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[Shackeng]

Due to my paranoia about privacy, I am planning to use one. Any recommendations? Nord perhaps?

[STEMO]

Someone asked not long ago, Chris, not many replies, I'm afraid:

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=145881.0

[Shackeng]

Thanks Steve, some useful info there.

[TheBoy]

Due to my paranoia about privacy, I am planning to use one. Any recommendations? Nord perhaps?

. Only if you like the nasty parts of the Internet having access to everything. Nord is one to avoid at all costs, as they have proved to be inept technically, and liars.


TBH, depends what you are doing, but now Google pretty much insist every website is HTTPS, device to site is encrypted.  Which means the VPN offers nothing, unless you want to appear to superficiously coming from another place.


A VPN is simply a way to provide a supposed private link to another network, using a public network (such as Internet) as the transport.  That other network in the case of those pointless VPNs offered to the naïve is simply a datacentre(s) where they put the endpoint - so offers nothing from that endpoint to the final destination.

Was there other type of traffic you wanted to encrypt? We can let you know if a VPN can help

[Shackeng]

I am just going on what I have been told, in that using a VPN stops your IP address being seen. 

[TheBoy]

I am just going on what I have been told, in that using a VPN stops your IP address being seen. 

Where? Depends what you are doing.

Also, most UK ISPs give their customers dynamic IPs, so is it that much of a worry that "your" (temporary) IP is available to a website owner?

[Shackeng]

You have descended into tech speak which me no speak.

[TheBoy]

You have descended into tech speak which me no speak.

There is a very high chance your IP is not personally identifiable.

That better?

[Shackeng]

Yes. But how high is that chance? My anti-virus programme, AVG free, keeps telling me that people can see my IP address.

[STEMO]

Yes. But how high is that chance? My anti-virus programme, AVG free, keeps telling me that people can see my IP address.

There's a way to stop it doing that.

[Kevin Wood]

Yes. But how high is that chance? My anti-virus programme, AVG free, keeps telling me that people can see my IP address.

That's pretty much inevitable when using the internet. It's like your car warning you that people can read your number plate. 

[STEMO]

Yes. But how high is that chance? My anti-virus programme, AVG free, keeps telling me that people can see my IP address.

Your IP address is at the bottom of every post on here. If I put my special hackers glasses on I can see it. 

[Shackeng]

So it doesn’t matter if my IP address can be seen, and poses no security risk?

[Doctor Gollum]

If something needs to be advertised on the telly box adinfinitum, then either you don't need it or it's shit.

Nord VPN, Over 50's whole life policies* and conservatory insulation being but three examples

*Whole life is a really bad idea at the best of times

[Shackeng]

If something needs to be advertised on the telly box adinfinitum, then either you don't need it or it's shit.

Nord VPN, Over 50's whole life policies* and conservatory insulation being but three examples

*Whole life is a really bad idea at the best of times

Huh? I never watch adverts on TV or elswhere, as if I want to watch a commercial TV programme I record it to watch without the ads. I came across Nord as one of the highly recommended ones from tech sites..."But" I hear you say.."How reliable are the tech sites?"
Agreed, hence my OP on here hoping for unbiased advice. 

[TheBoy]

Yes. But how high is that chance? My anti-virus programme, AVG free, keeps telling me that people can see my IP address.

Oh dear

[TheBoy]

So it doesn’t matter if my IP address can be seen, and poses no security risk?

Ensure all software on the machine is updated (eg, all MS stuff is updated by Windows Update), and that your day to day logon account to your Windows machine is a Limited User (not Admin), and that's a far better set of options than VPN to browse the web.

VPNs offer nothing to web browsing security (actually the reverse), and you are not tracked via your IP.

[TheBoy]

Just looked up your Broadband provider. They are one of the niche ones. Check you package to see if you have a static IP or dynamic.

The RIPE database implies its part of your ISP's dynamic range, but that isn't always accurate.


Though even if static, I still wouldn't bother with a VPN to browse the web.

[Shackeng]

Gobbledegook again, and how do you know my BB provider?

[TheBoy]

Gobbledegook again, and how do you know my BB provider?

Because I own the website that you have visited.

As for gobbledegook, there is nothing you have said that would make me think you would benefit from a VPN.


I'd probably remove AVG, and if you want to use a free AV solution, use the standard, built in, Windows 10 one called Defender. AVG is a resource hog, and a chequered past of being a bit naughty.

[Shackeng]

That is on as well. If you can see my BB can you not also see my IP address?

[Steve B]

That is on as well. If you can see my BB can you not also see my IP address?

I take it you are trying to do torrenting and wish to hide your IP...?

[Shackeng]

Tor renting? Renting a hill? No idea what that means, sorry. 
Having looked it up, I didn’t even understand the explanation!
My OP was because a friend suggested that using a VPN made me less visible in the internet. From what Jaime says that is not true.

[TheBoy]

That is on as well. If you can see my BB can you not also see my IP address?

I, as one of the co owners here, can see your IP, from which I can deduce your ISP.

I'm not sure why you are so concerned about your IP?  Like your email address*, its publically available somewhere.  I think you are worrying over nothing, unless you are doing something illegal (in which case a mainstream commercial VPN is not for you anyway).

All a VPN, used in the way you intend, can do is make your traffic appear to come from other addresses. This adds latency, reduces speed, gets you blocked more often and reduces security.


* here is a useful site for seeing if your email/password combos that you might use on multiple sites is on freely available lists of victims - https://haveibeenpwned.com/

[Shackeng]

That is on as well. If you can see my BB can you not also see my IP address?

I, as one of the co owners here, can see your IP, from which I can deduce your ISP.

I'm not sure why you are so concerned about your IP? Like your email address*, its publically available somewhere.  I think you are worrying over nothing, unless you are doing something illegal (in which case a mainstream commercial VPN is not for you anyway).

All a VPN, used in the way you intend, can do is make your traffic appear to come from other addresses. This adds latency, reduces speed, gets you blocked more often and reduces security.


* here is a useful site for seeing if your email/password combos that you might use on multiple sites is on freely available lists of victims - https://haveibeenpwned.com/

Only because I'm paranoid, especially when I read tech forum comments like this:"With the appropriate knowledge you can determine someone's ISP based on the IP address. Each ISP has a different range in terms of an ISP database. This is where user information is kept,and a moderately skilled IT operative can, once in the database, pair up the IP address with a name and mailing address. This does take basic IT skills, but it's not like computer magic."
I accept the broad implications of your comments, but clearly some people are still comcerned, and the more of my personal information I can keep private, the better, simply as a matter of personal preference. Each to his own.

[Doctor Gollum]

If you're on the electoral roll, then your address is already publicly available. A bit late to be paranoid

[STEMO]

People worry about their bank account number and sort code falling into the wrong hands, but they're both written on any cheque you write.

[aaronjb]

People worry about their bank account number and sort code falling into the wrong hands, but they're both written on any cheque you write.

So .. the mid 90s, then? 

[STEMO]

People worry about their bank account number and sort code falling into the wrong hands, but they're both written on any cheque you write.

So .. the mid 90s, then? 

Read the news, Aaron, you'll find cheques still play a big part in a lot of people's lives. Those who are over 40 anyhow.

[aaronjb]

People worry about their bank account number and sort code falling into the wrong hands, but they're both written on any cheque you write.

So .. the mid 90s, then? 

Read the news, Aaron, you'll find cheques still play a big part in a lot of people's lives. Those who are over 40 anyhow.

So, me, then.. better find that chequebook I haven't seen in a couple of years! (Although I do actually think I know where it is, for a change..)

[STEMO]

People worry about their bank account number and sort code falling into the wrong hands, but they're both written on any cheque you write.

So .. the mid 90s, then? 

Read the news, Aaron, you'll find cheques still play a big part in a lot of people's lives. Those who are over 40 anyhow.

So, me, then.. better find that chequebook I haven't seen in a couple of years! (Although I do actually think I know where it is, for a change..)

For nieces and nephews, grandkids, etc, a crisp £10 or £20 note is king, cheque is 2nd, and bank transfer is a distant third.

[aaronjb]

For nieces and nephews, grandkids, etc, a crisp £10 or £20 note is king, cheque is 2nd, and bank transfer is a distant third.

Surely if they want cash you just send them down't mines?

[TheBoy]

comments like this:"With the appropriate knowledge you can determine someone's ISP based on the IP address. Each ISP has a different range in terms of an ISP database. This is where user information is kept,and a moderately skilled IT operative can, once in the database, pair up the IP address with a name and mailing address. This does take basic IT skills, but it's not like computer magic."

The whole sentence is approximately 'dangle berries'.  Because any ISP exposing said database to anyone other than the authorities via a court judgement would be explaining themselves to the Information Commissioner, and awaiting a huge fine, usually at least 10% of turnover.  Not that any ISP would store your name and address alongside your IP, even if somebody could get at said ISP database.

The terminology used immediately strikes me that the person posting doesn't know what they are talking about.

Now there is a set of publically available databases around the world for looking up who owns an IP. For Europe, that is called RIPE WHOIS server.  In your case (along with 99.99% of other UK broadband lines), this simply returns your ISP's name and address. Hence I could tell who your ISP were.  But your ISP are not doing to tell anyone who was using a specific IP at a given time, without being told to do so by a warrant or other court order.

I, for the remainder of this year at least, work for a large UK ISP, and can assure you that unless you are one of those very few ISPs that put your name and address on RIPE's WHOIS, only the appropriate legal authorities can trace you*


*or potential rogue agents working in the ISP - though the same could be said for a VPN operator. And you can imagaine if there are rogue agents at your bank, anywhere you have shopped online, or in some cases, in store.

[Shackeng]

You clearly have more confidence in these databases than I do. It seems hardly a week goes by without either a bank or airline geting hacked and thousands of people having their information disseminated. However, as far as I understand what you have said, my information is out there whether I like it or not. Presumably the only way to isolate my personal data is to go completely off grid.

[TheBoy]

You clearly have more confidence in these databases than I do. It seems hardly a week goes by without either a bank or airline geting hacked and thousands of people having their information disseminated. However, as far as I understand what you have said, my information is out there whether I like it or not. Presumably the only way to isolate my personal data is to go completely off grid.

Your IP is of no interest to anyone TBH. Everybody has one or more (apparently I have over 4 billion of the damn things ), and they are not really useful.

Your name, address, credit card, bank, demographics and so on are far more valuable. And these are given away at will by the likes of Facebook (if you don't have an account, some of your friends and family will), and heavily recorded/tracked and used for advertising by the likes of Google and Amazon.  These companies don't track you via your IP, in fact hardly anyone does.  You are no doubt aware of the amount of demographics collected by the likes of Tesco through Clubcard and Sainsburys through Nectar - its staggering.

Sadly, I would argue that its impossible to stay off the grid in the UK, because somebody somewhere will know about you, be it being on the electoral role, or through your bank which is now needed for your pension. Once you have given info to anyone, its no longer secret, either by design or by mistakes.


No doubt you've had one of those emails where somebody claims to have hacked you, and turned on your webcam whilst you were having a wrist flick etc, and include your password.  These are what scares most people, but they are just passwords for your email from various big hacks.  These should serve as nothing more than a reminder about good security practices, and regular password changes (and not using same password on different sites).

Everybody will have some security incident at some point, from a computer virus/malware, a data breach from a company/organisation you have dealt with, a card clone/swipe and so on.

[STEMO]

You clearly have more confidence in these databases than I do. It seems hardly a week goes by without either a bank or airline geting hacked and thousands of people having their information disseminated. However, as far as I understand what you have said, my information is out there whether I like it or not. Presumably the only way to isolate my personal data is to go completely off grid.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/beatthescammers/article-7800919/Meghan-Markles-favourite-jewellery-brand-Missoma-hit-cyber-attack.html
 

[TheBoy]

BTW, not trying to dismiss your security fears - its great you grasp the risks and are trying to improve that


But I still maintain that a VPN isn't that helpful, and in many cases reduce your security.