So I’ve heard about VPN’s for years, and have used a few of the free ones sporadically just to experiment watching some shows on foreign Netflix. Yet, after the free trial ends I never feel any desire to have it, and dismiss the concept entirely. Upon further reflection, I realized I have never met anyone who does use a VPN regularly. So, if you actively pay for and use a VPN regularly, why? What was the main reason you bought one? Thanks so much, sorry if this sounds ridiculous, was just on my mind while driving earlier.
If I’m completely honest I don’t give 2 shits about security and privacy I know I’m fucked either way I just wanted some good netflix
The first time I started using a VPN was because I was a contractor for a Marketing agency and worked at home. I wanted to be sure that the clients I worked for that there was a smaller chance that data would be compromised, especially while traveling.
The second reason was I wanted to review how client’s search results looked in different locations.
5 years later, I now use my own VPN to self-host services and connect to machines at home. I still use another third-party VPN to review how things look from another location. I will soon plan on using that same VPN to learn how to do penetration testing.
for privacy, because I don’t trust in my ISP (logs, etc), my VPN is not perfect, but is much better that my ISP
My ISP got bought out by Charter, was renamed Spectrum and not only are they a garbage service (which has hiked my rates 30% in 4 years) but are potentially invasive to my privacy. I want them to see as little of my internet usage as possible
Because I was IP banned from reddit.
I use my own OpenVPN server to connect to my home network from anywhere around the world. It is OpenVPN running on 1194 UDP for speed and if that connection fails it automatically falls back to 443 TCP that so far has been able to get around every DPI (probs the tls-crypt). It means I can connect to all of the stuff locally on my network like my NAS, rack servers as well as other random things without having to port forward them. It also means I get to use my home IP address whenever I want to which is useful as some websites block certain IPs from VPNs: not the case with my home network’s IP! I run a DDNS client with a hostname attached to it as I do have a dynamic IP address but this client sorts that problem out. It is just really useful to be honest.
- Planning on moving to China
- Extra security
- To avoid regional blockages
Torrents…purely torrents for my plex server.
I run a VPN server at home because I don’t want to open so many ports on my router.
To download 4k movies.
In the country where I am many different news feeds are blocked. Also, all Internet traffic is automatically logged and analyzed, and you can get into big trouble if you are found to be reading a ‘wrong’ story, or opening a ‘wrong’ page. A VPN is absolutely necessary.
1.To pass my government censorship
2.hide my traffic from isp
3.To torrent
4.For public wifi
I’ve used VPNs to connect to and between remote locations for decades, it’s been the only reliably secure way to share network resources. Particularly to use file servers, remote desktop connections, and printers/scanners.
I started to pay VPN service providers after visiting China and having my self hosted VPNs blocked and cracked, including injected certificate authorities and odd redirects. I choose to offload some of the pain to a service.
Also, in the USA *when the FCC repealed the “2015 net neutrality rules” in 2018 ISPs (don’t forget mobile carriers) were also told they could monitor, package, and sell user data even further without worry.* You’re still affected further downstream, but limiting direct monitoring is nice. As a side note, private/self hosted/trusted DNS can go a long way to help with this as well.
The added benefits of being able to still connect to paid, but geo restricted, services is a big plus. Change locations for Netflix and similar streaming. (Though getting harder with increased use of VPN service providers.) And “anonymizing” “your” IP in logs across web and P2P services.
I run always-on VPNs and only disconnect when necessary for troubleshooting or testing. It really helps to “stay connected” when traveling or living outside your home country as well.
*Edit: for clarity
Because lots of content is region lock.
Example, if i wanted microsoft reward, or heck play League of Legends in NA i need a VPN
Access to other countries libraries on Netflix and YouTube. Cheap deals.
lot of sites VPN doesnt work. Just happened to me on door dash app.
which vpn do you use? I want to get one for netflix
frequently do not have passwords, meaning the traffic is not encrypted
Nope not true, if the websites you’re visiting have https the traffic is definitely encrypted
First part is not really true. Sure, when the internet was not using SSL and instead using only HTTP a middleman attack was possible but with modern-day HTTPS it means that even the traffic between the user and the website is encrypted, even if the Wi-Fi is open. As such this is not really an issue any more but you could still say it adds a bit of protection albeit with modern-day encryption methods it is quite minimal.
Your other two use-cases are completely valid tho.