Free VPNs Are Not Really Free

AlphaAtlas

[H]ard|Gawd
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There's a perception that free VPNs provide an almost charitable privacy service. Users who are censored by their own government, for example, typically can't afford subscription VPN services, and often turn to free alternatives to circumvent oppressive restrictions. However, HackRead wrote up an article debunking that myth. Through data from other sources and their own testing, they found that pretty much every free VPN service is a "glorified data farm." Sometimes it goes beyond simply selling your location and history, as some services are accused of hijacking links to major e-commerce websites or turning client computers into botnets. As we've said before, free VPNs don't protect your privacy. Thanks to our resident security expert Joe Wood for the tip.

People are rushing to VPNs (especially free ones) in droves in an attempt to escape the prying eyes of the government and their ISPs. Unknown to them, however, these free VPNs are much worse: not only do they have less of a reputation to protect (many free Android VPN apps are a one-man operation) but my investigation revealed that many actually have a business model of gathering user data and selling to advertisers. Those who do not gather these data directly give advertisers freewill to do it in order to deflect responsibility, but that is much worse. Even worse, some of the data gathered are transmitted over insecure data connections, compromising user privacy - and some users have indeed complained about being victims of credit card fraud as a result
 
Good thing I paid one time fee that's good for lifetime. Luckily I did because the VPN I picked is now gone from that list. Here's the rest of VPN at StackSocial
 
I remember an article a few years back about a popular vpn, hola, having maleware. I'm sure that isn't the only company
 
Since the dawn of the electronic age, ALL your privacy, personal data, and internet activities are belong to US... always has, always will !


Sorry if this sounds harsh, but it is true, regardless of whether you believe it or not.
 
I dont understand why people dont grab a Lightsail instance on AWS for $5/mo and make their own VPN, trivially.
 
There's a perception that free VPNs provide an almost charitable privacy service. Users who are censored by their own government, for example, typically can't afford subscription VPN services, and often turn to free alternatives to circumvent oppressive restrictions. However, HackRead wrote up an article debunking that myth. Through data from other sources and their own testing, they found that pretty much every free VPN service is a "glorified data farm." Sometimes it goes beyond simply selling your location and history, as some services are accused of hijacking links to major e-commerce websites or turning client computers into botnets. As we've said before, free VPNs don't protect your privacy. Thanks to our resident security expert Joe Wood for the tip.

People are rushing to VPNs (especially free ones) in droves in an attempt to escape the prying eyes of the government and their ISPs. Unknown to them, however, these free VPNs are much worse: not only do they have less of a reputation to protect (many free Android VPN apps are a one-man operation) but my investigation revealed that many actually have a business model of gathering user data and selling to advertisers. Those who do not gather these data directly give advertisers freewill to do it in order to deflect responsibility, but that is much worse. Even worse, some of the data gathered are transmitted over insecure data connections, compromising user privacy - and some users have indeed complained about being victims of credit card fraud as a result

Not really surprising given that most users have no idea how VPN technology works and what risks it poses for them (likely more than benefit in these cases here). This is basically just like willingly installing malware on a machine. Some people are so ignorant, they like this stuff. I remember seeing a lady doing paperwork at insurance company with enough toolbars to cover 75% of screen space and all that shit was blinking. However, when I presented her with reality she just dismissed it and said she liked that shit even though she practically couldn't even see webpage she was visiting. Personally, I'd question even paid ones as realistically we don't know what they do with the data that passes their servers.
 
Have Nord so I'm fine.

Free VPN.
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I dont understand why people dont grab a Lightsail instance on AWS for $5/mo and make their own VPN, trivially.
Got curious. Looks like Linux minimum is 3.50/month and Windows is 8/month. Should work as long as you had a decent OS to OS VPN from your home PC to the AWS setup and nothing you needed access to objects to an AWS server address and you pay attention to the data caps for the AWS service.

And you trust Amazon not to data mine the contents of your server.
 
Good thing I paid one time fee that's good for lifetime. Luckily I did because the VPN I picked is now gone from that list. Here's the rest of VPN at StackSocial
Yeah, they are probably doing it too, they just haven’t been caught yet. That would mean they are making the business decision to leave a lot of money on the table just to be good people while leaving themselves legally liable to a number of different law enforcement agencies all over the world.
 
I don’t trust any of these VPN companies, free or paid. There are too many liabilities involved for them not to keep detailed logs of who is doing what. Additionally there is too much money involved for them to not sell your data, sanitized or not. If you don’t own it assume they are in it for themselves.
 
Got curious. Looks like Linux minimum is 3.50/month and Windows is 8/month. Should work as long as you had a decent OS to OS VPN from your home PC to the AWS setup and nothing you needed access to objects to an AWS server address and you pay attention to the data caps for the AWS service.

And you trust Amazon not to data mine the contents of your server.


Most modern routers can create a persistent network to network VPN link. Split your network into vLANs, one side goes to VPN, the other goes out direct.
 
I dont understand why people dont grab a Lightsail instance on AWS for $5/mo and make their own VPN, trivially.

Maybe because you haven't told them about it or told them how to do it.

Most people also have absolutely no clue about how to set anything up. They are just regular computer/phone/whatever users that expect stuff just to work and be done for them and couldn't care less about learning how to do stuff themselves.
 
What would you do
If you were asked to give up your dreams for freedom?
What would you do
If asked to make the ultimate sacrifice?

Would you think about all them people
Who gave up everything they had?
Would you think about all them War Vets
And would you start to feel bad?

Freedom isn't free
It costs folks like you and me
And if we don't all chip in
We'll never pay that bill
Freedom isn't free
No, there's a hefty in' fee.
And if you don't throw in your buck 'o five
Who will?

What would you do
If someone told you to fight for freedom
Would you answer the call
Or run away like a little pussy
'Cause the only reason that you're here
Is 'cause folks died for you in the past
So maybe now it's your turn
To die kicking some ass

Freedom isn't free
It costs folks like you and me
And if we don't all chip in
We'll never pay that bill
Freedom isn't free
Now there's a hefty in' fee
And if you don't throw in your buck 'o five
Who will?

You don't throw in your buck 'o five. Who will?
Oooh buck 'o five
Freedom costs a buck 'o five
 
I don’t trust any of these VPN companies, free or paid. There are too many liabilities involved for them not to keep detailed logs of who is doing what. Additionally there is too much money involved for them to not sell your data, sanitized or not. If you don’t own it assume they are in it for themselves.

Well you should only worry if you are doing something illegal. There are valid reasons to have a VPN that are perfectly legal including identity protection.
 
I question the lifetime subscription ones too.

There is no way those upfront fees cover the cost of providing the service in perpetuum.
Nope, has to be true. Everything on the Internet is true, and it says it on the Internet, therefore it must be true. ;)
 
Well you should only worry if you are doing something illegal. There are valid reasons to have a VPN that are perfectly legal including identity protection.
But if the VPN itself is tracking you and watching what you are doing with the intent of selling off that data how are you protecting your identity?
 
The key is that you have to use all of the free ones at once. ;)


Well you should only worry if you are doing something illegal. There are valid reasons to have a VPN that are perfectly legal including identity protection.

Mostly true, I use the free ones when I need to circumvent a firewall or websense like restriction at a hotel/cafe. It's not for privacy in that sense.

The "illegal" part may be a stretch as there are valid reasons for one (and privacy) that aren't illegal such as whistle blowing. It's not always people downloading illegal copies of something or browsing kitty porn.
 
Also, any VPN telling you it either isn't logging you or doesn't keep logs?

LIES! ALL LIES!
 
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