VPN and What is It?

[Dr Grey]

Those who are familiar with VPN apps, can someone please describe when and where one would use a VPN app? Especially for hobby services.

I found a site that recommended some free ones. Found a few and really like Windscribe.

Heard others like Nord are good.

For those not familiar, will someone please write when, where and why someone will use the apps.

Thank you...

[SanMarcosGuy]

Don't really work lol. Vpn's and Ip's can still be traced no matter what. Unless you are bad ass anonymous hacker.

[SanMarcosGuy]

Read some where in a thread recommending using a burner phone for the hobby lol even those can be traced.

[John4229]

I’m guessing you’ve Googled it, and found the explanation to be a wall of incomprehensible nerdy jargon. I’ll try simplify it a bit …

You use a VPN client to connect to a private network from an external location.

For example, a server at your office is only accessible via the company network – you can’t connect to it over the Internet, only form computers that are on site, connected to the private network.

But with a VPN, you can make a connection through the Internet to a machine that is on the company network – and then use that machine as a proxy to access network resources, just as if you were sitting at that machine inside the building.

The security of a VPN is that you are not connecting directly to the server and cannot copy data resources from the company network to your home computer. You’re merely controlling a “puppet” machine that is on the physical network via a remote connection.

Without a specific use-case, I don’t see how a VPN would be of much interest to a website that was looking to provide privacy for its members – and it’s dreadfully expensive to set up if you don’t already have a private network in place.

[Dr Grey]

I did Google it. Some made sense while others so so. Just trying to spread info for those who might likely need to understand what one is and for use in the hobby. And why.

For hobby purposes. Any links to VPN apps would be appreciated if folks out there use them.

Just for curiosity sake last night, I set up an app and was able to access some Canadian based escort sites setting up on a Canada network which was interesting to look at. Nothing special but just browsed around before closing the app.

Will they even be necessary at all?

Thought I saw ck mention we may not need to use one due to who they may be targeting specifically with resources. Makes sense if folks are just doing their day to day it might not be necessary. Just use incognito mode or TOR web browser for private browsing purposes and no history recording on the device.

I can see that if I were a provider I would use one. But all the same, might use one as a hobbyist if you're going to need to visit certain sites offshore.

[Dr Grey]

Originally Posted by SanMarcosGuy

Don't really work lol. Vpn's and Ip's can still be traced no matter what. Unless you are bad ass anonymous hacker.

Originally Posted by SanMarcosGuy

Read some where in a thread recommending using a burner phone for the hobby lol even those can be traced.

Not doubting it's not possible. But would you not need to use a VPN in the future. Say if an escort information site offshore is set up like this one, but you could not get access to it from the US networks. Wouldn't you need a virtual private network to get access and log in from a country that allows it? Not saying it's not traceable, but for access purposes to sites, info exchange and provider based personal web pages.

If a burner phone is paid for with cash, and no personal info is ever set on it using your name, how is it possible to trace? I can see that if someone used their handle on a personal phone, then switched to a hobby phone, that might not work out for masking identities as they would trace it back to you. But if you start out with a fresh handle, and never connect any real world data to it, and always pay cash to reload it, I don't see how this is traceable unless you're merely talking about GPS signals which they could just trace nearby phones signals and IPs and see your personal phone always next to your burner phone. Then yeah. Sounds pointless to have a second phone. Thoughts on how burner phones are trace proof or a scam? Maybe another topic but I may create another thread. But a burner phone using a VPN for hobby purposes doesn't sound like a terrible idea and probably should be practiced by most of not all hobby enthusiasts who hobby with regularity.

Seen a movie where a guy hid his burner phone down the block when he went for jogs at night to call his call girl agency (flip phone with just call and text), he picked it up and only used it then to make the appointment. Kinda fake in that there's usually confirmation calls after the setup, but still just a movie and not a bad idea per se.

[be-kind_rewind]

Linus Tech Tips breaks it down quickly, and easily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhYeqgufYss

My recommendation for VPN: https://www.goldenfrog.com/vyprvpn

[HedonisticFool]

pay-as-u-go phones, what everyone references as “burner phones”, can be traced from the store it was purchased from. every phone, at every store, has a serial # that can be traced to its origin, and with video surveillance, find the identity of the purchaser. i would seriously doubt that LE would go that far unless they are investigating a serious crime...

[Dr Grey]

Reading why a VPN may be useless is a new act signed recently in conjunction to SESTA and FOSTA.

The Cloud Act... read this post...

https://eccie.net/showpost.php?p=106...1&postcount=32

Now a VPN may get u access abroad if you can't access it locally here, but if they wanted to, could get all your info if they think you're doing something you shouldn't.

https://eccie.net/showpost.php?p=106...1&postcount=32

[Dr Grey]

Reading why a VPN may be useless, there was a new act signed recently in conjunction to SESTA and FOSTA.

The Cloud Act... read this post...

https://eccie.net/showpost.php?p=106...1&postcount=32

Now a VPN may get u access abroad if you can't access it locally here, but if they wanted to, could get all your info if they think you're doing something you shouldn't.

Read more on Cloud Act here...

http://phxlist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=19074

[SanMarcosGuy]

lol wow

[Dr Grey]

Its going to be difficult for site owners and providers. Mongers will just be lost in space until something legit comes along.

[Saidar80]

Nothing is 100%, but you can make it harder to track you or at the very least the less attractive target. Everything mentioned above does work, but just to a point.

https://www.goldenfrog.com/blog/myth...-and-anonymity

I've been using IPVanish because they have Socks5 for torrenting and such, along with being cheap.

[ck1942]

OK, not exactly an IT expert so don't expect "technical" details herein.

But some examples of "protection" right cheer.

You know how:

-- Your long time bank may challenge you're trying to access your account on line from a new hardware unit or from an existing hardware unit you have previously used but one that you may have recently "cleaned" by clearing your browsers?

-- how even your current (Yahoo) email account challenges from time to time?

-- Or, (even eccie) challenges you to choose and verify a new password?

Or, well, you get the drift.

Quite often even though your hardware (cell phone, laptop, tablet, etc.) remains the same as it ever was, there's a chance your IP may different from what's on the host's (bank, mail) record, and thus you are challenged. Perhaps you are on wi-fi from a place never before used, or as you move from location to location by driving around, the cell carrier's IP changes, too.

Even if you are using a VPN, or a TOR, or just your browsers "hidden IP feature function" there is a good chance even those providers swap IPs frequently enough to cause your destination to issue a challenge.

And there are devices such as the "Secure Card" (not sure if that is the proper name or not since I used only during government active duty service) that generate a new additional pin number changing every minute or so in order to access secure networks. So in essence, multiple passwords only one of which stays the same throughout until the user self-changes. Many government IDs now have additional features built in in addition to the card itself .

We all know about retinal scans, fingerprint readers and much more security depending on the institution or entity.

Anyhoo, IP addresses are much the same, depending on the destination. But the fact of the matter is, whatever system is used, your hardware's access point into the net is still required so information can get back to your unit, but, of course, the information can be easily encrypted.

And, no matter or how hard you try, your net access supplier can always track your entry into the network and your initial access to your VPN, etc.

So, who ever supplies your free wi-fi at McD's or Starbux, can figure out where your are trying to go.

Worse than that, which is why you might not be able to access a review website directly from StarBux or McD's, or a hotel or a restaurant or wherever, their wi-fi supplier (or your employer's IT department!) can try to block certain IP addresses, even a TOR or VPN if they have reason to block such addresses. It's a big stretch to imagine such blockage, but it is technologically do-able.

What any of the above might do if they are collecting your traffic data is another question.

But let us not go into that here.

[lovelyevelyn]

So much speculation.

Personally, I doubt anyone is going to come after each of us individually. However, I'm not going to make it easy for them should they try.

Update your current security methods as needed but please don't try to dissuade others of tools that may be beneficial or life saving.

Play safe.