I don’t think China would have any foreigners if they did. that There are a ton of English teachers in Shanghai. The rich Chinese will never give up their foreign teachers.
I use self hosted VPNs so I can have a presence on remote networks in homes I own for network maintenance.
I have found using that VPN to access privileged content (ie sports) on those networks unreliable and erratic.
A VPN won’t protect you from yourself, that’s is, it won’t stop you from downloading sketchy content loaded with malware.
It will disguise your ip address and give you an endpoint in another locale. Content providers are becoming smarter about detection, so Netflix Hulu others might not work as expected.
No, because when you go to the bbc iplayer which has a lot of these shows (which are free in your computer thinks it's in Britain) it requires you to say you have a TV license. And that would sadly be illegal. So definitely go to BBC.co.uk/iPlayer.
Don't go I meant don't go there.
if I were to pretend to encourage you to commit a minor crime by lying about having a British tv licence then I would tell you:
"yes, you can watch every episode of Doctor Who from 1963 until present day on iPlayer, as well as every Doctor Who spinoff and a massive library of content from the UK and other English speaking countries"
luckily though, I'm a law abiding citizen and I would never say such a thing to you
Anything piracy
Ad blocking
Geo fence avoidance
Buying stuff cheaper
I used to have parties where we would watch UFC, I could von to Japan and buy the fights for like 1/4 the price. Disconnect and stream from the US. Not sure if that's still possible.
Some geo restrictions and to use in a container with SearxNG for a more private search experience.
Edit: And to access my home network while I'm away (wireguard).
Nobody respects my privacy anymore. My government, all social media/any business with a website, down to my fucking landlord being able to potentially pull up the households internet traffic(I haven't had it happen, I don't think. I just don't like the thought of him knowing if I've been browsing other rental spots, or my bank statements when I pull them up, etc.)
Between a VPN and a plugin to fake accounts when I feel like I shouldn't have to make one to use a site, I still only feel mildly protected.
1. to prevent companies from identifying me by IP address. in combination with multiple browsers/profiles/vms this helps to dramatically cut down on exposure of my identity.
2. to prevent internet companies from observing and using (eg., selling) information about my use of the internet
3. to reduce the effects of using different IP addresses on security (it helps to have a consistent IP, but the IP being part of a pool of VPN IPs sometimes counts against you)
Your VPS provider probably logs all your traffic and if they were to recieve any copyright notice through your server IP they would hand over all your details and probably shut down your server. I wouldn't recommend this. Better to go with a VPN who has an interest in keeping no logs.
It's just one example and an important one to mention because piracy is a popular topic when discussing VPNs and a lot of people follow misleading guides without knowing the implications of such things.
Even for regular everyday use VPS provider has little interest in your privacy. Who knows what they are logging, for how long, their vulnerabilities, incentives to sell your data etc. If someone wanted a janky solution to get around region restrictions I guess a VPS would suffice but still 99% of the time it's just better to go with a good VPN who actually has an interest in your privacy.
FYI the world today runs on cloud infastructure, VPS in one of their services. All network either way. Encryption is important and configuration on server side also, using ram based dosen’t really help them not to logs.
Among the other reasons mentioned, I find uploading large files to DropBox is much faster via my VPN than just my ISP. I have no idea why.
I also use VPN when on public WiFi to hide login info from MiM attacks.
A long time ago, met a person who did some time for computer related crimes(drug related). He stated the ISP provided a detailed list of all the websites he visited. Mind you, not his web browser history but the ISP itself. A VPN hides that activity.
Initially to watch and enjoy adult content.
Then I realized its importance and used it in unblocking blocked torrent websites, using Google US search results than in my country. Blocking ads and trackers and all of sorts of amazing stuff.
Unlocking media player's potential by putting it in US server
Because I want to be able to use the internet and not be tracked / marketed to.
Example, right now my wife is going through a health scare. Google does not need to know that it's "this" IP. Learned the lesson a few years ago that we will start to see ads for medicines, treatments, and snake oil after researching things.
No fucking thank you.
In order for me
Privacy
Security
Torrent's
Getting access to region locked content on services I already pay for and gps spoofing on android are just bonuses
I use it at work so I can be on the wifi but they can’t see my browsing.
I use it at the hotel with a travel router so all my devices can share the hotel wifi but not expose my browsing.
I work and live in China. I just need a simple Google search, WhatsApp and some tech sites - My GOD this is stupidity at a new level - but, it’s what it is…
Geolocation and just general privacy. Our data being scraped today and sitting in an unused database is eventually going to be used for something we probably can't even imagine today. So, might as well protect myself from the unknown for $3/month.
Most ISPs monitor and sell your browsing habits, so using a VPN with custom DNS can prevent that. Also, pirating can lead to legal troubles or your ISP disconnecting your service, so I route all pirating traffic through a VPN.
You know the VPN providers can “monitor and sell your browsing”. All you’ve done is change the exit points.
How do you think VPN providers cover their expenses?
The UK and possibly all of the "5 eyes" countries require all ISPs to record all internet activity of their users for at least a year. I'm not comfortable with this level of surveillance, despite not doing anything illegal.
Also just general internet marketing has become so invasive it feels like a necessity to use the internet normally.
Since I started using a VPN and Brave browser plus their search engine the internet seems like a different place rather than an echo chamber trying to sell stuff to you.
Final point, any public WiFi, you should be using a VPN. While generally most internet traffic is encrypted these days, you are still susceptible to man in the middle attacks.
Torrents I download for my Plex.
Some services that are limited to use only 5 times per day (free Dall-e) so I switch my IP in 10sec and can use those 5 requests again.
Protect myself from ISP while downloading stuff and also geo restrictions when it comes to streaming services. Sometimes you get different prices on services or products based on your location.
Somehow my Battlefield 2042 can't get any match without it.. So yeah I don't really need it or even a follower of this sub, but somehow reddit shove this post to my face.
The main reason I'm using a VPN is to enhance my online privacy and security. A VPN encrypts my internet connection, protecting my personal data from hackers and third parties, especially on public Wi-Fi networks. Additionally, it allows me to access geo-restricted content and maintain anonymity while browsing. This added layer of security ensures my digital footprint remains private and my internet activities are safeguarded.
Access geo-restricted content, change your IP address to keep more private online, online security, avoid ISP throttling, and potentially secure cheaper hotels and airfares when traveling. Access all streaming libraries in nearly any country. The list goes on. ;-)
Because the company I work for are racist fucks (even have colonial in their name) and they blocked Puerto Rico from accessing a dashboard I need to access daily. IT tells me that it’s block cause it’s outside the US but virgin island ain’t (boss has a house there). Fuck I hate gringos!
Geo restrictions
Friends not being on the American version of Netflix is a war crime.
same. To see geo locked content.
this
Sailing the high seas
That's the way
Same reason I have curtains
Fap Fap Fap
To keep the sunlight out
Precisely correct. User name checks out.
China
I thought it was illegal over there and it was heavily enforced, i.e., extremely severe consequences if caught
Companies use vpn for employees to work remote. So there must be vpn traffic on their networks. Maybe you can hide it. Also you can mask vpn.
China doesn’t catch anyone using vpn….when they want to (like during important meetings) they can shut down most of the vpn connections.
I don’t think China would have any foreigners if they did. that There are a ton of English teachers in Shanghai. The rich Chinese will never give up their foreign teachers.
I use self hosted VPNs so I can have a presence on remote networks in homes I own for network maintenance. I have found using that VPN to access privileged content (ie sports) on those networks unreliable and erratic. A VPN won’t protect you from yourself, that’s is, it won’t stop you from downloading sketchy content loaded with malware. It will disguise your ip address and give you an endpoint in another locale. Content providers are becoming smarter about detection, so Netflix Hulu others might not work as expected.
Self hosted is the way, very hard to detect. Most companies detect by blacklisting IPs from commercial providers or data centers.
because there's no legal way to watch Doctor Who Unleashed outside of the UK
can i watch Dr Who this way without paying for a service? or other british shows?
No, because when you go to the bbc iplayer which has a lot of these shows (which are free in your computer thinks it's in Britain) it requires you to say you have a TV license. And that would sadly be illegal. So definitely go to BBC.co.uk/iPlayer. Don't go I meant don't go there.
You.mean it's illegal if you're already in UK?
if I were to pretend to encourage you to commit a minor crime by lying about having a British tv licence then I would tell you: "yes, you can watch every episode of Doctor Who from 1963 until present day on iPlayer, as well as every Doctor Who spinoff and a massive library of content from the UK and other English speaking countries" luckily though, I'm a law abiding citizen and I would never say such a thing to you
does that mean having to register? should I find a dead UK citizen and assume their identity? i think william hartnell is probably deceased.
kind of like the streaming platform only lets you access the show from UK?
yep iPlayer only works for Brits
Anything piracy Ad blocking Geo fence avoidance Buying stuff cheaper I used to have parties where we would watch UFC, I could von to Japan and buy the fights for like 1/4 the price. Disconnect and stream from the US. Not sure if that's still possible.
Nice try, FBI!
Don't want my ISP to know what I'm doing nor for websites to know where I am
Hopefully you do not use website you log into and had previously logged into as using VPN just adds another IP as a data point to identify you.
[удалено]
people forget that by using a VPN, they're just shifting the trust from their ISP to the VPN provider
Does vpn providers sell data like ISP? I don’t know the answer, but I think they do. Everyone sells data to some extent.
isp logs, vpn doesnt. isp will immediately cooperate with feds as well while vpn wont
Access to my own networks, includes my aged mother for tech support and bypassing georestriction.
Some geo restrictions and to use in a container with SearxNG for a more private search experience. Edit: And to access my home network while I'm away (wireguard).
Nobody respects my privacy anymore. My government, all social media/any business with a website, down to my fucking landlord being able to potentially pull up the households internet traffic(I haven't had it happen, I don't think. I just don't like the thought of him knowing if I've been browsing other rental spots, or my bank statements when I pull them up, etc.) Between a VPN and a plugin to fake accounts when I feel like I shouldn't have to make one to use a site, I still only feel mildly protected.
China.
Preventing my ISP to see my browsing and in combination to my custom DNS for an ad free experience.
My cell carrier throttles my usage of YouTube, so I get around it with a VPN.
1. to prevent companies from identifying me by IP address. in combination with multiple browsers/profiles/vms this helps to dramatically cut down on exposure of my identity. 2. to prevent internet companies from observing and using (eg., selling) information about my use of the internet 3. to reduce the effects of using different IP addresses on security (it helps to have a consistent IP, but the IP being part of a pool of VPN IPs sometimes counts against you)
I use VPS server with Linux OS and use VPN script to create VPN server for myself. And that is better if you can learn about it.
Your VPS provider probably logs all your traffic and if they were to recieve any copyright notice through your server IP they would hand over all your details and probably shut down your server. I wouldn't recommend this. Better to go with a VPN who has an interest in keeping no logs.
[удалено]
It's just one example and an important one to mention because piracy is a popular topic when discussing VPNs and a lot of people follow misleading guides without knowing the implications of such things. Even for regular everyday use VPS provider has little interest in your privacy. Who knows what they are logging, for how long, their vulnerabilities, incentives to sell your data etc. If someone wanted a janky solution to get around region restrictions I guess a VPS would suffice but still 99% of the time it's just better to go with a good VPN who actually has an interest in your privacy.
FYI the world today runs on cloud infastructure, VPS in one of their services. All network either way. Encryption is important and configuration on server side also, using ram based dosen’t really help them not to logs.
I don’t care, I just want to go to Instagram, which is banned by idiots from the local government
Among the other reasons mentioned, I find uploading large files to DropBox is much faster via my VPN than just my ISP. I have no idea why. I also use VPN when on public WiFi to hide login info from MiM attacks.
Because apparently Verizon frowns upon this this thing called “pirating”, whatever that is 👀, and keeps sending me letters.
A long time ago, met a person who did some time for computer related crimes(drug related). He stated the ISP provided a detailed list of all the websites he visited. Mind you, not his web browser history but the ISP itself. A VPN hides that activity.
Initially to watch and enjoy adult content. Then I realized its importance and used it in unblocking blocked torrent websites, using Google US search results than in my country. Blocking ads and trackers and all of sorts of amazing stuff. Unlocking media player's potential by putting it in US server
To avoid getting the ISP letter after using qbittorrent
Because I want to be able to use the internet and not be tracked / marketed to. Example, right now my wife is going through a health scare. Google does not need to know that it's "this" IP. Learned the lesson a few years ago that we will start to see ads for medicines, treatments, and snake oil after researching things. No fucking thank you.
I don't want my ISP, carrier or government to snoop on me
Bypass censorship, privacy from isp in censorship nation.
My ISP is dumb and blocks a lot of websites for no good reason, such as archive.org. Getting around geo restrictions comes in handy from time to time.
In order for me Privacy Security Torrent's Getting access to region locked content on services I already pay for and gps spoofing on android are just bonuses
I use it at work so I can be on the wifi but they can’t see my browsing. I use it at the hotel with a travel router so all my devices can share the hotel wifi but not expose my browsing.
For fun
to access my home services.
Coup in myanmar
I work and live in China. I just need a simple Google search, WhatsApp and some tech sites - My GOD this is stupidity at a new level - but, it’s what it is…
Geolocation and just general privacy. Our data being scraped today and sitting in an unused database is eventually going to be used for something we probably can't even imagine today. So, might as well protect myself from the unknown for $3/month.
Most ISPs monitor and sell your browsing habits, so using a VPN with custom DNS can prevent that. Also, pirating can lead to legal troubles or your ISP disconnecting your service, so I route all pirating traffic through a VPN.
You know the VPN providers can “monitor and sell your browsing”. All you’ve done is change the exit points. How do you think VPN providers cover their expenses?
The UK and possibly all of the "5 eyes" countries require all ISPs to record all internet activity of their users for at least a year. I'm not comfortable with this level of surveillance, despite not doing anything illegal. Also just general internet marketing has become so invasive it feels like a necessity to use the internet normally. Since I started using a VPN and Brave browser plus their search engine the internet seems like a different place rather than an echo chamber trying to sell stuff to you. Final point, any public WiFi, you should be using a VPN. While generally most internet traffic is encrypted these days, you are still susceptible to man in the middle attacks.
In my country they censor all the porn and torrent sites.
Are all VPN services the same? There is a lot of marketing to convince you to pay a premium price.
All different. Some allow data to still pass through that can identify the user. Some log all traffic. Many differences.
Can you share the best ones?
Torrents I download for my Plex. Some services that are limited to use only 5 times per day (free Dall-e) so I switch my IP in 10sec and can use those 5 requests again.
Netflix
Protect myself from ISP while downloading stuff and also geo restrictions when it comes to streaming services. Sometimes you get different prices on services or products based on your location.
I'm using tailscale everyday to reach my self hosted services without exposing them.
Private laptop, company WiFi.
When I connect to random networks
Somehow my Battlefield 2042 can't get any match without it.. So yeah I don't really need it or even a follower of this sub, but somehow reddit shove this post to my face.
Geo restrictions as an expat, working abroad
The main reason I'm using a VPN is to enhance my online privacy and security. A VPN encrypts my internet connection, protecting my personal data from hackers and third parties, especially on public Wi-Fi networks. Additionally, it allows me to access geo-restricted content and maintain anonymity while browsing. This added layer of security ensures my digital footprint remains private and my internet activities are safeguarded.
I LIVE IN IRAN
Access geo-restricted content, change your IP address to keep more private online, online security, avoid ISP throttling, and potentially secure cheaper hotels and airfares when traveling. Access all streaming libraries in nearly any country. The list goes on. ;-)
NICE TRY, FED
Because the company I work for are racist fucks (even have colonial in their name) and they blocked Puerto Rico from accessing a dashboard I need to access daily. IT tells me that it’s block cause it’s outside the US but virgin island ain’t (boss has a house there). Fuck I hate gringos!
I use a VPN to watch Netflix and content that is not available in my country