I didn't say they where an encrypted messaging platform. I know what a VPN provider is thanks.
Then why provide a dead link and a link to an encrypted messaging platform when we are talking about VPN’s?
I don't have a VPN. Do I need one?
- Thread starter Simon Belmont
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Then why provide a dead link and a link to an encrypted messaging platform when we are talking about VPN’s?
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Updated the link for you - many pages of VPN platform data breaches revealed user logging info and much more.
I didn't say they where an encrypted messaging platform. I know what a VPN provider is thanks.
This gets better
The pages of data leaks you refer to were bottom feeders who anyone with a modicum of common sense wouldn’t have used, they were in effect just re-skins of the same service and not - as I clearly said - providers with a proven track record that were worth using. I at least expected you to try ‘Nord were hacked’ or HMA handed over details to the feds, perhaps even the recent case where Facebook and the FBI targeted a specific user using a 0day exploits in his media player to identify him, but either way, no.
Soldato
Sorry - what are we talking about here? I was just pointing out that handguns and drugs are illegal yet people still have, use and sell them.
Soldato
Updated the link for you - many pages of VPN platform data breaches revealed user logging info and much more.
I think you’ve missed the fact that anyone with two internet endpoints can have a VPN. Like businesses with users at home. With the correct encryption they’re pretty robust.
This gets better
Indeed. "Oh noes, random Chinese reskinned/resold VPN company isn't legitz" is hardly something to stop the presses for. Meanwhle:
VPN provider OVPN has emerged victorious from legal action initiated by movie companies hoping to get closer to the operators of The Pirate Bay. After a back-and-forth process, the court agreed with OVPN's claims that as no-logging provider, it had no useful data to hand over.
Private Internet Access’ “No-Logging” Claims Proven True Again in Court.
And many more. OVPN, Mullvad, AzireVPN et al. are all blind operator, zero log providers. Since many of them run only their own dedicated hardware with no non-volatile storage in them (i.e. no hard disk is installed and they run in RAM from signed PXE boot), I'm not sure quite where they would keep the logs. As they often point out, it's actually easier and legally beneficial for them to keep no logs. They aren't required to in law, and as such having no logs effectively leaves them as a dumb carrier. If they keep logs, they then pick up a ton of extra legal obligations regarding monitoring, reporting etc. Why bother when you can just not keep them and save the time, money and loss of reputation with your customers?
A quick read of the Ed Snowden dossier (or better yet, his book), RIPA ('Snoopers Charter') or simliar would be enough to convince anyone to be careful of their online footprint. Fancy your local council dosgbody looking into your last 2 years' browsing history and communication/correspondence without a warrant, based on a random malicious allegation of dog fouling or a late night noise? The line is so blurred these days it hardly exists. You don't need to be a mafioso to be concerned for your digital freedom and your right to privacy. The UK ISPs have been mandated to keep several years' DNS and connection logs for all customers. The High/EU courts have deemed this illegal several times, but it still continues. No thanks. Not to mention some of them (eg Sky) have been proactively keeping logs to monitor and pursue those watching IPTV streams threatening their other revenue sources.
As Snowden said, saying you have nothing to fear because you have nothing to hide is like saying you don't support free speech because you don't currently have anything to say. The old adage of "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear" is all very quaint, albeit staggeringly naive - but when you consider the phrase was coined by Joseph Goebbels in 1933 it does rather make you think.
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I know this I never said that. The op said does he really need one.
We have gone way off topic.
@Avalon you seem to be a pro at this VPN stuff lets leave it too you.
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Soldato
Soldato
I know this I never said that. The op said does he really need one.
We have gone way off topic.
@Avalon you seem to be a pro at this VPN stuff lets leave it too you.
Disregarding all the other stuff, Avalons main point was disagreeing with your comment about everything being logged.
Reputable VPNs pride themselves on not logging, it's a big trust factor to its userbase, something that you can't verify nor have any control over. Major VPN companies will even pay for an external auditor to verify their claims.
VPNs don't just hide naughty people from doing naughty stuff. Journalists/whistle-blowers lives absolutely depend on ultimate privacy. Any journalist reporting on the Chinese or North Korean government will likely be executed if they get found out due to their movements being logged.