VPN not totally, remotely, boaty

[Gwylan]

There must be loads of experience here that I can draw on.

All the kitchen drawers are tidy and the cupboard doors levelled and open and close beautifully.
The water feature in the garden has been cleaned and serviced.
I have sorted the massive box of screws and bolts accumulated over the years into more manageable bags by type. Known as ReTNoRA - real time non random access. Speeds up the search time.

Having fixed or done almost all the things on the to do list I have got down to VPN.

On my list it says VPN?
This is a question to myself about VPN.

Is it worth it, necessary, relevant or useful?

Can I do it for not much money?
Why should I believe that any company offering VPN for money can be trusted?
In the technie area I hanker after the golden days of DOS when I could write commands and get machines to do things and dial up modems that clamped on the phone handset were cutting edge.

Mine is a simple life, I have no secrets, that I want to share anyway.
At security briefing a long time ago we were told that the only secret is the one you have not shared with anyone.
The tutor then went on to say that we had to be sure we could trust ourselves with our own secrets.

Should I bother or strip and clean the outboard for something to do with an obvious product?

 

[duncan99210]

Just get on with the outboard, you know it makes sense. Unless you’re trying to watch BBC Iplayer content overseas or you’re truly paranoid about big brother, then I don’t see the point for us ordinary mortals using VPNs.

 

[Gwylan]

Just get on with the outboard, you know it makes sense. Unless you’re trying to watch BBC Iplayer content overseas or you’re truly paranoid about big brother, then I don’t see the point for us ordinary mortals using VPNs.

Thank you for that clear common sense.
I know you are right, just needed telling so.

Well off to the o/b then
Could sharpen the chisels again, more

 

[LadyInBed]

Could sharpen the chisels again, more

Don't forget your drill bits!

 

[wiggy]

In the UK the only reason for a VPN is if you use free unsecured WIFI hotspots, at coffee shops etc.

 

[langstonelayabout]

Unless you’re trying to watch BBC Iplayer content overseas

Or ITV Hub, Amazon Video, Netflix. All 4, Channel 5, Other stuff.

Ahem. No, why would anyone want a VPN otherwise?

But the money paid for Express VPN is worth it for UK television abroad. The only ones that work for UK television are Nord VPN or Express VPN. They certainly aren't free but do work and aren't usually picked up by iPlayer.

Other VPNs will be detected by iPlayer which will immediately stop your viewing, even in the UK.

But if you are in the UK, why do you need a VPN? Are you you using some of those web TV sites (yes, recommend a VPN for those as they are hookey) or for your banking? Normal and legal behaviours don't usually need VPNs, aside for government protected information for which you will be given the software and token on a certified machine.

 

[JumbleDuck]

In the UK the only reason for a VPN is if you use free unsecured WIFI hotspots, at coffee shops etc.

Ahem. No, why would anyone want a VPN otherwise?

I use a work VPN to get access to sensitive information.

 

[ryanroberts]

In the UK the only reason for a VPN is if you use free unsecured WIFI hotspots, at coffee shops etc.

Even then almost all traffic is https nowadays, you can use DNS over TLS etc. There are also a bunch of potential nasties from poking around in unhygenic wifi that a VPN will not protect you from. I only use a VPN to access my server gubbins that shouldn't be directly on the internet rather than to guarantee lack of MITM.

In the technie area I hanker after the golden days of DOS when I could write commands and get machines to do things and dial up modems that clamped on the phone handset were cutting edge.

You can recreate that traditional "everything is broken but it's probably my fault" feel by installing Arch Linux

 

[JumbleDuck]

Even then almost all traffic is https nowadays, you can use DNS over TLS etc. There are also a bunch of potential nasties from poking around in unhygenic wifi that a VPN will not protect you from. I only use a VPN to access my server gubbins that shouldn't be directly on the internet rather than to guarantee lack of MITM.

In any case, I am not at all sure that I would place too much trust in VPN systems set up to enable people to break the law. They may not be run by wholly honest people.

 

[langstonelayabout]

I use a work VPN to get access to sensitive information.

See my post about protected information, vpn software, token and certified machine.

 

[JumbleDuck]

See my post about protected information, vpn software, token and certified machine.

The information I need it for isn;t government protected, just personal and commercially sensitive. Works on any machine. Of course other organisations have other levels of security.

The other advantage of being on the VPN is that I am then effectively in work and have easy access to printers and other devices there.

 

[Gwylan]

So VPN is off the to do list. I do not go to any sites wierder than this one.

Long ago we had a message system. You got a text message. You responded, when you could, with your pin code. Then you got a text with a token.
Find a fax machine dial your message box number with the token after a # and hung up. Then stood there briefly and snaffled the fax that arrived.
This was the days of dial up 9600 baud.

Anyway this means servicing the bike has just been promoted.