Do you use a VPN ? Do they really help ?

[Poet]

1 hour ago, recom273 said:

Yes, you are completely correct, don’t Herzner give you an option to install OpenVPN? 

I think so but, if not, it takes only a single line to install it.

I have experimented with OpenVPN in the past, but found it to be not particularly open. IIRC, severe limitations on the number of devices you can use before having to pay them.

The beauty of simply using the server as a proxy is that you don't need to install anything. You spin up a server and login. That's all.

I suspect that a lot of people messing around with OpenVPN don't know that this is possible.

For more advanced uses, such as connecting from OpenWRT, OpenVPN may be necessary.

 

1 hour ago, recom273 said:

Do you have a suggestion for UK server?

Digital Ocean, Linode, and Vultr all have London datacenters. There are hundreds of providers with hourly billing who have a presence in dozens of countries.

Hetzner and OVH are unusual in being relatively limited in that way, each with a presence in just two countries.

 

[gargamon]

13 hours ago, norfolkandchance said:

NordVPN for me.

I use NordVPN. I will not renew when my subscription is up. NordVPN is not set up correctly for torrenting. It has no mechanism for port forwarding, which is an integral part of torrenting.

 

Some will likely complain that NordVPN works fine for them when torrenting, but try turning off NordVPN and you will get a much higher transfer rate. 

[gargamon]

Oops, duplicated message.

Edited June 3, 2021 by gargamon

[gargamon]

12 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

A VPN encrypts all the traffic between you and your bank, so a man in the middle can not use the information.

Sorry, not as secure as you think. The 'man in the middle' attack will be done when setting  up your VPN connection, which gives the attacker access to everything you do when connected to your VPN...

[shdmn]

23 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Sorry, not as secure as you think. The 'man in the middle' attack will be done when setting  up your VPN connection, which gives the attacker access to everything you do when connected to your VPN...

Never a shortage of 'security experts' in any internet discussion about security.  Doesn't matter what it is, you will always get randos saying it's not secure. 

 

A VPN uses SSL or some other modern crypto for the initial connection.  Then, once you are connected the traffic inside the VPN will also be connecting mostly via SSL.   It's certainly good enough for the banks. 

Edited June 3, 2021 by shdmn

[VBF]

15 hours ago, KannikaP said:

I tried Opera, but it did not have UK as a location, so no BBC iPlayer or UK TV. Express costs me $6 a month and always works.

Chrome Browser with Browsec VPN or Hola Free VPN extensions let me watch BBC in Thailand. No need for a separate VPN

[gargamon]

7 minutes ago, shdmn said:

Never a shortage of 'security experts' in any internet discussion about security.  Doesn't matter what it is, you will always get randos saying it's not secure.

 

VPN is pretty secure if you are initially connecting via SSL which they pretty much all do.  It's certainly good enough for the banks.

Not a security expert but a software engineer much more knowledgable than most in there matters...

 

So, by your second statement, there's no difference then in security connecting to your bank with or without a VPN as both are encrypted. 

[i84teen]

15 hours ago, MRToMRT said:

I use expressVPN. Not needed for 99% of things but can stream ITV, player and Channel 4. Also I will occasionally have a website that fails to download or has loading issues (caused by the government server cache here in Thailand) or is banned by the gov, and then I just switch to Singapore or elsewhere to load it straightaway. Keep in mind though the further away you go from Thailand (i.e. geographically speaking) when you choose the server, the slower the connection get.

One thing I have not been able to figure is express has a Thailand server, not sure what that does or if it blocks prying eyes but its fast.

ExpressVPN's Thailand server server is virtual and physically located in Singapore.

[CM4Me]

7 hours ago, orchidfan said:

G Rex. Can you share how you watch AFL using your VPN?

I have Surfshark, but I've always had to pay for an AFL monthly or yearly subscription to watch it live here. 

And that's only "permitted" if you are outside of Australia. 

Any info or guidance would be greatly appreciated !

 

orchidfan & G Rex - True Cable ( & only True Cable) on their least expensive package have 'ABC Australia' which show 7 or 8 games of AFL every week

[i84teen]

12 hours ago, rumak said:

OK,    how does one use PayPal ??          ( i also do NOT have internet banking). 

use crypto.

[covidiot]

21 minutes ago, CM4Me said:

have 'ABC Australia' which show 7 or 8 games of AFL every week

there is such a thing as watching too much sports.

 

Edited June 3, 2021 by covidiot

[i84teen]

7 hours ago, rumak said:

 

i just installed free trial on my android (express vpn) .    went to scrubs2 and still can not get the movies like i did before .   weird thing is tv shows work.  

have no time now but tomorrow will try to ask by chat  ........ 

 

then will report back .     will PM  if needed .     thanks

VPN on your mobile will not help with geo-blocking as your GPS reveals your location. Try the vpn connection on a laptop or desktop.

[Poet]

23 minutes ago, i84teen said:

VPN on your mobile will not help with geo-blocking as your GPS reveals your location

???

Just don't allow that browser or app to access your location info.

[Scottie12]

I have a lot of U.K. stuff on my Firesticks and need a VPN, I have used Browsec for quite some time and am very happy with it. USD 39 per year and responsive customer service.

[Chongalulu]

21 hours ago, norfolkandchance said:

NordVPN for me. Never had a problem with UK Telly. Cheap as well.

Yeah,thanks for letting me ride off the back of that too… ! ???? 

[KannikaP]

22 hours ago, bamboozled said:

Makes the connection much slower, I have found, annoyingly so.

I have 3BB 1Gb/s fibre to my home. When I connect with Express via UK, it drops to 200Mb/s. Annoying? Not to me!

[Mutt Daeng]

23 hours ago, bamboozled said:

Makes the connection much slower, I have found, annoyingly so.

It is slower (for me anyway) when using a VPN but not really noticeable when downloading. I have 3BB 1000/500 fibre package and I use NordVPN.

See speedtests below.

1st speedtest using VPN connected to Singapore. 2nd speedtest no VPN.

 

[Will27]

13 hours ago, orchidfan said:

Ok. Thanks for your Info. 

I don't have a Oz mobile number so that's a no goer.

AFL subscription is $39 a month and only month by month, can stop anytime. Perfect reception which I can mirror to my Samsung  if s Green smart TV.

Am originally from the West so follow Eagles and Dockers, but enjoy watching most AFL games unless they're a bloodbath. 

(Something to do during these isolation times of boredom !)

Might wait until the final rounds to sign up again. 

Thanks for your reply. 

FWIW, I used to use Kayo, only for the cricket.

But they eventually kept geo-blocking the VPN's I was using.

It was a pain in the <deleted>.

Price was about the same as watchafl when you factor in the VPN costs plus the $25 pm for Kayo.

 

If you only want to watch WatchAFL is a much better option.

It's cheaper to get a years subscription through an AFL club.

I pay $190 through WC but you can get it cheaper through other clubs.

[1948wjm]

Will27, I am watching Kayo every day using Express VPN & no blocking, if you want AFL with no VPN then download the App "Live Net Tv" then the Aussie channels.

[Tookta]

Yes

[Mutt Daeng]

9 hours ago, VBF said:

Chrome Browser with Browsec VPN or Hola Free VPN extensions let me watch BBC in Thailand. No need for a separate VPN

For anyone using Hola, you may wish to read this.

https://www.vpnmentor.com/reviews/hola-vpn/

Not saying don't use it, but be mindful of the old adage "there's no such thing as a free lunch". As they say in Thailand "Up to you" to make an informed choice.

[NoshowJones]

On 6/3/2021 at 7:35 AM, Peterw42 said:

I have lived here for 8 years and never found a situation were I have needed a VPN. Unless you need to access some geo blocked content from back home I cant see the need. In the rare instance where I need to get around some geo-blocking etc, I just use Opera browser which has a basic peer to peer VPN built in.

It appears to be one of those things, most people are not really sure why, but they feel they need a VPN.

As for which one is the best, it would probably come down to the country/content you are trying to access.

I get all the movies and tv series that I want and also just use the Opera browser.

[NoshowJones]

On 6/3/2021 at 9:33 AM, Pilotman said:

I have one ticket on direct debit  and when I win the money goes straight into my UK account.  So far it has worked,  but I've never won more than 100 pounds.  If it was 1 million, that might be problematic. 

No mights about it mate, no one, whether it is insurance companies or lotteries are going to pay out big money if they can avoid it, small print, legal jargon, you name it. they are into it.

[Pilotman]

53 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

No mights about it mate, no one, whether it is insurance companies or lotteries are going to pay out big money if they can avoid it, small print, legal jargon, you name it. they are into it.

True, but a good lawyer would make a good argument with:

 

stranded by covid

doesn't own a property out side UK but has one in UK ( house company owned)

visa is only for 12 months ( 9 now)

doesn't even own his car ( wife's name) 

back in UK just 18 months ago before the bad stuff happened.

back in UK now

 

Ed: but you and I both know that I will never be faced with that problem; what are the odds,  14 million to one?  More chance of snuffing it of covid I guess. 

Edited June 4, 2021 by Pilotman

[fdsa]

13 hours ago, Poet said:

I have experimented with OpenVPN in the past, but found it to be not particularly open. IIRC, severe limitations on the number of devices you can use before having to pay them.

you are confusing the free OpenVPN software which you could install anywhere you want without any limitations and OpenVPN company which provides the VPN service.

 

 

13 hours ago, Poet said:

Hetzner and OVH are unusual in being relatively limited in that way, each with a presence in just two countries.

I don't know about Hetzner but OVH has locations in many countries, check their website.

[Catoni]

18 hours ago, jack71 said:

im not happy with nord either. constantly asking me to upgrade ver and log back in etc. pain in the ass messages all the time

You have a free version?  I have a yearly subscription with Nord VPN and never get messages or asking me to upgrade and log back in other stuff from them. It works like a charm.  Very very happy with Nord VPN. 

[VBF]

7 hours ago, Mutt Daeng said:

For anyone using Hola, you may wish to read this.

https://www.vpnmentor.com/reviews/hola-vpn/

Not saying don't use it, but be mindful of the old adage "there's no such thing as a free lunch". As they say in Thailand "Up to you" to make an informed choice.

Thank you, ???? but the only reason I use the Hola Chrome extension, (as opposed to full Hola VPN) is to allow me to watch UK TV programmes outside UK. In effect, I'm actually the bad actor, watching content not meant for me! ???? The likelihood of the "Beeb" being able to come after me for that (or actually even caring) is probably less than winning the lottery.

 

I'm not worried about "them" (whoever "they" are ????) spying on me - I'm too boring to be of interest! 

For my security, I'm relying on personal firewall, A/V, A/M and sensible places to connect, ensuring secure protocol used at all times.

 

So to remain on topic, to the OP @rumak, my answer is "No I don't use a VPN as such"

[fdsa]

1 hour ago, VBF said:

I'm not worried about "them" (whoever "they" are ????) spying on me - I'm too boring to be of interest! 

you didn't understand how Hola works. They do not spy on you but sell your internet connection to other users. So someone might be sending SPAM or DDOS'ing or hacking or torrenting child porn from your IP address, with some consequences for you.

[VBF]

1 minute ago, fdsa said:

you didn't understand how Hola works. They do not spy on you but sell your internet connection to other users. So someone might be sending SPAM or DDOS'ing or hacking or torrenting child porn from your IP address, with some consequences for you.

So actually all the more reason for NOT using Hola....or is that what you're saying - I'm a little unclear?

My spying comment was aimed at those who think that's what VPNs always prevent. As you know, there's spying and there's spying!

 

Oh and if I'm connected via Bar, Hotel or whatever, I really don't care what they do with the public IP address - not my problem!

If I'm connected at home...they ain't gonna hijack my connection, believe me.

It has been tried by me on the outside pretending to be a hacker so "not knowing" any addresses, passwords etc. and a mate who is a Pen tester also had a go.

 

As for devices, I'm not being rude, but are you familiar with routable and unroutable IP addresses and MAC address matching?  If you are, you'll understand what I do to prevent incursions.

[Poet]

5 hours ago, fdsa said:

I don't know about Hetzner but OVH has locations in many countries, check their website.

No offense, fdsa, but before you correct other members on technical or factual details, you should "check their website" to make sure that what the member is saying is not actually correct. It saves everyone a lot of time if you can refrain from correcting statements that are already correct.

As I said in the statement you corrected, OVH has "a presence in just two countries". If you "check their website" you will see that those two countries are France and Canada:

https://www.datacenters.com/ovh-data-center-locations
 

6 hours ago, fdsa said:

you are confusing the free OpenVPN software which you could install anywhere you want without any limitations and OpenVPN company which provides the VPN service.

No, I never mentioned and was not talking about any VPN service. I was sharing my experience of using their free self-hosted version, but my central thrust is that people who just want to route around geo-blocks and Thai censorship of porn need neither a VPN service nor to run VPN software on their own server. They simply need to spin up a cloud server, login with a particular line of code, and paste in their password.