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68 sats \ 3 replies \ @frostdragon 30 Aug 2023 \ on: Should I use VPN? tech
This is an unpopular opinion, especially around here, but in most cases the answer is actually no. It's just not needed.
For typical browsing, your ISP and anyone in your network can see the domains you visit, but can't actually see any of the traffic or data. That's already encrypted by HTTPS. For example, they can see YouTube.com, but can't see anything beyond that. Can't see the specific url address to see what videos you're watching, can't see your password when you submit it on the login page, or anything like that.
If you're worried about your ISP or a network monitor (like, on campus wifi) being able to see the domains you're visiting, if you use a VPN just know you're letting the VPN owner see that instead. There are lots of good reasons you may prefer that, but honestly not for most people.
fwiw, most cyber security professionals (at least the ones I know) don't use a VPN on the individual level/for personal browsing.
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21 sats \ 0 replies \ @billiam 31 Aug 2023
1.) Your ISP ip-address is KYC'ed. The VPN one not if you use a provider that offers direct BTC/Lighting or payments with cash. 2.) With VPN, you share the ip-address with other users, so you blend into the crowd. 3.) In case of my VPN provider, I can select at the DNS level to block social networks, tracking, ads, blacklisted sites, porn etc. (I know that's not an argument for a VPN). I use the VPN/DNS combo out of convenience in order to not run my own DNS filter (pihole ...). 4.) I sometimes need to visit sites that apply geo-blocking, with the VPN I can switch location.
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17 sats \ 1 reply \ @Ed_Relight OP 30 Aug 2023
Thanks for a detailed response, I've never thought about it like this
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10 sats \ 0 replies \ @john_doe 31 Aug 2023
Agreed. What a VPN is useful for is to link 2 networks together. So many people use VPNs for work without knowing it (the little Cisco button which says connect or disconnect at work). It allows to access data forbidden to access from outside, to connect to a server, etc. Outside of work, it is very useful when you travel. I don't use Netflix but many services track you with your IP address so VPNs are very useful for that. To buy a plane ticket, let's say to see the Great Pyramids, if you connect to Cairo it will/may be cheaper. You can access blocked websites, blocked for political correctness, unblocked with a VPN. The downside I guess is your ip address will likely be detected as being used by a bot.
A good answer for anonymity could be to use Tor instead of a VPN.
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