VPN basics

agrinnall

With the Investigatory Powers Bill due to become law today (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38134560) I'm now giving serious consideration to using a VPN. I know next to nothing about them so I thought I would ask some basic questions for the people who do know about them to answer, and to provide a thread for other people to ask their questions too.

1. I'm considering a paid-for VPN from NordVPN as they get a good write up in this review and have an offer of $3 per month for 24 months service at the moment - any thoughts?
2. If I install it on a Windows 10 laptop can I choose whether to use it or not for a particular task, or is it always on?
3. Can I install it in such a way that one browser uses it while another doesn't?
4. Do the answers to the previous 2 questions also apply to using it on Android devices (7.0)?
5. Are there any significant downsides to using a VPN that I should consider before going ahead?

hans_2

Have NordVPN and find it excellent. Based in Panama so no worries about privacy etc.

Just use it when you want.

Protects whole computer as it's not a browser based vpn.

JJ_Egan

I have it set on three machines two are Android and use when i want and also choose whatever country i want .

Downsides are slower connection and that's variable .

agrinnall

Thanks both. Hans, I saw on an old thread that you use NordVPN so it's good to know that you are still happy with them.

flashg67

The Opera browser has a built in free VPN but with limited country options. I've used it to access USA Netflix with no noticeable streaming issues.

John_Gray

There are a couple of reviews of VPNs which might assist:
PC Advisor's skate-through
and this one is particularly comprehensive:
https://thatoneprivacysite.net/vpn-comparison-chart/

A friend of mine says that he had been having some performance issues recently with NordVPN, and has moved from them. YMMV

Code

If you only want to VPN for browsing, use the TunnelBear extension for Chrome. They have a full VPN app/service too.

VPNs are slightly more complex than they first appear, and depending on what your concern is with RIPA they may or may not be the right solution (or may in fact create other problems depending where they terminate and who provides them).

hans_2

John_Gray wrote: »

[/B]A friend of mine says that he had been having some performance issues recently with NordVPN, and has moved from them. YMMV

No performance issues with my set up and I use it every day/

I_have_spoken

Running a VPN invites attention; '5' will just drop a package onto your PC

bluesnake

To be honest 5 and ilk are the last people that would worry me. It is the other 'Agencies' that may have real time access, esp if you are watching a release you should not be watching, you could put you on the 'list'.

I tried NordVPN and for me they were the worst ever, worse than Tor for throughput. Ipredator were the best for throughput, only had one country at that time, but there were payment issues. Cyberghost was good for many months but things started to vastly slow down. PIA who I am currently with allow a good bit of data through, not as fast as Ipredator where no loss was noticed. but have about a 10% loss of throughput. PIA also have many countries and are cost effective and multiple free licences for other PCs and phones. used them for 2 years in a row and will probably stay with them for another years. These were all over about 5 years, so things may have changed a bit.

From some countries you will not be able to post to sites like Moneysavingexpert via a VPN.

One thing i did notice is that with certain ISPs they block/restrict/limit some VPNs, and Sky did this to me. One VPN supplier might be great for you but not for me. You have got to try everything before you buy.


There are two ways VPNs can be connected up. One way is downloading a client onto your PC/phone which only protects that device, OR you can protect your whole household but putting the vpn on a router, letting the router deal with the encryption.

If you use the router method you will need a router that can be flashed to use DD-WRT or Tomato. This site sells routers, and i would rather flash my own than buy a pre-programmed one https://www.bestvpn.com/blog/42611/best-dd-wrt-routers/
http://www.vpnsp.com/pia-routers.html


This is also a fairly comprhensive list of VPNs to use: https://torrentfreak.com/which-vpn-services-take-your-anonymity-seriously-2014-edition-140315/

I would say the best feature to have is a vpn which once the connection is broken, it trigger a network kill switch. Another bonus is if the vpn has their own dns

Also only have one network device working and DISABLE the other device, eg. use the nic and disable the wifi, because the VPN only protects one designated connection and if the connection dies, it can seamlessly flip to an unprotected wifi path.

There in the past has been one at least one isp that did not hide their clients aass but squealed, and you may have to use a non google search engine to find them.

1
2. Usually always on. Most people will make it come on when booting
3. Not exactly. but you can put another tunnel through the VPN tunnel like running TOR, or Epic security browser
4
5 there always is a speed tade off. but with a good provider you will not notice it. You are adding extra routing packets so less data will flow.
5a you need to test it and test everything, especially during peak time. If your isp targets your VPN provider, good night Vienna! The isp may think your vpn stream is hurting their cable service revenue

RumRat

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Running a VPN invites attention; '5' will just drop a package onto your PC

Oh dear, I bet you actually believe that as well......