So, why then do I I need their app? If I don't use their app I get none of their features, meaning no killswitch Despite their claims, bad speeds() That's great for you. But according to the 5 sites I listed, that was not a universal result.
A few things. The killswitch in the official wireguard app only works in linux, at least as far as the routing works. It needs IP tables for it to function, so you need linux. The Wireguard gui is intended to be universal, and since it was first developed for linux that was their priority. I have heard they are working on a firewall-based way to get this function in Windows. But as of yet that's not implemented. You understand that there's a difference between the official VPN app from the service provider and the vanilla ones, right?
This thread reads like one on a culinary forum where a member posts up, "How can I spice up a T-bone steak?" And where the spice shelf at the grocery store has about 500 of those little bottles. Considering the visibility of this discussion, I wanted to post up a mention of CyberGhost's free STAND ALONE browser extension. This does NOT require the install of CyberGhost's VPN. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/cyberghost-vpn-free-proxy/ https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/totally_stupid_long_string/ I run it every now and then for a week or two to make sure it continues to meet my expectations in that I've recommended it to several people who: 1) Can't afford any VPN having to scrape their budget just for an ISP. 2) Don't do just about anything on their PC's outside of the browser. While I get the occasional call for help on their systems or LAN/WAN, it's never about their browser. I've been running v6.2.7 in Firefox 91.0.2 in Win10 Pro 21H1 for about three weeks and other than a hit or two daily to Google (less than 1KB data exchanged) and the limited VPN server access as detailed on their website, this extension is one's best shot at "better than nothing." (I use Ghostery to anonymize personal data points, Google User Content included. I dont' know what Firefox's Strict Enhanced Tracking Protection might to with it.) I've not experienced any interference with any of my daily surfing or with banking or commerce sites. And an interaction with my account on the county tax a$$e$$or's site. https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/apps/firefox-vpn https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/apps/chrome-vpn With CyberGhost on blade1.losangeles-rack408.nodes.gen4.ninja, on my 50/5 Mbps D/U Cox service (that's what I can afford), I get 58.35/4.8 (64.56/9.23 max) D/U using speedof.me, test server "Los Angeles 7." Similar results in bandwidthpace.com, test server "US - Los Angeles CA." The other of the two U.S. servers I'm limited to is blade1.lasvegas-rack401.nodes.gen4.ninja. So both pretty much the closest to me for my Sonoran Desert location. One might suppose a user in, say, New York might get two servers close to that. UPDATE: bandwidthpace.com download speeds run 8-15 Mbps from the Romania, Germany and Netherlands servers to the city selected close to my location, acceptable for whatever occasional purposes one would want to use those tunnels. Cheers.
Just been speaking to surfshark via live chat. I asked if it was correct that if the killswitch was left on after stopping and exiting the vpn it was still active and blocked the internet and the answer was yes. Can i ask folk. how common is this.I am a not too familiar with vpn's but have not come across this before So theoretically if i forgot to turn the killswitch off and exited the program another user could not access the internet
Yes, some VPN's have that "issue". Let's say, I've decided to close VPNUnlimited without "unswitching" the KillSwitch feature and clicked the "Close" button. It's only a "half-closed" VPN app. It minimizes itself into "Hidden Icons" - the system tray; therefore, that KillSwitch is still working. Only after "exiting" totally VPNUnlimited in "Hidden Icons" - the system tray, my Internet connection is restored.
@zmechys, thanks for the reply. I suppose some might see it as a good thing, especially if you use the vpn nearly all the time, it must be a deliberate design and not an oversight. If I buy surfshark I guess i should point out to other users of the desktop that if they cannot access the internet this is probably the reason, Cheers
I'm not sure why anything in my post #89, essentially a review of CyberGhost's VPN Free Proxy extension for the Firefox and Chrome browsers, would make you think I was pursuing advice for securing my internet connections or the purchase of a VPN. Especially the latter as I specifically cited, "...people who: Can't afford any VPN having to scrape their budget just for an ISP." But thanks anyway. You otherwise post up lots of good info on VPNs.
I've found it to be fairly slow in Australia. Of course, the speed will vary depending on your location. It was slow when I tested it when in 2018 when the service started, and was also slow two months ago when I tried it again.
Folks stating there fav VPN IMO should be used as a reference only. What's important is why do you feel it's necessary, what do you expect/want from a VPN. Post #4 is spot on "Dragon1952" One could also make the case VPN is not required, should you practice safe hex. Updates, good AV, a few browser add ons (uBlock origin, httpseverywhere, privacy badger, etc.), private network, not public For me the only reason fora VPN is to Geo-unblock media restricted content from the US. Also consider your browser or AV, may pitch there own VPN's (Firefox & Bitdefender) come to mind.
@Wendi I use HideAway VPN from Firetrust. https://www.firetrust.com/products/hideaway-secure-unlimited-vpn There is a free trial available. https://www.firetrust.com/products/hideaway-secure-unlimited-vpn/download Currently, it is available for Windows 10, 8, 7. They are working on other device support, Android, iOS, macOS, Linux. I've been using it for 5 months. It's fast, has inbuilt DNS leak protection and Kill Switch, and is the only VPN that connects instantly. The upcoming version 5 will have Custom Rules and Advanced Settings. If it's okay, I can provide you a legit 1-year license. You can use it on all of your devices/on an unlimited number of devices.
The tradeoff for that is that you get more anonymity because there are so many users on that server. I recommended it because they really paid attention to the details in setting it up. Details like using a totally randomized user name and password instead of an email address for a user name like some of the cheap stack social VPNs and both encryption and authentication done well. Plus the upgrade to a two year prepaid basic plan is pretty close to the budget of the OP. The black Friday discount last year was 47% which would put it below the budget amount. I've had Proton mail for years and the VPN came as a nice addition. I have a high anonymity setup with TOR layered over the Proton free VPN. With VPNs there are always tradeoffs between privacy and speed. The more hops and encryption you have, the slower it's going to be. With speed, there are always differences in speed between different servers of the same VPN due to a variety of factors. Those include server load, location and packet routing. My home bandwidth doesn't allow for serious speed testing and I only notice if things are especially slow. Packet routing can effect streaming even at relatively slow speeds. I find the closer the VPN is to the streaming source the better the quality and at times I've gotten better performance using a VPN with a close proximity to the source than without. Due to simplified routing and less forwarding of the streaming packets, I think.
Just when I was composing a post that my logs indicated that the extension was routing some traffic with Torpark (among some other features unexpected in a free product) and I was thinking of getting the full VPN, along comes the news of the Kape acquisition. Sigh.
I'd stay away from anything Kape; cyberghost, Express VPN, PIA and Zenmate. Kape used to be known as Crossride. They were an adware company before they started buying VPNs and VPN reviews sites. There's a very interesting Kape article here.
To the OP Vyprvpn have a 3 year deal and if you use the code simply10 at checkout you can get 3 years for $50, it gets good reviews on restoreprivacy website https://restoreprivacy.com/vpn/reviews/vyprvpn/ https://www.vyprvpn.com/buy-vpn
Mullvad is a good choice concerning privacy and security (although I have concerns relative the wireguard protocol), and the price (a little more than $5 per month) remains affordable. An other solution could be to buy a lifetime/very long term subscription eg for Ivacy ($40 lifetime) or vpn.asia ($80, 10 years, so $0.66) a month..), especially since you can also benefit of a $10 coupon eg on stacksocial. These vpn are working since a long time (particularly Ivacy), so I their business model is sustainable and I think they will not shut down in the 3 next years, making the purchase of a long term subscription a good choice. Technically, the Ivacy servers seem quite fast, and the vpn.asia ones seem decent. However, I have no particular information about the reliability of these 2 providers in term of security, privacy, anonymity. Maybe some member here has a well founded opinion, particularly concerning Ivacy (I'm intetested by this provider)
I purchased a lifetime license two and half years ago. While I got excellent speeds, I found the Windows app to be extremely buggy. For example, it would sometimes crash when connected to a server. This would not only disconnect me from the VPN, but would leave me with an unsecured internet connection, even though I had Ivacy's killswitch enabled. I was refunded and haven't used it since. I haven't used it again and have no idea if they have improved their app since then. I only ever used it one computer, so have no idea if it was just an issue with my computer. However, my computer was running fine otherwise, so I doubt it.
Guys, what do you think about this? Would you guys agree with that a VPN isn't really needed for most people? https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgxnwk/you-probably-dont-need-a-vpn
And can you tell me a bit more about this? I suppose you are not that worried about being tracked by your ISP?