VPN - what's it all about?

Discussion in 'Computers & Tech' started by LafayetteBis, Mar 2, 2021.

  1. LafayetteBis

    LafayetteBis Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    VPN stands for virtual private-network. It is thus one's own network-within-the-Internet. The Internet is general in nature, and its misuse has led some to think about how to protect "private property" in the form of one's own Network Connection. Iow, as regards the Internet, "what are its its pit-falls and prat-falls?"

    Word has it that it is a Very Good Idea to adopt a VPN-account. There are numerous offerings on the internet paid for on a monthly basis, and there are a couple that are even free-gratis-and-for-nothing.

    VPNs have been around for a while, but not in the Public Mind. Some suggest treating VPNs like having driving-insurance except it is not, for the moment, a legal matter that one must adopt it.

    It just might be a good-idea - and I think I'll leave that decision for the market to decide. It always does ...

    PS: Neither will I pontificate on VPNs. But the debate should not end there. So, you might want to see what people are saying. Just search on the Internet for "the debate about VPNs" and see what pops-up ... ?
     
  2. dharbert

    dharbert Well-Known Member

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    While there are several uses for a VPN, most of them aren't legit. People from other countries trying to get around YouTube's country-restricted content, people IP banned from forums trying to get back on and wreak more havoc, people IP banned from game servers trying to get back on that server, etc...
     
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  3. LafayetteBis

    LafayetteBis Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    From "Restore Privacy" web-site: 7 VPN Scams You Need to Avoid

    Quote:
    Scams go back a long time in the history of mankind. Which is why there is this description (in English) from Wikipedia of the original Latin expression: Caveat emptor!

    Such mindless scamming is not new to the human race on earth. It is a lifetime profession for some ...
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2021
  4. fmw

    fmw Well-Known Member

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    VPN's slow down internet access quite noticeably. For rural people like me without fast internet, it simply isn't an option. Internet access is slow enough without the VPN.
     
  5. Durandal

    Durandal Well-Known Member Donor

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    VPNs are marketed as a way to be more anonymous online, I think, and that's basically just selling false peace of mind to people who don't want Google Analytics or Big Gubmint keeping tabs on them.

    I just use browser extensions to block ads and trackers. It's enough for me, as I don't see most forms of online advertising. Beyond that, I'm not terribly bothered by any of it. I don't want to be tracked just as a matter of principle, but a VPN would not be worth it to try and avoid that. Given their fingerprinting methods, I imagine it doesn't even work as well as you might hope, since your browser will broadcast certain information regardless, and if you use Chrome, your browser has privacy-invading features built right in by Google. But hey, they and others are primarily interested in either gathering and selling information about your habits and such or are just trying to target ads at you based on such information, so if you just block the ads and maybe try to block the trackers, it's not going to be a major issue regardless.
     

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