VPN Recommendations

My VPN subscription for Private Internet Access ran out over Christmas. PIA emailed me saying that their prices are going up soon and I should resubscribe if I wish to avoid this increase.

I'm wondering if PIA are still one of the go to VPNs or if there are other ones that are better out there?

I want it to bypass region locked content and to hide my identity, so I need something that's close to my real speed of 5Mb/s internet.

My other question is, for those of you who have a VPN, how do you connect to it? Do you use the supplied app that whatever VPN provider you sign up with gives you, or do you use the built in Windows way of connecting?

I don't want the VPN to connect every time I start up my computer, just on an ad hoc basis. I won't be using it on my phone, just my computer only.

Thanks guys!

dalchina said:

Hi, is this any use to you?
https://sharewareonsale.com/s/stegan...ay-coupon-sale

limit per month I think.

Thanks, but I would rather have unlimited :)

If I need privacy, I use TOR browser. It can be slow at times, but you can aways change the exit node. For most sites, I don't need high speed...

For VPN services, stay away from the five-eyes countries, if privacy is important. This site lists VPN service sites that are outside of those countries. The site also has pretty good tips for securing your browser and browse anonymously.

Keep in mind that your ISP's DNS servers do record your DNS queries. You can use Goggle's DNS servers, but that would defeat your purpose of being private. The better option would be to install DNSCrypt, so neither your ISP or Google can record your DNS queries...

I don't use it, so can't comment re performance, but Opera browser has built-in VPN.

dmholt57 said:

It is actually a proxy...not a vpn...

Well...the argument could be made that every VPN service is basically a proxy. The difference is the type of encryption utilized for the connection. In the case Opera, it is SSL/TLS (client-less), while VPN services require client software. In both cases, yourISP won't see your Internet traffic, just your connection to VPN service and/or to the Opera exit node.

Once the client connect to the VPN server his/her Internet traffic can be, and in most cases it is, recorded. So does Opera for that matter. The exit node IP records your actual IP address and the related sites that you have visited. Nowadays, most of the websites are SSL/TLS and as such, the content of your destination isn't know for either of them. Unless, the exit node has a SSL/TLS proxy, in which case all bets are off.

I don't use VPN services, but would not be surprised, if Opera has SSL/TLS proxy in place...

I use the supplied vpn app Veepn that I previously purchased. I didn't want to spend money on programs at first, but having a stable connection is much more important. If you don't want the program to run every time you turn computer on, find and turn off such a function in windows autoload.

If all you need is 5 Mbps then just about any VPN provider will do, methinks.
My problem is finding one who can provide 100 Mbps.

With the new Https DNS coming out it that will stop a lot of problems as your ISP won't be able to see DNS request so they can't block sites