[raaman]

Hi friends, Has anyone here use/used the so called VPN or Virtual Private Network. If so, I would like to know your experience on that. Is it totally safe? What are its pros and cons? Can we see/view any website with anonymity?

[oldfriend]

I used it where I used to work. It was installed on my laptop computer so I could access work files from my hotel room.

I found it to be slow but it appeared to keep my laptop safe and kept me in my network at work. If I tried to look at something that was not in my normal mode of working, it would not let me proceed. (Say I wanted to research a valve or part from an independent contractor.)

When I wanted to surf the internet from my personal laptop I did not use the VPN.

Oldfriend

[germainebull]

If I tried to look at something that was not in my normal mode of working, it would not let me proceed.

Interesting.

I did not know that a VPN would have such feature.
Is this the case with all VPNs?
Or, was this feature unique to only your specific VPN?

[oldfriend]

I don't really know.

The VPN was the portal that I was able to do my company work on. Using it for general surfing alerted the main office and caused problems.

The way I understood it was I could privately access my work from the hotel without being concerned about others seeing my files and such.

When I wanted to check email and surf the internet, I used my personal computer that had no VPN.

Oldfriend

[jonjenkins]

I wanted to use a VPN for privacy when using public wifi spots - in the cafe, library, etc - but many of these are now blocking VPNs (this is in Bristol, UK). I presume this is because they fear people might use these wifi spots for illegal activity.

[germainebull]

I wanted to use a VPN for privacy when using public wifi spots - in the cafe, library, etc - but many of these are now blocking VPNs (this is in Bristol, UK). I presume this is because they fear people might use these wifi spots for illegal activity.

Interesting.
Please educate me; how would using a public wifi spot threaten my online privacy?

[germainebull]

Would using a public VPN endanger my device if I have an updated antivirus program installed?

[earthsalt]

So, can people in china use VPN to defy govt. bans on some sites?

[germainebull]

I still need to know if I run the risk of contracting viruses if I use a device with a robust antivirus program to connect to a public wifi spot.

[oldfriend]

I still need to know if I run the risk of contracting viruses if I use a device with a robust antivirus program to connect to a public wifi spot.

I would think that a good antivirus program would stop most everything.

However, using public wi-fi, in my opinion, is risky. Especially if you are on it a lot and extended periods.

Just my opinion.

Oldfriend

[jonjenkins]

I wanted to use a VPN for privacy when using public wifi spots - in the cafe, library, etc - but many of these are now blocking VPNs (this is in Bristol, UK). I presume this is because they fear people might use these wifi spots for illegal activity.

Interesting.
Please educate me; how would using a public wifi spot threaten my online privacy?

It's quite a common "hacking" technique to set up fake wifi spots which have very similar names to the real ones. They may even copy the login page if the system normally has one. From that point, the hacker can monitor all your web traffic and attempt to extract data like usernames and passwords. For someone who's not used a particular access location before, it may not be obvious which access point is the safe one.

Using a VPN encrypts your data before it leaves your computer, so it's extremely unlikely for any data snoopers to be able to get to your private information.

[germainebull]

I would think that a good antivirus program would stop most everything.

However, using public wi-fi, in my opinion, is risky. Especially if you are own it a lot and extended periods.

Just my opinion.

Oldfriend

I see.
Thanks for educating me.

[earthsalt]

Is the use of VPNs allowed/legal in all countries?

[jonjenkins]

Is the use of VPNs allowed/legal in all countries?

I think they are allowed in most countries - it's just another way of using a web connection. Customer support systems, and remote PC systems like TeamViewer and LogMeIn depend on these kinds of connections.

[germainebull]

I think they are allowed in most countries - it's just another way of using a web connection. Customer support systems, and remote PC systems like TeamViewer and LogMeIn depend on these kinds of connections.

I see.
Thanks for your clarification.
Its good that you've mentioned the LogMeIn application.
I'll look into this.

[loba]

in my country there are several website blocked to fully doubt reason, so we must use VPN to access it,
in the last 2 month I am using free VPN that attached on opera browser without any concern from security, and it works like a charm

[germainebull]

in my country there are several website blocked to fully doubt reason, so we must use VPN to access it,
in the last 2 month I am using free VPN that attached on opera browser without any concern from security, and it works like a charm

Interesting. I'm incidentally also using Opera. Could you please elaborate on how I can access such free VPN services?

[makeinst]

Sometimes I using Virtual Private Network VPN when I want to visit website that is not allowed in my region. I only use this on mobile android. The name of application is : Hide my VPN. On my PC I don`t have installed VPN.

[germainebull]

The name of application is : Hide my VPN.

Hmmm. Haven't you left out some words from this VPN name? Coulld you be referring to 'Hide My Ass VPN'?