Should I use a VPN?

[Morning Star]

I want to protect myself.

[chazus]

From what?

Short answer: Probably not

[Temp name]

"should"? Probably not.
"Need to"? no.

VPNs only really stop your ISP from finding out what you're doing, so unless you really don't trust them, or are doing something they don't want you doing, you shouldn't use one. If you want to actually be safe from getting tracked on the website side as well you'd need something like TOR or constantly delete cookies. If you're nuts you could run TOR through a VPN running on a linux distro like Tails that nukes everything aside from the base OS every time you log off.

[Byleth]

Are you using the internet for any shady shit? Then yes.

[unbound]

VPN really only protects your ISP from snooping on your browsing and monetizing it. That same data will now be going to your VPN provider...are you sure that VPN provider won't do the same?

While I don't begrudge people from using a VPN (it isn't completely useless), please keep in mind that it is only one of a number of tools you should be using.

You want to protect yourself from what exactly? The answer to that question will tell you which tools would be most effective.

[Blackmist]

From what, Tommy? Ze Germans?

[Laqweeta]

VPN use really only shine for torrenting in the USA. Lots of ISPs are running with the 3 strike rule (caught torrenting once It's a warning, 2 is a shut off with a signature to get it back on, and 3 is termination).

In other words, you probably don't need one.

[Vampyr78]

People are so paranoid about being tracked on the internet. Are you doing anything illagal? The only people that care about what you do are advertisers and all they can do with that data is to make ads for you. Most people don't even care what you do on the internet. From whom do you need that protection? From targeted ads? Nowadays every youtuber gets paid to make a VPN ad and people think they are in some sort of danger all of sudden. You are fine probably as you are now.

[Low Hanging Fruit]

I use it to jump countries to not have to by tons of different streaming services when the same show can be found on Amazon in UK or on Netflix in the US instead of you know.. having to have 20 different ones. I don't know if that is cool or not but whatever..

But the reason I HAVE it is because my work requires to use one when transferring work related files on the internet. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't be paying the 7 bucks or whatever I pay a month for the service (that work pays me back for).

[Mil Mascaras]

I use it to jump countries to not have to by tons of different streaming services when the same show can be found on Amazon in UK or on Netflix in the US instead of you know.. having to have 20 different ones. I don't know if that is cool or not but whatever..

But the reason I HAVE it is because my work requires to use one when transferring work related files on the internet. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't be paying the 7 bucks or whatever I pay a month for the service (that work pays me back for).

Wha?

What line of work are you in?

I have 3 VPNs for work. They're basically encrypted tunnels to transfer sensitive data between companies, not for hiding or spoofing location.
I would think that any company requiring VPN use would implement their own or have a 3rd party provide the service (properly vetted, due dilligence and what not).
Just sounds weird to me that you got to pick your own VPN and your company is fine with it.

That's why I'm curious as to what line of work you are in.

[oplawlz]

As long as you understand that you never really know who the vpn info is going to. If your doing something that your government frowns upon you should never count on a vpn to shield you. If you're just going for a different geo-location or trying to avoid isp snooping a vpn isn't a terrible idea. Keep in mind nothing is free though - if you're not the customer you're the product being sold.

[chazus]

I would think that any company requiring VPN use would implement their own or have a 3rd party provide the service (properly vetted, due dilligence and what not).

I semi-regularly install Meraki Z3 VPNs for businesses, and you'd be surprised how often they'd rather save a few bucks and just have an RDP set up, or jsut go for FTP or Email for sharing files instead of paying proper to get a good VPN installed.

[Samarin]

From what, Tommy? Ze Germans?

Coffee through nose, gorammit!

[Low Hanging Fruit]

Wha?

What line of work are you in?

I have 3 VPNs for work. They're basically encrypted tunnels to transfer sensitive data between companies, not for hiding or spoofing location.
I would think that any company requiring VPN use would implement their own or have a 3rd party provide the service (properly vetted, due dilligence and what not).
Just sounds weird to me that you got to pick your own VPN and your company is fine with it.

That's why I'm curious as to what line of work you are in.

You use it to tunnel.. and then.. use it for something else..

?

[Alantor]

As long as you understand that you never really know who the vpn info is going to. If your doing something that your government frowns upon you should never count on a vpn to shield you. If you're just going for a different geo-location or trying to avoid isp snooping a vpn isn't a terrible idea. Keep in mind nothing is free though - if you're not the customer you're the product being sold.

I recommend Mullvad.

[schwarzkopf]

I'm not in the USA - so I use a VPN so I can watch stuff that otherwise I'd not be able to watch.

Once Geoblocking goes - VPN probably goes for me too.

[Black Star1]

I use veepn

[foyejil]

If you use a Chrome browser you can instal Hola Free VPN and for me, it works perfectly.

[Ange]

You use it to tunnel.. and then.. use it for something else..

?

You did not understand his question. You would use a company VPN to keep your connection ecrypted into your intranet. What you are doing is connect to a random/potentially unsafe network just to mask your IP.

The whole situation is just silly at this point, because in my country (germany) you could actually be legally liable to your company if you did anything like that in any IT job. You are not allowed to work from non protected WiFi for this reason aswell and by going with an external VPN you are doing exactly the same.

In what country do you live that you can work with your YOLO-VPN way?

[Low Hanging Fruit]

Glad you got around to this a month later.