Chrome has become surveillance software. It’s time to switch browsers.

[Xan]

If you get Firefox & use Duckduckgo as the default browser, is that sufficient for privacy purposes or is it worth also paying for Nord VPN?

Nord sounds like a bombproof solution, but it is $$ (and another login, account etc).

Browser tools can help prevent your browser from being tracked; VPNs can help prevent you from being tracked by your IP address. They're largely orthogonal.

[dualstow]

If you get Firefox & use Duckduckgo as the default browser, is that sufficient for privacy purposes or is it worth also paying for Nord VPN?

Nord sounds like a bombproof solution, but it is $$ (and another login, account etc).

For me, it's enough at home. However, I plan to use it (Nord) in areas if unsecured wifi away form home.
Honestly, though, I don't know if I'm going to keep the subscription.

[shekels]

If you get Firefox & use Duckduckgo as the default browser, is that sufficient for privacy purposes or is it worth also paying for Nord VPN?

Nord sounds like a bombproof solution, but it is $$ (and another login, account etc).

It is a good start.
It depends on what you want to keep Private.
Operating system, browser, spyware, cookies, Location,spyware tracking, or a fakebook-twitter?
For surfing the internet I use a Linux based operating system on a USB drive.
So every time I boot my computer it is like a new system, Without my previous history and when I shut down everything goes away, (passwords, cookies,) all your browsing History.
Of course your ISP will know where you have been. That is were a VPN comes in.

[Xan]

If you get Firefox & use Duckduckgo as the default browser, is that sufficient for privacy purposes or is it worth also paying for Nord VPN?

Nord sounds like a bombproof solution, but it is $$ (and another login, account etc).

It is a good start.
It depends on what you want to keep Private.
Operating system, browser, spyware, cookies, Location,spyware tracking, or a fakebook-twitter?
For surfing the internet I use a Linux based operating system on a USB drive.
So every time I boot my computer it is like a new system, Without my previous history and when I shut down everything goes away, (passwords, cookies,) all your browsing History.
Of course your ISP will know where you have been. That is were a VPN comes in.

Also any site (including sites with multi-site trackers like Facebook) can recognize you via your IP address and probably also your browser fingerprint.

[dualstow]

Also any site (including sites with multi-site trackers like Facebook) can recognize you via your IP address and probably also your browser fingerprint.

The VPN doesn't show a different, "virtual" IP address?

[Xan]

Sorry; I was addressing this part:

"Of course your ISP will know where you have been. That is were a VPN comes in."

by pointing out that a VPN fixes privacy issues above and beyond just your own ISP.

[dualstow]

Ah, ok.
From what I read -- and I know a fraction what you know; I just have a casual interest in trying -- the free VPNs are not really worth exploring. Part of the reason for that is that while your ISP no longer knows where you're browsing, your VPN does. Therefore, choose a trustworthy VPN. Of course, any of them could unwittingly have a Paige Thompson type in their employ. Can't do much about that any more than you can stop holding credit cards.

Nord has a really good reputation and I believe that they don't log or pay attention to browsing, so no probelm there. And, in fact, I don't worry about an ISP knowing my surfing habits in the first place. The thrill of streaming Norwegian Netflix by faking an IP has dissipated.

I don't know why Mountaineer uses his, but for me, it would strictly be for using unfamiliar wi-fi hotspots.

In fact, on a Mac desktop, you are instructed to supply NordVPN with your keychain password which is p the login to the computer itself. Nord's great reputation notwithstanding, that feels like giving up a lot of privacy at home to gain a little extra safety at Starbucks. I'll stick to using it for mobile devices.

[Xan]

I haven't taken the VPS step myself, but I probably should. My ISP, horrifyingly, is Google.

[dualstow]

I haven't taken the VPS step myself, but I probably should. My ISP, horrifyingly, is Google.

Oh my gosh, I would let Google put a big camera in my bathroom if they would be my ISP, provided Internet is on the house. Very happy with them as my cellular provider.

[Xan]

I haven't taken the VPS step myself, but I probably should. My ISP, horrifyingly, is Google.

Oh my gosh, I would let Google put a big camera in my bathroom if they would be my ISP, provided Internet is on the house. Very happy with them as my cellular provider.

It's been really great. One of my concerns about a VPN (I've been saying VPS; that's not right) is what it would do to my network performance. This is really low latency, gigabit upstream and down. It'll be hard for a VPN to keep up!

[dualstow]

{Re: google is your ISP, wow}

It's been really great. One of my concerns about a VPN (I've been saying VPS; that's not right) is what it would do to my network performance. This is really low latency, gigabit upstream and down. It'll be hard for a VPN to keep up!

Perhaps you could just turn it on once in awhile when you feel you need it and then turn it back off for speed.

[drumminj]

Perhaps you could just turn it on once in awhile when you feel you need it and then turn it back off for speed.

That's what I used to do when I used a VPN. Wasn't a big hassle!

[Xan]

Perhaps you could just turn it on once in awhile when you feel you need it and then turn it back off for speed.

That's what I used to do when I used a VPN. Wasn't a big hassle!

I'd prefer to have the router do the VPN-ing, so that it would apply to all machines in the house without anybody having to think about it. It should be possible...

[dualstow]

~
Nord has a really good reputation and I believe that they don't log or pay attention to browsing, so no probelm there. And, in fact, I don't worry about an ISP knowing my surfing habits in the first place. The thrill of streaming Norwegian Netflix by faking an IP has dissipated.
...
In fact, on a Mac desktop, you are instructed to supply NordVPN with your keychain password which is the login to the computer itself. Nord's great reputation notwithstanding, that feels like giving up a lot of privacy at home to gain a little extra safety at Starbucks. I'll stick to using it for mobile devices.

I wrote to Nord about the concern above and got the following reply.

Code: Select all

Regarding keychain, please uninstall/delete your current NordVPN application and install this one instead:
https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/macos/generic/NordVPN-OpenVPN/latest/NordVPN.pkg

Does it seem kosher? I hope it’s not from Paige Thompson

[shekels]

~
Nord has a really good reputation and I believe that they don't log or pay attention to browsing, so no probelm there. And, in fact, I don't worry about an ISP knowing my surfing habits in the first place. The thrill of streaming Norwegian Netflix by faking an IP has dissipated.
...
In fact, on a Mac desktop, you are instructed to supply NordVPN with your keychain password which is the login to the computer itself. Nord's great reputation notwithstanding, that feels like giving up a lot of privacy at home to gain a little extra safety at Starbucks. I'll stick to using it for mobile devices.

I wrote to Nord about the concern above and got the following reply.

Code: Select all

Regarding keychain, please uninstall/delete your current NordVPN application and install this one instead:
https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/macos/generic/NordVPN-OpenVPN/latest/NordVPN.pkg

Does it seem kosher? I hope it’s not from Paige Thompson

Just a quick look it seems like you need a package to run on a router firmware.
https://nordvpn.com/tutorials/linux/openvpn/
edit to fix link: https://support.nordvpn.com/Connectivit ... ordVPN.htm

To run on a router, you will most likely need custom firmware.

[dualstow]

Thank you.
I wonder what nordCDN means anyway.

[benclaren]

Nord is great. I have been a user before I switched to purevpn. The streaming experience on Nord wasn't that good so I bought purevpn's 7 day trial which was available for only $0.99 and it worked out amazing. I mean spending $1 isn't that big of a deal and get such fast speed.

[vnatale]

Nord is great. I have been a user before I switched to purevpn. The streaming experience on Nord wasn't that good so I bought purevpn's 7 day trial which was available for only $0.99 and it worked out amazing. I mean spending $1 isn't that big of a deal and get such fast speed.

Are you a real person? This is the first time you've put anything here.

Vinny