How Anonymous Is Your Vpn?

[radioman]

I saw this on another forum but thought it worthwhile posting here. I use VyprVPN for making Skype calls in places where this is not possible but otherwise not too bothered about anonymity.

 

 

VPN anonymity

 

In a related topic on the same board was a method to check anonymity if you use the free proxy HMA (HideMyAss)covers how to check for a known leak in OpenVPN so probably useful for any similar service. I wont link to it here as it's in a restricted section of the other board but happy to pm the info for he interested.

 

Cheers

[kamui]

I saw this on another forum but thought it worthwhile posting here. I use VyprVPN for making Skype calls in places where this is not possible but otherwise not too bothered about anonymity.

 

VPN anonymity

 

In a related topic on the same board was a method to check anonymity if you use the free proxy HMA (HideMyAss)covers how to check for a known leak in OpenVPN so probably useful for any similar service. I wont link to it here as it's in a restricted section of the other board but happy to pm the info for he interested.

 

Cheers

 

Yep, the article on Torrentfeak you linked to is IMHO the best source available:

Which VPN Providers Really Take Anonymity Seriously?

 

I had recommended VyprVPN here on the board. While I was aware of the fact that they keep a log of user's VPN connections for for at least 90 days (see their terms of use), I wasn't aware that they keep enough data that authorities are able to connect a user to visits to websites, as it just happened in a high profile case in GB:

 

Recently a well known VPN provider, HideMyAss (HMA), helped to bring a famous hacker to trial. HMA handed over his log files to the FBI. My link

 

This came as huge shock to thousands of VPN users.

 

Which means: don't use a provider which is logging your VPN connections.

 

 

PS: Recently I moved from VyprVPN to SwitchVPN which is much cheaper (32 $ for three months), but they also log your connection data for one month.

After my contract with SwitchVPN will have run out, of course I will look for a more secure VPN service.

Two things I will check for: no logs, not blocking filesharing (which most cheap VPN providers do).

 

 

[limbo]

Kamui, how an you cancel your subscription with Vyper? It seems like an automatic cc withdrawal. I like it but a cheaper option is welcome. Please keep us updated on any changes you may find out, I don't have neither the time or knowledge to get too deeply involved.

[gobbledonk]

I guess you cant be too paranoid, but it must be one helluva job to monitor all the traffic on the net. I love those movies where they show a CIA satellite 'watching' some guy in a Net cafe, then they pan to a monster data farm with endless rows of routers and RAID arrays. That just cant come cheap, fellow taxpayers

[kamui]

I guess you cant be too paranoid, but it must be one helluva job to monitor all the traffic on the net. I love those movies where they show a CIA satellite 'watching' some guy in a Net cafe, then they pan to a monster data farm with endless rows of routers and RAID arrays. That just cant come cheap, fellow taxpayers

 

Since the Echolon Project it is well documented that *all* data streams (email, phone, fax) and the whole internet are being monitored. But of course they don't store all data, but search all communication for key words. And of course they concentrate on topics of interest like terrorism, drug dealing, competing businesses (industrial espionage against allied countries...) .

 

In regard to 'normal' citizen like us who just want to live their lifes, it depends in which country we are located. In the Western countries is usually one matter which can bring us in trouble: copyright infringements. In non-Democratic (mostly non-Western countries) it is about freedom of speech and alot of other stuff (pornography, relgion, e.g.).

 

In regard to freedom of speech and for to keep your identity completely hidden TOR is probably the most secure solution. But it is very, very slow and makes surfing the web a pain in the ass.

And of course you'll need anonymous email addresses, Twitter and Facebook accounts e.g. It takes a lot of work and self-control to stay completely anonymous on the web.

 

 

For just to avoid being attacked by all RIAA and co. VPN is a very simple and secure solution. And there are even solution to pay some VPN providers anonymously.

 

Below the advice from AirVPN how to communicate and stay anonymously:

 

1) If you don't wish to leave a trail payment, the most secure way is to buy an account via our authorized Bitcoin resellerbitcoincodes.com. We encourage you to use TOR when you buy an account there and use the BitCoin client via TOR, to protect the Bitcoin payment with a layer of anonymity (Bitcoin per se is not really anonymous for transactions).

 

2) For extremely critical data transfer (whistleblowers, reports on organized crimes, etc.) please consider to use AirVPN over TOR. A simple example: airvpn.org/index.php?option=com_content&...id=64&Itemid=122

Please note that it is not TOR over VPN, it's VPN over TOR.

 

3) If/when you need to communicate with us, always use a secure and safe e-mail account which can't be used to reveal your identity. In this way you can buy an account via Bitcoin or LibertyReserve by directly asking to us.