To VPN or not to VPN

[Gaffers]

There have been the odd app which stated that they use AES256 encryption (A pretty good level) so one would assume that it was nearly impossible to break the encryption.  Once the app had been reverse-engineered it turned out that they were using the AES256 public key to 'flip the bits' instead of doing proper encryption.  It would have been very easy to break in to the data flows.

In a browser the encryption is handled differently which makes such silly mistakes nearly impossible.  There are other weaknesses on browsers compared to apps but on encryption apps have a very bad rep.

[deviator]

There have been the odd app which stated that they use AES256 encryption (A pretty good level) so one would assume that it was nearly impossible to break the encryption.  Once the app had been reverse-engineered it turned out that they were using the AES256 public key to 'flip the bits' instead of doing proper encryption.  It would have been very easy to break in to the data flows.

In a browser the encryption is handled differently which makes such silly mistakes nearly impossible.  There are other weaknesses on browsers compared to apps but on encryption apps have a very bad rep.

There is this ^ as well. The AES256 standard is pretty good, but it doesn't mean it has been implemented in a safe and secure way.

[STEMO]

Yeah, well....I trust my banking apps...I don't trust the internet, and it's all about trust...innit?

[dave the builder]

Yeah, well....I trust my banking apps...I don't trust the internet, and it's all about trust...innit?

I thought you'd emptied your bank and invested in baked beans before the run on the banks when Brexit happens 

[aaronjb]

Yeah, well....I trust my banking apps...I don't trust the internet, and it's all about trust...innit?

You realise your banking apps communicate over the internet that you don't trust, right?

[STEMO]

Yeah, well....I trust my banking apps...I don't trust the internet, and it's all about trust...innit?

You realise your banking apps communicate over the internet that you don't trust, right?

They do not. They work by magic. 

[TheBoy]

If it's via the "Free" WiFi in the hotel then I very much would shoot him

FTFY

[aaronjb]

They do not. They work by magic. 

Magic pixies, to be exact.

If it's via the "Free" WiFi in the hotel then I very much would shoot him

FTFY

TB, the voice of compassion