I want to look into getting a VPN service, what is the best way to pay for it? If I use a credit card or anything attached to my name, then it kinda negates the whole idea of using a VPN service as the government can just order the provider to hand over the info. What about gift card credit cards, do these work online? I imagine if I pay cash for one at the drug store it should be fairly safe right? Not sure if such a card would work online though, I know they are a bit odd and don't work everywhere.
Also how do these typically work, do they use something standard like OpenVPN or some kind of Windows only proprietary client? I have a Linux environment, and idealy I want to setup a vlan where everything on that vlan is routed through the VPN, is this something that is doable? Basically I'd have a box running the VPN service and it would act as the default gateway for that vlan. The firewall would only allow outgoing connections to the VPN provider and maybe a couple key machines on other vlans as required. The idea is to ensure that all traffic on that vlan is secure and can't exit off my regular connection or somehow reveal my real IP. I'd probably setup a VM with Tor as well.
I have not done much research on providers yet but I'm open to suggestions. I know this gets asked a lot so I'm sure I'll find one either way.
Also how do these typically work, do they use something standard like OpenVPN or some kind of Windows only proprietary client? I have a Linux environment, and idealy I want to setup a vlan where everything on that vlan is routed through the VPN, is this something that is doable? Basically I'd have a box running the VPN service and it would act as the default gateway for that vlan. The firewall would only allow outgoing connections to the VPN provider and maybe a couple key machines on other vlans as required. The idea is to ensure that all traffic on that vlan is secure and can't exit off my regular connection or somehow reveal my real IP. I'd probably setup a VM with Tor as well.
I have not done much research on providers yet but I'm open to suggestions. I know this gets asked a lot so I'm sure I'll find one either way.