What is everyone using for VPN service provider?

rufunky

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I'm thinking about setting up a VPN for a few reasons. One being I would like to add indoor cameras and two being my provider seems to be throttling my legal torrent downloads.

I would be setting it up through my router but I have never used a VPN so I am not sure who to use as a provider. Also, I am not sure what I should expect to pay for this service. Any input would be helpful!
 

bigredfish

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You're thinking of a different kind of VPN. Thats a service commonly used to disguise your web surfing.

The VPN you want is a client/server that create secure point-to-point connection between say your phone and your NVR at the house.

Most here use OpenVPN
 

rufunky

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You're thinking of a different kind of VPN. Thats a service commonly used to disguise your web surfing.

Most here use OpenVPN
Oh, I wasn't aware there was a difference :/ I suppose the latter has to do with proxies? Can open VPN be used with a router config?
 

bigredfish

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Disclaimer: not an IP network guy

Typically you install the OpenVPN server on your router. It issues a cert/key that you import into the client software on your phone. It’s free.

Many Asus and some Netgear routers have the OpenVPN software built in, just needs turned on.
 

rufunky

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Disclaimer: not an IP network guy

Typically you install the OpenVPN server on your router. It issues a cert/key that you import into the client software on your phone. It’s free.

Many Asus and some Netgear routers have the OpenVPN software built in, just needs turned on.
Hmm, my Asus router has support for VPN but not sure if it has Open VPN built-in. I will have to look into that.
 

rufunky

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Disclaimer: not an IP network guy

Typically you install the OpenVPN server on your router. It issues a cert/key that you import into the client software on your phone. It’s free.
Are you sure it is free? After I click on Get OpenVPN, it asks me to purchase a license
 

rufunky

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hmmmm.. I'm running it on 2 cheap Asus routers about 1 year old and 2 Netgear 1900's, all free...

[VPN] How to set up the ASUSWRT for VPN Server – OpenVPN | Official Support | ASUS USA
Weird, maybe I am not on the legit openvpn website. I was reading through the first link that civic17 posted and it stated the following.


IS A VPN FREE TO USE?
Fact: There is no such thing as a truly free VPN.

VPNs cost the provider a large amount of money to develop and operate, so if they are not charging you to use their product, be advised: that means YOU are the product. Free VPNs often log and keep track of your IP address, your browsing history, the types of sites you visit, even your personal information, and often sell your data to third parties — which means these free VPNs are exposing you to the very risks they are supposed to block. That isn’t free. If you use a “free” VPN, be aware that you will lose privacy when it comes to:

  • Your browsing preferences
  • Your online habits
  • Your email address
  • Your phone number
By using a “free” VPN, you are actually putting your privacy at even greater risk. Plus, a lot of “free” VPNs are inferior products that throttle your internet speeds to the point of being virtually unusable. It’s true that you get what you pay for, and when you aren’t paying, you aren’t really getting anything at all.

Free VPNs:

  • Don’t offer industry standard protocols
  • Don’t offer consistent access to streaming services
  • Disconnect often, leaving you unprotected
  • Have frustratingly slow connection speeds
  • Limit your data usage drastically
  • Don’t have as many servers globally
  • Don’t offer professional support
Many of these products are very poorly made, so they are easily penetrated by hackers looking to access your private information. A lot of free VPNs don’t actually encrypt your data, and a lot of free VPNs are infected with malware that can seriously harm your devices and compromise your data.

"A study of 283 VPNs found that 38% of free VPNs in the study showed signs of being infected."

A study of 283 VPNs found that 38% of free VPNs in the study showed signs of being infected. That means more than a third of all free VPNs are dangerous to use...and there is no way for you to always know which ones are infected. Do you really want to roll the dice on those odds?

Bonus fact: A lot of “free” VPNs are even run by cybercriminals. It’s an easy way for them to steal data from unsuspecting internet users — they don’t even have to hack into your device, because by using one of their free VPNs, you’re handing the information right over to them.

A lot of people download free VPNs and are lulled into a false sense of security, thinking that their data is in good hands. Then, when the inferior product inevitably fails, these people are completely blindsided. It’s incredibly dangerous to place your trust in the wrong product. No free VPN can truly protect your data and provide you with peace of mind.

Remember, using the wrong VPN can be even more dangerous than not using one at all. A VPN should be seen as an investment into your security, to prevent costly data loss and theft. And the right VPN doesn’t have to be incredibly costly; spending just a few dollars upfront could potentially save you thousands down the road. Don’t step over dollars to pick up dimes — Private Tunnel is a reputable, consumer-level VPN that will keep you completely secure, all for less than the cost of a cup of coffee.
 

mat200

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Weird, maybe I am not on the legit openvpn website. I was reading through the first link that civic17 posted and it stated the following.

...
Hi @rufunky

OK, i'm certain this is probably a bit confusing for some - so here's my attempt to give an analogy to help clear it up.

Let's talk roads....

A ROAD is a surface that you can drive along. You can use it to go to one point to another.

In particular, let's take the road outside of your house - and let's keep it simple, the road goes from your house to the shopping center ( centre for some .. )

As it is a public road, people can watch you.

This also means people can take the road from the shopping center to your house, and break into your house if they like.

Now, there's a special offering called a Private Tunnel - which magically goes underground from one location to another. ( this is tech Elon Musk is big into ).

I have one of those which you can rent and go to MY House from your house - and when you come out to the public road and go to the shopping center, it looks like you are living in MY HOUSE as no one sees you coming or going from your house. ( This is basically the VPN services people buy when they do not want others to spy on what they are doing on the public road. )

So this is all great and everything - but really only helps when you want to go to the shopping center(s).


Now, you want to run a similar Private Tunnel from your house... however you only want it to check on your dog when you are way.. this is what you would basically be doing when you run a VPN server on your router. You can making a Private tunnel that others without the key can not use to go back to your house and rob it.


Yes, I know the analogy is a bit odd.


VPN = technology. Like a Tunnel or Road it does not tell you where you go. When you put a VPN server on your router - it allows those outside of your home with the proper address and key(s) to come to your home.

This is important - it is significantly more secure than port forwarding, which is basically making a public road into your home...
 

rufunky

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Mat, that was actually a good way of explaining it. Thanks for taking the time :)

This leaves me to question, do people here typically just use a separate VPN server or router with VPN option connected to their NVR or Blue iris PC only and use a second router for everyday browsing, downloading streaming, etc?
 

bigredfish

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rufunky

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OpenVPN is always on at the router. I typically only use it by launching the client on my iPhone or laptop when remote to view/manage cameras.

That said, there's no reason you couldnt leave it on (the client) all the time and route all of your internet traffic through it, or in my case, through my home internet connection.

Read This
[VPN] How to set up the ASUSWRT for VPN Server – OpenVPN | Official Support | ASUS USA
Ohhh, so you can have the VPN option enabled but only opt to use it when you want a secure connection like as you stated for viewing or managing your cameras??
 

rufunky

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I always thought VPNs were either all in or all out.which left concern for things like my home automation and geofencing! Thanks for the help guys.
 

bigredfish

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To be clear with OpenVPN enabled you’d need to activate the client in order to access anything on your network behind that router remotely.

While it’s technically possible to port forward to connect in along with also having OpenVPN enabled, it kinda defeats the purpose . Shouldn’t affect anything internal getting out though
 

rufunky

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Right, otherwise if the client wasn't active on your device, you would be outside of the "local network" and therefore not have local access. Correct?

Looks like my current Asus router only supports PPTP. I may purchase one that supports Openvpn as I was just reading that PPTP is outdated and not secure.
 
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