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Notices, Help With Problems and Your Forum Ideas... => Computer Help => Topic started by: Newportnobby on December 13, 2021, 09:45:34 PM

Title: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Newportnobby on December 13, 2021, 09:45:34 PM
Does anyone use a VPN and if so, what would be considered a reasonable cost please?
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: jpendle on December 13, 2021, 10:31:36 PM
Hi,

I use one at work, it's free to me  :)

Why do you want use use a VPN? I used to have a personal subscription so that we could spoof the Beeb into letting us watch the BBC iPlayer, but since they launched Britbox with ITV I subscribe to that instead. I think you shouldn't be paying more than £10 per month, probably nearer £5.

Regards,

John P
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Bealman on December 13, 2021, 10:34:49 PM
Wots a VPN?  ???
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: strain on December 13, 2021, 10:47:56 PM
Virtual Private Network

You could try https://store.computeractive.co.uk/p36254-avg_secure_vpn_2021_10-d_1-yr

which is pretty cheap or google many other options

Computer Active is a long established computer magazine so would not likely be risky.
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: ntpntpntp on December 13, 2021, 11:10:21 PM
I also have a VPN for work on my work laptop because the company requires it, but frankly I don't feel the need for a VPN for general home browsing.
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: jpendle on December 13, 2021, 11:56:14 PM
A VPN is essential if you want to read The Economist online while on a trip to China  :D

John P
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Trainfish on December 14, 2021, 12:00:11 AM
John, this was @Newportnobby (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264) asking. I can't see him reading The Economist or travelling outside Lancashire either.
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: railsquid on December 14, 2021, 04:56:54 AM
Quote from: jpendle on December 13, 2021, 11:56:14 PM
A VPN is essential if you want to read The Economist online while on a trip to China  :D

When I was working there (in China, not at the Economist) the choice of a good VPN was a hot topic among the expat immigrant community. As I wasn't actually based there I ended up running a SOCKS proxy via SSH.

But yeah, unless there's a specific purpose, like setting up an alter ego to spam a web forum without being rumbled, a VPN doesn't seem to be of much benefit.
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Bealman on December 14, 2021, 06:09:34 AM
I know I shouldn't ask, but wots a SOCKS proxy via SSH?

You may as well be speaking Japanese to me, Ian!
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: railsquid on December 14, 2021, 06:19:29 AM
Quote from: Bealman on December 14, 2021, 06:09:34 AM
I know I shouldn't ask, but wots a SOCKS proxy via SSH?

Baically you set up an SSH tunnel to an end point (such a server located on the outside of the Great Firewall of China) and configure your client (e.g. browser) to use that tunnel rather than the default route. Back in the day it also came in handy when dealing with public wifi which wants to charge money for browsing but had less-than-robust filtering of outgoing ports. Does require access to a suitable endpoint, which limits its general usefulness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOCKS (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOCKS)
https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-route-web-traffic-securely-without-a-vpn-using-a-socks-tunnel (https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-route-web-traffic-securely-without-a-vpn-using-a-socks-tunnel)

Any other questions?  :beers:

Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Bealman on December 14, 2021, 06:25:53 AM
Yes.... I've scrolled right through that link (albeit quickly), and nowhere can I see what SOCKS and SSH stand for  :confused2:
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: railsquid on December 14, 2021, 06:59:23 AM
Quote from: Bealman on December 14, 2021, 06:25:53 AM
Yes.... I've scrolled right through that link (albeit quickly), and nowhere can I see what SOCKS and SSH stand for  :confused2:

SOCKS = SOCKet Secure
SSH = Secure SHell

:thumbsup:
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Bealman on December 14, 2021, 07:02:51 AM
Thanks, mate. That's really enlightened me  ;D
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Bob G on December 14, 2021, 08:23:16 AM
I pay for a VPN on my company laptop in case I am working away from home and I want to feel secure on the internet.
It  :censored: up my network at home which struggles with speed issues, and I am already using a booster to get wifi in my garden office (we are in a small village in the Shires) so I have to switch it off at home.

More trouble than it is worth at home.

Bob
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Newportnobby on December 14, 2021, 10:17:32 AM
Why do I want a VPN?
I don't necessarily but Avast pesters me to buy one. Maybe I should class it as 'junk mail' :laugh:
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Bob G on December 14, 2021, 10:41:34 AM
I think it's the latest fad. They have sold us virus protection, and malware protection.
Now they are flogging VPN, and search history tracking prevention (so that you don't get Amazon sending you offers for things you have looked at on the Internet).

Norton has told me I have at least 12 firms tracking my every move.
Interesting as I have been selling Julia's old frocks on EBay (she slimmed down from a 16 to an 8) so my profile must be very confusing :)

Trains and Frocks. Now who would have thought it @Trainfish (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=262)

Bob
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Papyrus on December 14, 2021, 11:27:35 AM
If you're still using Opera, Mick, there is a VPN in the package. If you click on the menu and go to 'new private window' and then click on where it says VPN at the top of the new page, there is a new menu where you can open one up.

No idea how good it is - I'm not an expert. (Except in Fred Wedlock's definition - 'ex' as in has-been, 'spurt' as in drip under pressure...)

Cheers,

Chris
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Newportnobby on December 14, 2021, 11:49:25 AM
Thanks, Chris.

Good old 'Fried Wetleg' :D
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: dannyboy on December 14, 2021, 12:36:55 PM
Further to the post from Chris @Papyrus (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=2975), I use 'Opera' and to the left of the address bar at the top, there is a small box with the letters VPN therein. If I click on that, I can use the VPN provided by 'Opera'. It will not let me access the BBC iplayer though, so I very rarely use it.
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Newportnobby on December 14, 2021, 12:38:29 PM
I am using it as we 'speak' :)
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: dannyboy on December 14, 2021, 12:41:09 PM
Quote from: Newportnobby on December 14, 2021, 12:38:29 PM
I am using it as we 'speak'

That will explain why I can not 'hear' you.  :)
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: jpendle on December 14, 2021, 02:02:58 PM
Quote from: dannyboy on December 14, 2021, 12:36:55 PM
I can use the VPN provided by 'Opera'. It will not let me access the BBC iplayer though, so I very rarely use it.

In order to access iPlayer the VPN needs to let you choose a server in the UK.

Regards,

John P
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: emjaybee on December 14, 2021, 02:14:20 PM
I've always liked the 'whooshing' noise this makes as it goes over my head.

:confused2:
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: grumbeast on December 14, 2021, 02:36:57 PM
Quote from: Bob G on December 14, 2021, 10:41:34 AM
Interesting as I have been selling Julia's old frocks on EBay (she slimmed down from a 16 to an 8) so my profile must be very confusing :)

Trains and Frocks. Now who would have thought it @Trainfish (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=262)


Bob

Ha!  I get a similair thing, do advertisers send me links to train stuff?  Nope I get loads of ads for tights, tutu's and leotards (and not even in my size sheeesh!) all thanks to my dancing daughter!

I'm with the 'don't bother' VPN crowd.  I have to use one for work from home (but we host our own) but I sign out of it before I do any personal browsing
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: dannyboy on December 14, 2021, 02:37:23 PM
Quote from: jpendle on December 14, 2021, 02:02:58 PM

In order to access iPlayer the VPN needs to let you choose a server in the UK.


Yeh I know, which is why I can not get the iPlayer. The best I can select location wise is 'Europe', (and as the UK is not in Europe ....  ::), but that is another, (banned), subject  :-X). Still, I watch the BBC via 'Freesat', so if there is owt I want to watch later, I just record it.  :)
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Newportnobby on December 14, 2021, 07:14:59 PM
Quote from: grumbeast on December 14, 2021, 02:36:57 PM
Ha!  I get a similair thing, do advertisers send me links to train stuff?  Nope I get loads of ads for tights, tutu's and leotards (and not even in my size sheeesh!) all thanks to my dancing daughter!


I suspect you've been getting mail meant for @Trainfish (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=262)
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Trainfish on December 14, 2021, 10:56:12 PM
I've probably got loyalty cards for all of those sites  :goggleeyes:
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Malc on December 15, 2021, 06:51:15 PM
I used to use a VPN for work when I was abroad. It did enable me to watch BBC iPlayer when I was away but they have improved the firewall now and it stopped working with VPN.
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: Newportnobby on December 23, 2021, 09:57:15 AM
Soooo.........Avast try to flog you a VPN but don't tell you it slows down browsing and I discovered yesterday I could not access my bank's internet banking system until I turned the VPN off. What price security, eh? ::)
Title: Re: VPN - yes or no
Post by: zwilnik on December 23, 2021, 10:06:46 AM
smartdnsproxy.com is a lot more effective for watching region locked content around the world. (not a VPN, although they also have a VPN option if you need one).