3rd party VPN privacy

[OVERKILL]

I’m not saying people need this stuff, but to call it totally worthless?

Quoting myself:

If I was doing a pentest from a burner or a liveDVD (just for the sake of an example) so the hardware itself is totally blank slate and was trying to spoof a COO to maybe check if geoblocking was working or not, then a VPN of this type can be useful. However, that's not the usage profile of Joe Average home user.

Nobody is saying it's "totally worthless", there are several use cases as long as you understand the limitations. But this stuff is monetized, which shouldn't surprise anyone. Amazon is now putting ads on Prime Video for Pete's sake, and you are already paying for that! Targeted advertising is accounted for within the TOS for most of these services, since it's not actually "monitoring", it's just an algorithm tracking DNS query trends (and perhaps some other stuff) and directing ads accordingly.

 

[Jargongskalle]

Deloitte Audit - https://s1.nordcdn.com/nord/misc/0.58.0/vpn/brand/ISAE_3000-NordVPN_report_20dec2022.pdf

"In summary, our system architecture is designed so that NordVPN cannot be compelled to provide any type of
information on its users’ VPN activity because that information does not exist. We do not know anything about
our users' online activities while they are using our services."

 

[loneryder]

I recently got fiber installed to my house. They use the Amazon EEROs. After a week I get an activity report on my phone. It tells me DL and UL data, scans and threat blocks. Since I’ve never had this before, I’m thinking they are watching everything I do. I read the fine print and they give the usual “only collect anonymous data” statement. Anybody know anything about the EEROs? I started using my Proton VPN for my browsing.

 

[Jargongskalle]

I recently got fiber installed to my house. They use the Amazon EEROs. After a week I get an activity report on my phone. It tells me DL and UL data, scans and threat blocks. Since I’ve never had this before, I’m thinking they are watching everything I do. I read the fine print and they give the usual “only collect anonymous data” statement. Anybody know anything about the EEROs? I started using my Proton VPN for my browsing.

Amazon spying, yes.

 

[OVERKILL]

I recently got fiber installed to my house. They use the Amazon EEROs. After a week I get an activity report on my phone. It tells me DL and UL data, scans and threat blocks. Since I’ve never had this before, I’m thinking they are watching everything I do. I read the fine print and they give the usual “only collect anonymous data” statement. Anybody know anything about the EEROs? I started using my Proton VPN for my browsing.

Well yeah, if you are using an Amazon device as your edge device, it's going to be able to scan your traffic. It can't decrypt your encrypted traffic, but it will know what sites you visit and if it's doing IDS/IPS, can also scan for threats and malicious files and block them.

If you don't trust Amazon to do this, I wouldn't use their device. I'm sure you can swap it out for something else if you want, like something from Unifi. The IDS/IPS stuff is good, my concern would be with Amazon providing it.

 

[alarmguy]

I recently got fiber installed to my house. They use the Amazon EEROs. After a week I get an activity report on my phone. It tells me DL and UL data, scans and threat blocks. Since I’ve never had this before, I’m thinking they are watching everything I do. I read the fine print and they give the usual “only collect anonymous data” statement. Anybody know anything about the EEROs? I started using my Proton VPN for my browsing.

Good for you on Proton. I dont use their VPN but love their email! If I ever wanted to actively use a VPN and pay for it, Proton would be the only one.

You may find this an interesting read. For me personally there are way more important people in this world then me but I do get it and make it a hobby to keep it at a minimum because I do not believe companies should make money off my personal data.

https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/...ata-on-you-heres-how-to-protect-your-privacy/

Taken from the Link above you may find this interesting, Eero says not to use their devices if you do not want your data collected!!!

BTW- our new "Smart Home" came with a Eero router free. I never plugged it in and sold it on eBay just recently, mostly because it's not as powerful as what I have but I do not like Amazon or Google or anything to do with them. Except shopping sometimes and almost never use google search engine..

 

[Pew]

Good for you on Proton. I dont use their VPN but love their email! If I ever wanted to actively use a VPN and pay for it, Proton would be the only one.

You may find this an interesting read. For me personally there are way more important people in this world then me but I do get it and make it a hobby to keep it at a minimum because I do not believe companies should make money off my personal data.

https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/...ata-on-you-heres-how-to-protect-your-privacy/

Taken from the Link above you may find this interesting, Eero says not to use their devices if you do not want your data collected!!!

View attachment 237738

BTW- our new "Smart Home" came with a Eero router free. I never plugged it in and sold it on eBay just recently, mostly because it's not as powerful as what I have but I do not like Amazon or Google or anything to do with them. Except shopping sometimes and almost never use google search engine..

I love many things Amazon but their routers are one thing I will absolutely never buy in the foreseeable future.

 

[loneryder]

Good for you on Proton. I dont use their VPN but love their email! If I ever wanted to actively use a VPN and pay for it, Proton would be the only one.

You may find this an interesting read. For me personally there are way more important people in this world then me but I do get it and make it a hobby to keep it at a minimum because I do not believe companies should make money off my personal data.

https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/...ata-on-you-heres-how-to-protect-your-privacy/

Taken from the Link above you may find this interesting, Eero says not to use their devices if you do not want your data collected!!!

View attachment 237738

BTW- our new "Smart Home" came with a Eero router free. I never plugged it in and sold it on eBay just recently, mostly because it's not as powerful as what I have but I do not like Amazon or Google or anything to do with them. Except shopping sometimes and almost never use google search engine..

Thanks for this. I don’t have any choice if I want good internet. I never use google and dislike Amazon but when you are rural like I am and have to travel 35 miles to shop for anything, Amazon it is.

 

[alarmguy]

I love many things Amazon but their routers are one thing I will absolutely never buy in the foreseeable future.

Yeah, no reason to if one reads the performance reviews.

I use Amazon, Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club. In love with no one but I do buy from Walmart over Amazon online IF the price is equal to better on Walmart. Walmart delivers much faster here and as a Walmart+ they will even drop off groceries no delivery cost same day. Most online I get within 2 days or less. Amazon and Walmart both offer easy returns.

What I feel is deceptive at best is Amazons free shipping. Im actually surprised they get away with it for so long, I can imagine the money they make off promoting free shipping only to be charged $6.99 if you dont switch it back to free shipping on the payment page. I can imagine many less "capable" thinking people in our population that do not think or see to check the free shipping box, even though when your ordering the item it says free shipping, then defaults to $6.99 unless you put it back to free.
Call me crazy but I care about people getting misled and ripped off. I myself have caught many times last minute almost forgetting to default it back to free shipping.

I just also kicked all of Amazons smart devices from our new smart home.
Supplied by the builder, the Ring security system and Ring Pro doorbell, Honeywell Z wave thermostat, dead bolt lock, I just got rid off a few months back after last year the cost of security going up 100% and this year another 25% and the ring door bell another 25%... I only have the devices since moving in in March 2023! *LOL*
So I replaced the Ring Doorbell with Lorex doorbell camera (fantastic device and no fees)
I removed the Ring security system and bought a Simply Safe system = NO monitoring fee from Simply Safe. and as posted never used any of their router equipment.
I also removed the Ring controlled Honeywell Z Wave T5 thermostat with same T5 model but Honeywell Wifi instead of bluetooth supplied by my Utility company for $25.
I also had a dead bolt door lock that was controlled by the Ring Bluetooth system through the Ring Doorbell Camera but it wasnt a ring device so I was able to buy the dead bolt lock companies bluetooth to Wifi converter to use instead of Ring.

*LOL* wow long post but you can see how most people wouldnt know where to start once Amazon gets their claws in you. I was in the industry and I could care less about any extra money I spent getting rid of this stuff, even though some I am selling on eBay without selling it pay back was in less than 3 years not having Amazon. All this stuff was supplied by the builder and now I replaced ALL Amazon associated equipment with equal and better stuff and no monthly fees.
House also has a Wifi garage door controller that initially was controlled by Ring BUT I was able to remove that from Ring a long time ago and just use the devices own phone App without Ring.

 

[loneryder]

Good for you on Proton. I dont use their VPN but love their email! If I ever wanted to actively use a VPN and pay for it, Proton would be the only one.

You may find this an interesting read. For me personally there are way more important people in this world then me but I do get it and make it a hobby to keep it at a minimum because I do not believe companies should make money off my personal data.

https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/...ata-on-you-heres-how-to-protect-your-privacy/

Taken from the Link above you may find this interesting, Eero says not to use their devices if you do not want your data collected!!!

View attachment 237738

BTW- our new "Smart Home" came with a Eero router free. I never plugged it in and sold it on eBay just recently, mostly because it's not as powerful as what I have but I do not like Amazon or Google or anything to do with them. Except shopping sometimes and almost never use google search engine..

I use Proton’s free vpn. Fewer server choices but it works. Other day I was surfing the net thru Japan.

 

[alarmguy]

I use Proton’s free vpn. Fewer server choices but it works. Other day I was surfing the net thru Japan.

love the simplicity of their email and it truly is secure, lose your password and your email is lost forever but you wont lose your account. Recently in the last year or two there maybe a work around now. But since it is encrypted, if you lost the password there was no way to decrypt it in the past.

I have gosh WAY to many email accounts, like, maybe a dozen. I have to narrow it all down, goal will be 3, 4 max. Most will be Proton which I already have the addresses. Have a number of Outlooks and like everything to me with Microsoft its gets over complicated with options I dont need. Never bothered me before but now I am forced to log into outlook and then go to email instead of directly to email... anyway, more than I need and being an Apple user I have apple addresses too *LOL* its crazy... ok, over and out, gotta go dig a mailbox out of the ground now that its nice and hot outside

 

[Jargongskalle]

If you are using their soft client

How to set up your own DNS Server.

DNS is customizable via the router if you want to set up a VPN Tunnel (and even if not).

NordLynx is only available using their soft client according to them, but there is a workaround to expose NordLynx credentials for use in setting up WireGuard on an ASUS router. I will not get into that here due to TOS it's probably illegal.

Tor for the super secret squirrel paranoid, but it breaks most websites.

 

[OVERKILL]

How to set up your own DNS Server.

DNS is customizable via the router if you want to set up a VPN Tunnel (and even if not).

NordLynx is only available using their soft client according to them, but there is a workaround to expose NordLynx credentials for use in setting up WireGuard on an ASUS router. I will not get into that here due to TOS it's probably illegal.

Tor for the super secret squirrel paranoid, but it breaks most websites.

Bro:
(7) DNS and Secure DNS | BobIsTheOilGuy

 

[Jargongskalle]

Bro:
(7) DNS and Secure DNS | BobIsTheOilGuy

TL;DR?

Most of the prosumer guys on here already know how this works

Me!

 

[OVERKILL]

TL;DR?

If you aren't going to read it, why would I waste my time trying to shorten it for you? JFC.

 

[Jargongskalle]

If you aren't going to read it, why would I waste my time trying to shorten it for you? JFC.

Why would I read it? Is it homework?

My favorite quote on Stack Exchange!

 

[alarmguy]

Some years later I understand what @OVERKILL was saying about VPNs. Man enough to admit I was skeptical at what he was saying. But now I understand.
If I understood it all correctly. Your data is encrypted from your browser to a website and nothing can intercept it.

He did bring up, either way, that your computer has an identifier regardless of where a site thinks you are located by using a VPN.
I dont know how many identifiers computers and cell phones have. I know nothing about the subject except for the threads in here and always going through the privacy settings on anything I own connected to the internet and I have a lot. Other then that since I am not a criminal Im not concerned but prudence so I dont become a victim. At one time I thought VPNs served a significant purpose but was set straight in this forum by you know who. *LOL*

Yes, I do know they alter your location if that helps someone and in less friendly countries maybe?

Sometimes I leave Apples Private relay on. Not sure why except it comes with my plan. More so on my cell phone, sometimes I think I take a little hit in performance on my desktop and leave it off. So yeah, when ordering things or certain searches I can tell they think I am someplace else. The purpose of that though, isnt really important to me, as they still know who I am through the identity of the computer.

I am interested if anyone knows (for fun) how many ways a computer is identified.

Ok, enough said. One thing I think if all one is concerned about is how much advertisers know a lot about you. Simply turning off your advertising identifier will mostly solve that, more than maybe even a VPN (like I said I dont know much about it) after all if you dont take the time and small effort to turn off the advertising identifier they still know who you are even when using a VPN.

Anyway, in every Apple device you can turn that off under privacy settings. If you have an older device if might be someplace else.
I believe the other operating systems have the same feature. Just do a search on where to turn it off.
Very, very few if the public ever bothers going through privacy settings and in todays world its more easy then ever. I do turn everything off because that is me. I dont want companies making money off where I shop and how I use my computer. SO this helps limit it I believe.

 

[OVERKILL]

Some years later I understand what @OVERKILL was saying about VPNs. Man enough to admit I was skeptical at what he was saying. But now I understand.
If I understood it all correctly. Your data is encrypted from your browser to a website and nothing can intercept it.

He did bring up, either way, that your computer has an identifier regardless of where a site thinks you are located by using a VPN.
I dont know how many identifiers computers and cell phones have. I know nothing about the subject except for the threads in here and always going through the privacy settings on anything I own connected to the internet and I have a lot. Other then that since I am not a criminal Im not concerned but prudence so I dont become a victim. At one time I thought VPNs served a significant purpose but was set straight in this forum by you know who. *LOL*

Yes, I do know they alter your location if that helps someone and in less friendly countries maybe?

Sometimes I leave Apples Private relay on. Not sure why except it comes with my plan. More so on my cell phone, sometimes I think I take a little hit in performance on my desktop and leave it off. So yeah, when ordering things or certain searches I can tell they think I am someplace else. The purpose of that though, isnt really important to me, as they still know who I am through the identity of the computer.

I am interested if anyone knows (for fun) how many ways a computer is identified.

Ok, enough said. One thing I think if all one is concerned about is how much advertisers know a lot about you. Simply turning off your advertising identifier will mostly solve that, more than maybe even a VPN (like I said I dont know much about it) after all if you dont take the time and small effort to turn off the advertising identifier they still know who you are even when using a VPN.

Anyway, in every Apple device you can turn that off under privacy settings. If you have an older device if might be someplace else.
I believe the other operating systems have the same feature. Just do a search on where to turn it off.
Very, very few if the public ever bothers going through privacy settings and in todays world its more easy then ever. I do turn everything off because that is me. I dont want companies making money off where I shop and how I use my computer. SO this helps limit it I believe.

Thanks for this, I really appreciate you taking the time to write it.

VPN's absolutely have their utility, but like with oil additives, some of which have legitimate purposes, the capability is typically wildly oversold to Joe Average. But that's marketing, right?

 

[TwoC400s]

Most people are not really willing to put in the work to truly be "anonymous" on the internet, VPNs provide them with the illusion of security (to some extent TOR is the same).

Regardless of your VPN provider or ISP, some level of data is always being tracked (and sold). Given enough of this data it can all be reconstructed to provide anyone willing to use it with a fulsome picture of of your online persona (yes, even anonymized data).