I want to set up a vpn
March 24, 2017 5:29 PM Subscribe
Looking for advice on how to set it up and how to judge a good provider. Recommendations welcome. I don't want to spend a ton of money but willing to spend a reasonable amount.
I want it mostly for security purposes when using unsecured/poorly secured wifi for both mac laptop and iphone. Ability to circumvent geo-blocking also welcome.
I want it mostly for security purposes when using unsecured/poorly secured wifi for both mac laptop and iphone. Ability to circumvent geo-blocking also welcome.
I've used Private Internet Access, and it works well. This site has a lot of comparisons between different VPNs, mainly with a focus on privacy: https://thatoneprivacysite.net/vpn-comparison-chart/
posted by nalyd at 7:08 PM on March 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by nalyd at 7:08 PM on March 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
Based on your description, you may not need a VPN service that doesn't keep logs of user activity. But if that turns out to be important to you, take a look at this current TorrentFreak list along with nalyd's link. I've used Private Internet Access for a few years now and it's always worked fine.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:11 PM on March 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:11 PM on March 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
If youre on a Mac and usinf Torguard use Tunnelblick instead of their app.
posted by griphus at 7:12 PM on March 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by griphus at 7:12 PM on March 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
My partner and I share a Private Internet Access subscription that covers our laptops and Android phones. When I first set it up three or four years ago, I found it to be somewhat buggy and ended up having to contact tech support and reinstall it a few times over the first few months. But since then it's been absolutely uncomplicated and easy. Unless you'll be traveling in China or something, I recommend it.
(In China, I've found ExpressVPN to work well--and they have a 30-day money back guarantee that comes in handy if you're a cheapskate on a short trip.)
posted by tapir-whorf at 7:21 PM on March 24, 2017
(In China, I've found ExpressVPN to work well--and they have a 30-day money back guarantee that comes in handy if you're a cheapskate on a short trip.)
posted by tapir-whorf at 7:21 PM on March 24, 2017
I used VyprVPN in China a few months ago and it worked great, although on different days, different exit nodes would be blocked so I had to switch it up.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 9:33 PM on March 24, 2017
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 9:33 PM on March 24, 2017
Astrill is pretty good but not cheap.
Lots of geo locations.
Works in China
Works on Win,Mac,Linux and phones.
As a word of caution: Most "best VPN lists" on the internet just try to make your click their affiliate links.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 1:33 AM on March 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Lots of geo locations.
Works in China
Works on Win,Mac,Linux and phones.
As a word of caution: Most "best VPN lists" on the internet just try to make your click their affiliate links.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 1:33 AM on March 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
You might want to look in to Streisand.
When my TunnelBear subscription is up I'll likely move to using Streisand as my default.
posted by iamabot at 8:07 AM on March 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
When my TunnelBear subscription is up I'll likely move to using Streisand as my default.
posted by iamabot at 8:07 AM on March 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
I did some research on this and ended up trying to pick between NordVPN and Private Internet Access. I sent a support request to NordVPN and, despite claims on their website to answer in a matter of days, it took them nearly a month to respond (even though I sent two chasers!).
On the basis of crappy support, I went with Private Internet Access and have been happy and they've answered support requests promptly.
My only complaint with PIA is that, as well as VPN, they also offer a SOCKS5 proxy but there is barely any documentation and the only exit point is Amsterdam. Which of course the documentation doesn't tell you.
posted by mr_silver at 10:33 AM on March 25, 2017
On the basis of crappy support, I went with Private Internet Access and have been happy and they've answered support requests promptly.
My only complaint with PIA is that, as well as VPN, they also offer a SOCKS5 proxy but there is barely any documentation and the only exit point is Amsterdam. Which of course the documentation doesn't tell you.
posted by mr_silver at 10:33 AM on March 25, 2017
Here is an extremely detailed comparison table of VPNs sortable by, e.g., the type of encryption used, the type of logs kept, and the number of countries in which it is available:
https://thatoneprivacysite.net/vpn-comparison-chart/
posted by FiveSecondRule at 3:16 PM on March 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
https://thatoneprivacysite.net/vpn-comparison-chart/
posted by FiveSecondRule at 3:16 PM on March 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
I use NordVPN, which has worked well for me, although I'm not a very heavy user.
posted by AzraelBrown at 9:21 AM on March 27, 2017
posted by AzraelBrown at 9:21 AM on March 27, 2017
Sonic.net, an awesome ISP in California, provides a free VPN service to its customers. You can connect to it from home, cell, wherever. You might have a local ISP that does the same.
posted by zippy at 12:06 PM on April 4, 2017
posted by zippy at 12:06 PM on April 4, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 7:01 PM on March 24, 2017 [3 favorites]