I was using Norton VPN because I have an account from XP days using their Anti-virus.
At first it seemed to work pretty well from what I can tell. Then sometimes it was finicky.
Today it would not connect and I went through the troubleshooting for an hour and now I'm done.

What do you all like or dislike?

I use ExpressVPN; got it because they advertised on Ben Shapiro. It mostly works OK but I have to reconnect pretty frequently.

I use AVG. Seems to work well.

NordVPN has sales often on 3 year+ plans. Decent browser extensions so you can turn it on and off.

I have used PIA - private internet access - for a few years now, and been happy with it. Supports up to 10 devices at a time. We have two ipads, two cell phones, and two pcs on it. Did have two more ipads and a laptop on it until sold the extras.

Look at where they are incorporated, and policy on data sharing. I use Nord in part because they wipe their records multiple times a day, not accessible, etc. Service levels are good so performance is good, and value is good with the sales.

I have used PIA for a couple years, and really like it. I use it for my Macs, iPads, iPhones, Smart TV and Roku.

quote:

Originally posted by FlyingScot:
Look at where they are incorporated, and policy on data sharing. I use Nord in part because they wipe their records multiple times a day, not accessible, etc. Service levels are good so performance is good, and value is good with the sales.

I’ve been happy with Nord also.

I have Nord too. Works good. Price was good when I got it during a sale.

what are you doing with VPN?

for me, I have OpenVPN set up on my home router (Asus) and when I stay at a hotel or am out and about using a non-secure wifi connection, I simply VPN to my home. 100% Free, as secure as my home network, and easy as pie!!!

Plus I can see the camera on my home network without opening ports etc. Works well on phones too with the OpenVPN app.

Nobody. You're just switching from your ISP snooping on your traffic to the VPN provider.

NordVPN here. Did the 3 year package.

This might start an argument, but I think the majority of people paying for VPN services are wasting their money.

When you pay for a VPN, you are securing the traffic to some degree as it travels between you and the recipient, but the overwhelmingly vast majority of breaches are occurring on one end of the transmission or the other, and I would guess that it's on the end of the party (usually a business) that you provide your information to.

Folks are not grabbing your data out of the ether as it goes back and forth. A VPN is doing you about as much good as putting a privacy filter on your home monitor so that somebody can't look in your window to read the screen.

Make sure you have a firewall and you should be fine.

Now, radioman's use case is different and is actually a logical use of a VPN. If you're using the internet to connect to a private network that is elsewhere, it makes total sense. Web browsing, ecommerce, email, etc? Unncessary.

quote:

Originally posted by DaBigBR:
If you're using the internet to connect to a private network that is elsewhere, it makes total sense. Web browsing, ecommerce, email, etc? Unncessary.

Maybe. The theory regarding the latter use is it prevents local WiFi snooping.

Personally, every connection I make, except for SIGforum, is SSL'd, So I don't worry about my local wireless traffic being snooped.

I do have Wireguard set up on my virtual servers in rented space. One of them came in handy, once, when I wanted to browse SF and the local WiFi network blocked it.

Eventually I suppose I'll get around to installing Wireguard on my home router--when I get bored, someday

Fixed with proper local network security. Encrypt your network, switch the key and local password from the default, consider a software firewall on the individual device, etc.

I have had expressvpn for a year now and it has worked extremely well.

quote:

Originally posted by DaBigBR:
Fixed with proper local network security.

Local WiFi snooping when you're on foreign (not your own) WiFi networks.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ensigmatic,

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:
what are you doing with VPN?

I guess I'm really not doing much w/ it as I use it at home. While I'm not doing anything illegal, the idea that an internet provider can/would record everywhere I go bothers me, not unlike if someone was tracking my vehicle every day.
From reading here and elsewhere, I was under the impression (maybe mistakenly) that using a VPN provides an extra layer of security.
Not unlike my having Malwarebytes and CCleaner even though Win10 seems to do fine on it's own.

I know folks are opposed to the Russkie aspect, but I've been using Kaspersky with good operating results.

No love for SurfShark? Haven't gotten anything yet, but have been looking at a couple, this being one of them.