedo's and so on.

Woden · 18 Oct 2020 at 15:59

MaXxBoulton said:
yes but why dose "JO Public" need one.

for downloading filmes ? NO
for shopping ? NO

you see where this is going... there is lots of things that are available to people that need them for work but not normal person on the street, this should be the same.

it would be a lot easier to find scammers, pedo's and so on.

On the flip side, why do private companies need to know where I am (IP geolocation), or who my ISP is?

Connect to public WiFi? What's to stop Starbucks logging everything you do, every site you visit?

Why are you giving up your privacy so readily?

Deleted member 77746 · 18 Oct 2020 at 16:11

MaXxBoulton said:
yes but why dose "JO Public" need one.

for downloading filmes ? NO
for shopping ? NO

you see where this is going... there is lots of things that are available to people that need them for work but not normal person on the street, this should be the same.

it would be a lot easier to find scammers, pedo's and so on.

While I understand that what do you suggest? You can't have it both ways... or can you?

Develop an app that's transparent yet secure then get rid of all the nasty ones. Maybe they could just rename VPN's that is used for work to something else and add some new features.

Then make it illegal to use a non work VPN.

What's your suggestions?

Drumroll · 18 Oct 2020 at 16:27

Sure you do, also a cabin and no credit cards/bank account/phones/gadgets.
I'm also considering going off the grid.
https://www.thesmartsurvivalist.com/uk-off-grid-living-here-is-how-it-can-be-done/

pp111 · 18 Oct 2020 at 16:43

MaXxBoulton said:
yes but why dose "JO Public" need one.

for downloading filmes ? NO
for shopping ? NO

you see where this is going... there is lots of things that are available to people that need them for work but not normal person on the street, this should be the same.

it would be a lot easier to find scammers, pedo's and so on.

In my opinion people have a right to some privacy. I don't believe it is healthy when the government has access to everything we do and think. That's the sort of thing that happens in North Korea, not Northampton. The government can find criminals without monitoring the entire population 24/7.

MaXxBoulton · 18 Oct 2020 at 17:37

pp111 said:
In my opinion people have a right to some privacy. I don't believe it is healthy when the government has access to everything we do and think. That's the sort of thing that happens in North Korea, not Northampton. The government can find criminals without monitoring the entire population 24/7.

I agree, but why would you need a vpn?

this should be down to the ISP not handing over info to the government. i do all the normal naughty stuff you can do online and nothing every happened.
I feet you only need a VPN to hide BAD ****.

or do we condone the real bad stuff by having a right to hide things
OR lol should the vpn point out very bad this to the police

banning vpn's would stop a lot of bad things

Nasher · 18 Oct 2020 at 17:40

You can't really stop people using them anyway, even China cant. You can disguise them as other traffic and use ports which can't be blocked without breaking the whole internet.

A VPN on the modern intenet is pretty much mandatory if you want privacy and good security. Some of the VPN services also block a lot of other crap for you.