not a problem. there are other reasons to use a VPN. However, 2 things I do when using google: 1. I am not signed in 2. I always use a VPN when searching.
Also, of late, I have been having some trust issues with my current ISP. It seems that they sent me a notice of copyright infringement about a shared file. only problem, I was not sharing anything. So, I had to do a full blown security audit of my machines and network. I did, eventually, found where the issue was (the Lingsys router I have here had a security vulnerability that couldn't be easily closed. As a result, one of my neighbors was using it to share files. so, even though I had the thing password protected, it was still using a number of items that made breaking the password trivially easy with the right software. I finally managed to get a handle on the situation by turning off the PIN the device had, turning off SSID broadcast and engaging MAC filtering. I still can't completely trust the device, so I use a VPN pretty much all the time now. I am looking to upgrade the hardware though. A kit from Routerboard that I can install an image of OpenBSD on would make things a lot better here. THere are optional add-ons like WiFi B/G/A/N, a bridged set of LAN ports, an all weather housing, etc. Once that is done and installed, I can install the VPN package for OpenBSD on there, set it up to handle that and not worry too much. Then, if I want to be ultra secure, I would continue to use a VPN tunnel from my machine, thus doubling the protection. Now, as to why I would want to use a VPN for other than just security? It's simple. there are some programs hosted on the web that might be regionally restricted (like sports events). So, I would want to be able to listen legally and not be caught up in a blackout zone. Thus, VPN allows me to place my end point elsewhere (like NYC, Sanfransisco, Detroit, Dallas, or even a foreign country). A VPN also gets around what my ISP does when I am viewing something like Hulu or Netflix (they try to lower the QoS for video streaming on content that directly competes with their cable programming). With a VPN, they can't see the type of traffic, so they can't change its priority. They have yet to start doing so on encrypted tunnels. Besides, I am paying for a specific level of service and I hate it when the ISP decides that my traffic needs to be shaped. I don't have video here, so I expect full service. btw, I have already filed a number of complaints over this issue with both the FCC and the FTC. each time, my service gets maxed out for a few months and then they start the games again. Now, I am paying for 50 megabit/second service here and when the VPN is active, I can still get 40 through. Thats not bad, all things considered. Since I started using the VPN a year ago, the bandwidth shaping games have pretty much stopped. However, lately, I have been catching RST packets being sent from 2 hops upstream from me. That causes the VPN to drop and I have to reconnect. looks like its time to complain again. anyway, thats a lot of how and why I use one. Is it more secure? yes. is it absolutely secure? not a chance! A very determined hacker will still be able to break it, but its enormously more difficult. He'll just simply move on to an easier target. -eric On Apr 9, 2017, at 9:55 AM, Jonathan Cohn wrote: > Eric, > > I just want to correct one thing. The elimination of the ISP can't collect > traffic rule here in the US essentially does not change anything. Congress > can not actually shutdown entire rules without Agency changes unless they are > brand new rules. The privacy rules were I believe supposed to go into effect > in June, and don't forget even if those rules had gone into effect Google > would still be collecting and selling your data. In fact, be wary of any free > or very inexpensive internet based service, software does not just get > created out of thin air, companies pay good money for developers, and disk > space costs something too. > > In fact one reason, congress did not like the new FCC rules was that they > only provided a that no equivalent protections of privacy could be leveraged > by the FCC over search engines, since the FCC only regulates the pipes and > the FTC would regulate other internet services. > > Please forgive any specific inaccuracies in this post, I am going off of > materials I read in tidbits.com and severalpodcasts that I listened to over a > week ago. > > Best wishes, > > Jonathan > > > >> On Apr 9, 2017, at 12:31 PM, Eric Oyen <eric.o...@icloud.com> wrote: >> >> well, >> depending on whether you use a free or paid service will make a difference >> in both service quality and setup. I use a paid service myself. It's $7 a >> month and is fairly reliable. I have tried some free services, but they are >> mostly hit and miss and are not always as secure. the service I use is >> located here: www.privateinternetaccess.com and they have both client >> software or you can setup manually. Unfortunately, their cliente for the mac >> is not accessible, so I use a manual setup in the preferences pane. It works >> reasonably well. I have also done the manual setup in windows 7. This has >> allowed me to be able to have dropbox and a few other services when I am >> behind a firewall (like over at Voc rehab) THeir IT folks have gotten on my >> case more than once, until I pointed out to them that their own policy does >> not forbid the use of a vpn (it does, however, forbid the use of sharing >> services that are unprotected on their networks). I even had one of them >> try to break into my machine (at my request) and they found it well nigh >> impossible. I had the firewall on that win 7 box setup so that only traffic >> on the VPN was allowed in or out and everything else got dropped. That took >> a lot of heavy customization on my part to make it work. >> >> so, if you want to run a VPN, which these days is pretty much going to be a >> must now that ISP's aren't required to keep your info private, it is highly >> recommended.. btw, a lot of the free vpn services are not all that bandwidth >> friendly. thats why I use the service I do. they can support up to 20 >> Mbits/sec. for what I do, thats a must have. >> >> -eric >> >> On Apr 9, 2017, at 9:17 AM, E.T. wrote: >> >>> The recent discussion about VPN got me interested but I was not ready to >>> look into it at the time. >>> >>> I know the setup is done in Network prefs but where does one get >>> information on VPN servers etc.? Thanks. >>> >>> From E.T.'s Keyboard. . . >>> "God for you is where you sweep away all the >>> mysteries of the world, all the challenges to >>> our intelligence. You simply turn your mind off >>> and say God did it." --Carl Sagan >>> E-mail: ancient.ali...@icloud.com >>> >>> -- >>> The following information is important for all members of the Mac >>> Visionaries list. >>> >>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >>> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners >>> or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >>> >>> Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. 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