I want to try one of them just for random internet browsing. which one do i pick?

  • joojmachine@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    11
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 years ago

    OperaVPN: a sick practical joke

    ProtonVPN is good enough if you just want to mask your IP for basic browsing stuff, but if your threat level is even slightly above the most basic needs none of those two are good enough.

  • kt1@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    8
    ·
    4 years ago

    Why not just use TOR browser ? It is free and in my opinion its fast enough for even 480p video. Sure you can’t use some services all the time, but thankfully we have “privacy redirect” plugin and proxies for those services like invidious for youtube…

    • polymerwitch@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      4 years ago

      There are a handful of cases where a VPN might be a better choice than Tor for certain traffic. Such as using bit torrent or keeping traffic off of Tor exit nodes as they are monitored more heavily.

      It’s also useful to have a home network VPN for local services, but I don’t think that is what OP is needing.

      • cloud_item@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        4 years ago

        Tor is like a VPN but sends your traffic through multiple servers (so that no single server has all the information). The Tor Browser also has great tracking protection: it makes it very difficult for websites to distinguish you from other Tor Browser users and makes you look different everytime you restart the Browser.

          • cloud_item@lemmy.ml
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            4
            ·
            4 years ago

            I am not sure but i can imagine the following reasons:

            • You do not want anyone (like your ISP) to know that you use tor (to avoid being flagged as suspicious). They will only see that you use a VPN.
            • Tor is blocked but the VPN not
            • You do not want the Tor entrance node (the first server in the chain) to see you IP (The entry node only knows your IP, the middle nodes knows nothing (only forwards encrypted traffic from one Tor node to another) and the exit node only knows what websites someone is connecting to but has no idea who that is)
  • 33YN2@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 years ago

    I use mullvad, not because i expect 100% privacy (pretty sure it’s in 5 eye country too), but because i trust them to handle it slightly better than my ISP at least.

    • Nevar@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      4 years ago

      It’s 14 eyes. 5 eyes is only the Anglo-Saxon countries because they still believe in cultural and societal supremacy over the rest of the world.

  • samuraikid@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 years ago

    proton is located on 5 eye country also it doesnt have no log so you dont give your data to your isp but you give your data to proton servers so really none of the 2

  • manemjeff@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    4 years ago

    I seriously didn’t have a reason to use these vpn instead of using any public openvpn server.

    • TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      edit-2
      4 years ago

      Chinese does not automatically mean bad. By your logic, 14 Eyes VPNs should be order of magnitudes worse since you are implying berating Chinese VPNs for China’s track record on privacy, which while true, holds much more for 14 Eyes and affiliate nations.

      By that logic you can berate Mullvad VPN from Sweden, part of 14 Eyes (not 9 or 5) as well.

      In all, dumb logic. Use technical merits. We all know China is not a bastion of privacy, does not mean 14 Eyes is better in any way.

      • someone@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        4 years ago

        Chinese services aren’t bad because of the government’s privacy policies. It’s because seemingly Chinese corporations can do whatever the heck they want. There is not a whole a lot in place to force them to do the right thing, if Opera was a community project I’d recommend it.

  • BadgerInATrenchcoat@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    4 years ago

    Opera is a terribly shady company. They’re involved in a predatory loan scheme. And with how they marketed their in-browser proxy as an anonymity tool, I wouldn’t trust them worth a shit. ProtonVPN’s creators lied about the capabilities of their email service and are also extremely untrustworthy and shaky in a myriad of ways. All and all, buy Mullvad or IVPN if you truly need a VPN, or just use Tor.

    • terran@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      4 years ago

      This is the first thing ive heard bad about proton. You have a link to any of the shady stuff youre reffering to? They are all open source iirc, that alone makes them the best out there imo.

      • BadgerInATrenchcoat@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        4 years ago

        Most of this applies to ProtonMail, but it really turns me off of all of their products, as they’re the same people, after all.

        The developers of ProtonMail, don’t even use ProtonMail, they use almost exclusively GMail or Outlook.

        ProtonMail doesn’t let you register over their .onion. If you go to their .onion and then click register, it redirects you to their clearnet site.

        Its next to impossible to make an account over Tor for ProtonMail, as they make you supply another email, your phone number (destroying any anonymity), or even forcing you to donate them money (also destroying anonymity).

        ProtonMail can’t provide the zero-access or full un-tamperable e2ee that they claim. Its functionally impossible on the email protocol.

        They’re partially owned and closely tied with the Swiss government.

        ProtonMail was developed with NSA and CIA oversight.

        They engage in illegal cybercrimes.

        ProtonMail raised $550,000 to “stay independent” but then immediately after the funding campaign ended they sold to a U.S. capital firm.

        If you don’t mind any of this, then use their services. If you do, I’d suggest you look elsewhere.

      • ghost_laptop@lemmy.ml
        cake
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        4 years ago

        I also want to know but everything that Mullvad does is also libre. They are very supporting of the Hong Kong bullshit, which is meh but they’re not a company after all.

        • Echedenyan@lemmy.ml
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          4 years ago

          As far I can check only client is FLOSS in ProtonVPN. The same applies for Mullvad and this is referenced in the F-Droid app itself.

  • loki@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 years ago

    A lot of anecdotes in the comments with no sources. look it up yourself, I guess