General Paid VPN Service - TMA

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Grateful Dude

TMMAC Addict
May 30, 2016
8,925
14,261
Been wanting to get a VPN for my devices (PC, iPhone, iPad, and the wife’s MacBook Pro). There’s a bunch of options out there, anyone have recommendations or warnings? Is this worth having?

I’m not tech savvy and don’t know much about any of these, so any info would be helpful.

The ones I’ve been looking at:

Express VPN
Nord VPN
Cyber Ghost
IP Vanish
 

Rambo John J

Eats things that would make a Billy Goat Puke
First 100
Jan 17, 2015
71,541
71,465
I think a single subscription covers all of my devices, correct?
u will probably get more answers after super bowl...people be doing evil things right now watching the devils game
and shakira is dancing
 

Grateful Dude

TMMAC Addict
May 30, 2016
8,925
14,261
u will probably get more answers after super bowl...people be doing evil things right now watching the devils game
and shakira is dancing
oh yeah, you’re probably right about that. No rush though

I don’t watch football, so I forget about these smaller events like the Super Bowl ;)

until later?


I saw the DM link from jason73 @jason73 so maybe I’ll give it a go and see what’s up with the game
 

Grateful Dude

TMMAC Addict
May 30, 2016
8,925
14,261
Depends. What you need it for?
honestly, that’s part of what I’m trying to figure out here. I don’t know much about these and was hoping this thread may help me decide if I should bother with it.

This came up the other day when aVPN service was recommended to me by a guy at work with the idea that it would provide at least some level of privacy, anonymity, and security.

I don’t do much sketchy shit online like porn or the dark web or things of that nature. But I do have some online banking or bill pay services. And I do stream PPVs.

My wife likes the idea of unlocking regional streaming services.
 

KWingJitsu

ยาเม็ดสีแดงหรือสีฟ้ายา?
Nov 15, 2015
10,311
12,758
I think a single subscription covers all of my devices, correct?
Depends on the service/plan you get.

I have VPN Secure. Got a lifetime deal for 3 devices I believe.

First question is 'why' do you want a VPN service? Who're you hiding from/laundering money to?
 

Grateful Dude

TMMAC Addict
May 30, 2016
8,925
14,261
Depends on the service/plan you get.

I have VPN Secure. Got a lifetime deal for 3 devices I believe.

First question is 'why' do you want a VPN service? Who're you hiding from/laundering money to?
like I said in one post above yours, I’m trying to decide if I have a need for a VPN or not, and that’s what I’m exploring. I was told it would give some general privacy/security/anonymity for whatever I do online. And some of the other features like unlocking regional streaming services is a secondary and less important desire.

is a VPN only necessary if I plan on engaging in nefarious activity online? Because if that’s the case, I don’t need one.

believe me man, I wish I had enough money that I had to launder it ;) But that isn’t my reality.
 

Splinty

Shake 'em off
Admin
Dec 31, 2014
44,116
91,095
My wife likes the idea of unlocking regional streaming services.
In your typical day to day, using your computer at secure work sites or home, a VPN is probably overkill unless you're paranoid of the government.

A VPN takes your traffic from you (POINT A) and tunnels it encrypted out a server (POINT B) to your end destination (POINT C). This is useful for travelers who might often be on unsecured wifi, etc. I have seen terrible security in hotels and having my data go out an encrypted stream no matter what it might be is nice. I take the same tactic when traveling overseas and have also used VPNs to get around foreign national firewalls.
Othertimes. National blocking also blocks VPNs

My wife likes the idea of unlocking regional streaming services.
This is the best use youve posted so far. Know that this is probably variable depending on the VPN you choose as some services could block your VPN. But that's not so common.

For easy use, I would still go with PIA. Apps for all your devices and can have it start with boot or not. Just click the icon and can easily jump servers to change regions.
 

Grateful Dude

TMMAC Addict
May 30, 2016
8,925
14,261
In your typical day to day, using your computer at secure work sites or home, a VPN is probably overkill unless you're paranoid of the government.

A VPN takes your traffic from you (POINT A) and tunnels it encrypted out a server (POINT B) to your end destination (POINT C). This is useful for travelers who might often be on unsecured wifi, etc. I have seen terrible security in hotels and having my data go out an encrypted stream no matter what it might be is nice. I take the same tactic when traveling overseas and have also used VPNs to get around foreign national firewalls.
Othertimes. National blocking also blocks VPNs



This is the best use youve posted so far. Know that this is probably variable depending on the VPN you choose as some services could block your VPN. But that's not so common.

For easy use, I would still go with PIA. Apps for all your devices and can have it start with boot or not. Just click the icon and can easily jump servers to change regions.

thank you for the info, I appreciate it.
 

KWingJitsu

ยาเม็ดสีแดงหรือสีฟ้ายา?
Nov 15, 2015
10,311
12,758
Yeah, what the dork doctor said.

I used it when I was traversing the middle east where they don't allow porn... or even skype, or whatsapp, so VPN it was in order to get my fix.

And yes I was kidding about the money laundering thing, but if you do want an extra layer of security, it's good to have if you access lots of financial info constantly.
 

SongExotic2

ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. #FREECAIN
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
39,772
53,672
In your typical day to day, using your computer at secure work sites or home, a VPN is probably overkill unless you're paranoid of the government.

A VPN takes your traffic from you (POINT A) and tunnels it encrypted out a server (POINT B) to your end destination (POINT C). This is useful for travelers who might often be on unsecured wifi, etc. I have seen terrible security in hotels and having my data go out an encrypted stream no matter what it might be is nice. I take the same tactic when traveling overseas and have also used VPNs to get around foreign national firewalls.
Othertimes. National blocking also blocks VPNs



This is the best use youve posted so far. Know that this is probably variable depending on the VPN you choose as some services could block your VPN. But that's not so common.

For easy use, I would still go with PIA. Apps for all your devices and can have it start with boot or not. Just click the icon and can easily jump servers to change regions.
Used pia. Got 5 warnings from time Warner for downloading tv shows. The fifth time they cut me off and I had to talk with a manager. Basically the sixth time was gonna be when they hand over my info to the the TV station so they can prosecute.

So I got pia and never looked back, worked a charm.

 

Splinty

Shake 'em off
Admin
Dec 31, 2014
44,116
91,095
Used pia. Got 5 warnings from time Warner for downloading tv shows. The fifth time they cut me off and I had to talk with a manager. Basically the sixth time was gonna be when they hand over my info to the the TV station so they can prosecute.

So I got pia and never looked back, worked a charm.


For those following along, you were almost assuredly using torrent right?
By its nature torrents download and upload at the same time.
They were able to come after you because you uploaded the file as well. You became a pirate.

In the United States, there is not currently a legal precedent to go after end users watching online streams. It's incredibly difficult to make somebody watching a video online liable for the copyright infringement being performed by the person sending the stream. The argument goes that the end user can't and shouldn't be required to figure out if the streamer has paid the license.
Flipping through YouTube for instance, you don't know who has fair use and not. And you're not a lawyer to even make a good guess.

So while Dana was making a lot of noise a few years ago about going after users of some of the streaming sites that got shut down, it's the streaming site themselves that's liable.

And of course this is ever changing and of course it's different per country. And of course I'm not a lawyer so you should talk to yours and not take this as legal advice.
 

SongExotic2

ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. #FREECAIN
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
39,772
53,672
For those following along, you were almost assuredly using torrent right?
By its nature torrents download and upload at the same time.
They were able to come after you because you uploaded the file as well. You became a pirate.

In the United States, there is not currently a legal precedent to go after end users watching online streams. It's incredibly difficult to make somebody watching a video online liable for the copyright infringement being performed by the person sending the stream. The argument goes that the end user can't and shouldn't be required to figure out if the streamer has paid the license.
Flipping through YouTube for instance, you don't know who has fair use and not. And you're not a lawyer to even make a good guess.

So while Dana was making a lot of noise a few years ago about going after users of some of the streaming sites that got shut down, it's the streaming site themselves that's liable.

And of course this is ever changing and of course it's different per country. And of course I'm not a lawyer so you should talk to yours and not take this as legal advice.
Yea it was torrents. Mainly game of thrones and walking dead.

Another thing worth mentioning.


I don't know if this is the case these days, but I used to set my VPN to Singapore.

Turns out the ppvs are cheaper there.

Germany for prelims etc etc
 

SongExotic2

ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. #FREECAIN
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
39,772
53,672
And dipshit Dana never caught me, that fucken egg goof!
 

Revenant

Cheesesteak Addict
Jan 25, 2020
141
326
I used a free one for a while til I realized what they were doing and putting on my computer. Haven't justified laying down cash for one yet, though I worry about streaming Mobdro and Cyberflix on my Firestick.
 

SongExotic2

ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. #FREECAIN
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
39,772
53,672
I used a free one for a while til I realized what they were doing and putting on my computer. Haven't justified laying down cash for one yet, though I worry about streaming Mobdro and Cyberflix on my Firestick.
As Dr frankenmong mentioned I think streaming is safe. It's the torrents you need to watch out with
 

silentsinger

Momofuku
Jun 23, 2015
21,038
14,484
As Dr frankenmong mentioned I think streaming is safe. It's the torrents you need to watch out with
Yeah, it isn't well though of but I always cancelled the upload when I was downloading.

Only got popped once when I got a warning email from my ISP but I haven't torrented since.
 

SongExotic2

ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. #FREECAIN
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
39,772
53,672
Yeah, it isn't well though of but I always cancelled the upload when I was downloading.

Only got popped once when I got a warning email from my ISP but I haven't torrented since.
Yea that shit cost me a job. If popped hot for the fifth time and diddnt realize, so I'd sent an email the next morning and it diddnt go out. Next thing I'm getting messages from my.time asking why I quit etc I'm like wtf are you talking about. My site lead had got mad at me and told them to clear all my shit out. Trish be told this was the Wednesday and on the Friday I was gonna put a week or twos notice in. My company diddnt fire me they were gonna make a new job for me in MD but I put stop to it and moved to California
 

silentsinger

Momofuku
Jun 23, 2015
21,038
14,484
Yea that shit cost me a job. If popped hot for the fifth time and diddnt realize, so I'd sent an email the next morning and it diddnt go out. Next thing I'm getting messages from my.time asking why I quit etc I'm like wtf are you talking about. My site lead had got mad at me and told them to clear all my shit out. Trish be told this was the Wednesday and on the Friday I was gonna put a week or twos notice in. My company diddnt fire me they were gonna make a new job for me in MD but I put stop to it and moved to California
What sort of stupid company doesn't have shit like that locked down anyway? You could have an employee downloading child porn ffs.
 

SongExotic2

ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. #FREECAIN
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
39,772
53,672
What sort of stupid company doesn't have shit like that locked down anyway? You could have an employee downloading child porn ffs.
No dummy. I diddnt have it on my computer at home. I popped hot 5th time and when I did time Warner shut my shit down. So when I emailed out the next day I had no internet and went back to bed
 

Coast

Land of the Prince Bishops
Oct 18, 2017
642
1,151
Been using PIA for years, never had any issues. It's great value, secure and quick. Once you pay for the license you can use it on 10 devices, including mobile and it has a browser plug in. It also keeps no logs, a fact which has been proven when they were challenged in court to disclose one of their users.

Only downside is that they are US based company - 5 Eyes Alliance. But as long as you are not doing anything really fucking shady, you'll be ok with that.

Whatever you choose... make sure the VPN has a killswitch for downloading P2P.