I have seen so much conflicting content regarding this subject and safety/privacy. Are VPNs a necessity or can we do without? In fact, what is the basic, essential model for any security/privacy minded person? I mean right now, I am just using a dns resolver (quad9) and a tuned Firefox browser (meaning I went through and made proper tweaks to the settings). what do you think guys?
It depends on your threat model and your environment. In which country do you live ? Are you in danger for political opinions, … ? Or do you just value privacy ?
You cannot safely use public wifi at a hotel ect without a vpn, these spots are like watering holes where predators sit and wait for a meal, they will collect the packets sent over the internet and launch attacks on you, a vpn puts you in a encrypted tunnel so all data is not visible to an attacker sharing the connection
Can do without, like any tool.
Some benefits of using a VPN:
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hide some info from your ISP, a company which already knows far too much about you
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hide info from other devices on your LAN, and your router, which is especially important if you’re on public Wi-Fi
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make it a little harder for web sites to track you, by hiding your home IP address from them
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defeat geo-locking by some sites
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some VPNs provide malware-site blocking, ad-blocking, parental controls features
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maybe add multiple jurisdictions/countries in the way of anyone who wants to DMCA or sue you
Sign up for the VPN without giving ID (easy to do), always use HTTPS for all sites, and use OS’s generic VPN client.
Get one, Mullvad is the way to go
The basic, essential, or minimal is probably what you had already done. Ublock Origin, Firefox. privacy focused DNS Resolver is a plus. They are the most easily attainable things that you can get at the top of your head, so they are the minimal things to me.
To get satisfactory results, and achieve something more, you need to understand your threat model in detail and then do your research (or ask in the subreddit). Otherwise, you are basically only going to get told to do what I do, to be paranoid, achieve “max privacy” for no reason, or to give up.
VPNs are useful and affordable, so I can recommend them.
It depends on your use case. VPNs were initially created for business security and later adapted for consumer use. Their primary function is to ensure security by protecting your identity and encrypting data transfers. However, for both individuals and companies, a VPN isn’t necessary for general internet browsing and can slightly reduce your internet speed.
That said, using an untrustworthy VPN can really turn things around, as they will not only track your data, but might also install mallwares. Hence, make sure to do you research before selecting one. I recommend Windscribe.com for individuals and UTunnel.io for businesses, as both offer robust security features and affordable plans.
Does anyone know if Nord has done a “no log” audit been done since moving to the US?
I need any the free VPN now
For anyone struggling with streaming apps like YouTube TV and MLB TV, I highly recommend NordForce100. It’s a free and reliable VPN that helps you bypass geo-restrictions easily. If one location doesn’t work, just switch to another and restart the apps. NordForce100 makes it simple and hassle-free. Enjoy your local games with ease!
Honestly, privacy and access is important to me, so VPNs are a must. i went for TurisVPN because it’s one of the cheapest alternatives for what I need, which is binging netflix from other countries (some shows are blocked where I’m from) and just generally safe browsing online.