How do you pay for your VPN provider?

[Red Squirrel]

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.

 

[KeithP]

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.

You are assuming the VPN service is keeping records that could be given to the government. Many claim they don't. Besides, your ISP will know you are using a VPN service so that means the government probably also knows. How you pay for it is irrelevant.

That being said, some VPN services accept bitcoin, Private Internet Access for instance. PIA will also let you trade gift cards (Starbucks, Walmart, etc) for VPN services.

Given your level of paranoia concern you will probably also want to look for a service outside US Government jurisdiction.

-KeithP

 

[Pardus]

If you want a good VPN, try nordvpn.

 

[Red Squirrel]

You are assuming the VPN service is keeping records that could be given to the government. Many claim they don't. Besides, your ISP will know you are using a VPN service so that means the government probably also knows. How you pay for it is irrelevant.

That being said, some VPN services accept bitcoin, Private Internet Access for instance. PIA will also let you trade gift cards (Starbucks, Walmart, etc) for VPN services.

Given your level of paranoia concern you will probably also want to look for a service outside US Government jurisdiction.

-KeithP

It's always better to assume the worse case scenario, that they keep records (ex: due to legal reasons or if their servers get compromised/confiscated etc - and CC's do leave paper trails everywhere such as banks, CC company etc). The whole idea of a VPN is to be anonymous so may as well not cut any corners or it defeats the purpose.

I like the idea of gift cards, could definitely look into a provider that has that as an option. there is still the possibility of physical mail being tracked but not sure how well that holds up in court, anyone can put anything as a return address, does not mean it actually comes from that address. Though when it comes to IP laws there is typically no due process so it could still be an issue I suppose. Though I guess in that case I just have to hope they don't keep records of physical mail. Credit card transactions still leave more paper trails.

I've thought of bitcoin as well, but arn't those transactions traceable? I don't think it's designed to be anonymous.

Idealy I won't pick one that's based in the US as they have the strictess laws when it comes to internet activity especially torrents. Probably either one here in Canada or maybe even somewhere like Russia. NordVPN looks interesting and looks like they use OpenVPN. Crazy how they can provide that service for so cheap.

 

[Charmonium]

I'd worry more about the reliability of your VPN than anonymity. But it depends on your motivation. Are you worried about the gubmint spying on your web browsing or are you more worried about getting DMCA notices?

If you're worried about the govt, then use the Tor network or one of the other networks out there designed to protect your privacy. Tor is probably the biggest and best known but there are several others.

If your concerns are more of a legal nature, then check reviews and ask for recommendations. Personally, I ditched PIA because they were unreliable. But they do have servers in a variety of countries which can be useful. I've been using Torguard for about 2 weeks now and they are rock solid but only have one location unless you pay extra to use servers in other countries.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Reliability won't matter too much as long as it's not like super bad, it will be mostly for torrents. I just don't want DMCA notices. I may even use Tor on top of it as an extra layer of security.

 

[John Connor]

You must ask yourself something: Do they connect your IP to your payment record? I mean all the traffic? Some do take gift cards. A lot will take Bitcoin. Take it up a notch and use Tor to create an E-mail address to use for the VPN service. And NEVER under any circumstances load that E-mail without a VPN or Tor.

Make sure the VPN provider doesn't use port forwarding. If so, game over. Make sure WebRTC is off. https://www.browserleaks.com/webrtc#webrtc-disable

https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-anonymous-review-160220/

My VPN provider uses OpenVPN with their stand alone client. I have some issues with it so I might try something else. I use VPN.AC. I think the network in this laptop is messed up. And despite everything I have done I can't seem to fix it. But my other computers run the client just fine. However, their App for my phone was acting like crap recently. I did have another App that modified the DNS to prevent ADs, but I had to uninstall it since the VPN App messed up with that on. I wonder now if I screwed something up in the damn phone.

Also, it seems Google location isn't always correct when using a VPN. If you get Chinese results in Google, simply visit this link and it should reset it. www.google.com/ncrhttps://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl

 

[John Connor]

Reliability won't matter too much as long as it's not like super bad, it will be mostly for torrents. I just don't want DMCA notices. I may even use Tor on top of it as an extra layer of security.

Tor is damn slow. You won't want to P2P with Tor. It's just nice for the dark net and that's it quite frankly.

 

[John Connor]

I'd worry more about the reliability of your VPN than anonymity. But it depends on your motivation. Are you worried about the gubmint spying on your web browsing or are you more worried about getting DMCA notices?

If you're worried about the govt, then use the Tor network or one of the other networks out there designed to protect your privacy. Tor is probably the biggest and best known but there are several others.

If your concerns are more of a legal nature, then check reviews and ask for recommendations. Personally, I ditched PIA because they were unreliable. But they do have servers in a variety of countries which can be useful. I've been using Torguard for about 2 weeks now and they are rock solid but only have one location unless you pay extra to use servers in other countries.

Trust me, the feds are watching Tor. I made a blog post on this. And anybody can create an exit node. I wouldn't trust it. Just good for the dark net stuff and other things you can use. Like port scanning some punks IP. :twisted:

 

[John Connor]

Remember squirrel. They have cameras in the stores. So when you buy your gift card with your credit/debt card you are now in "the system." :twisted:

:awe:

I've thought of bitcoin as well, but arn't those transactions traceable? I don't think it's designed to be anonymous.

Ransomware Ruskies use it. I have heard of some take-downs. But I don't know too much as to how they were caught.

I wouldn't use a Russian server. Use a Romanian server. At least for P2P. Everything else can be Canadian or U.S.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Tor is damn slow. You won't want to P2P with Tor. It's just nice for the dark net and that's it quite frankly.

Plus the NSA compromised TOR long ago and likely continue to run a honeypot on the onion network to this day.

I use PIA and Peer Guardian. There might be a more up to date program than PG. I haven't done the research in a couple years as the combo seems to keep me "notice free".

Edit: It's actually Peer Block now. Same people just updated.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Remember squirrel. They have cameras in the stores. So when you buy your gift card with your credit/debt card you are now in "the system." :twisted:

:awe:

Ransomware Ruskies use it. I have heard of some take-downs. But I don't know too much as to how they were caught.

I wouldn't use a Russian server. Use a Romanian server. At least for P2P. Everything else can be Canadian or U.S.

That's why I will use cash to buy the gift card. And not use it the same day I bought it. They'll always have a way to track me but may as well make it hard, and they'll hopefully go for the low hanging fruit first.

And yeah I would not be surprised if the feds are watching Tor, hence the VPN, it adds an extra layer of security. Can always keep rebuilding a new path till you hit a non US server as well.

 

[John Connor]

Plus the NSA compromised TOR long ago and likely continue to run a honeypot on the onion network to this day.

I use PIA and Peer Guardian. There might be a more up to date program than PG. I haven't done the research in a couple years as the combo seems to keep me "notice free".

Edit: It's actually Peer Block now. Same people just updated.

Yeah, it's peer block and shouldn't be used without a VPN if you use P2P.

I have Peer block on my netbook that hosts a Teamspeak, Team viewer, and FTP server. I block several countries including China and Russia and made Amazon and CloudFlare block lists. iblocklist sucks because they want you to pay. If you Google Amazon peerblock list I'm sure you will find my blog where I have CloudFlare and the Amazon block lists. iblocklist charges for them. Screw it. Here's the link https://blog.systechforum.net/

 

[Charmonium]

Another trick you can use if you really want to fake out the data miners is to create authorized users for your credit card. So if your name is John Doe, create an authorized user called Sam Spade. It's a cooler name and now Sam can do all of your online shit. Sure, the data brokers will have info out the bung hole on Sam, but they have no idea who this John Doe person is. Until you get to the point where someone wants a SSN from you, this works like a charm.

Legality is an issue you'll need to sort out on your own but as far as I know, as long as you don't have a fraudulent intent, there's no legal requirement that you use your own name.

Of course this doesn't work for govt agencies that can get your credit records, although I don't really know if authorized users show up even on those. I've looked at my credit report recently and I don't recall seeing any of my AUs listed there.

 

[BirdDad]

I pay with credit card. I know that this is not a secure way of doing things but I figure that since I don't download porn of any kind then I am not targeted. If they really want you they will track you down even if you use bitcoin.

 

[angelaandrea]

why are u pay for your VPN provider you should choose free fastest VPN and use with no charge and you get easily fastest free VPN server provider on internet....

 

[shimpster]

friendz report they pay for their VPN via a stolen credit card number

 

[Captante]

Although I am concerned about privacy I'm pretty sure the NSA can find out anything they want about me with very little trouble. Having said that I don't use a VPN to hide from the Gubnint anyway. Its purpose for me at least to provide a modicum of security on public Wifi for my phone & laptop.

Using Surf-Easy at the moment & paid with Paypal.

why are u pay for your VPN provider you should choose free fastest VPN and use with no charge and you get easily fastest free VPN server provider on internet....

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[mauiblue]

Although I am concerned about privacy I'm pretty sure the NSA can find out anything they want about me with very little trouble. Having said that I don't use a VPN to hide from the Gubnint anyway. Its purpose for me at least to provide a modicum of security on public Wifi for my phone & laptop.

Using Surf-Easy at the moment & paid with Paypal.

What could possibly go wrong?

I just bought a Nordvpn subscription last night and paid via Paypal. Paid for six months and got another six months free - $4/month. I wanted just a more secure way of getting on the Internet on my phone and laptop. Using Tor browser to surf the web. Also setup my phone with Nordvpn and Tor. I don't download other than legal stuff I paid for. I heard some feedback that my speeds would be really slow but a day later I don't see too much of a slowdown.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I just bought a Nordvpn subscription last night and paid via Paypal. Paid for six months and got another six months free - $4/month. I wanted just a more secure way of getting on the Internet on my phone and laptop. Using Tor browser to surf the web. Also setup my phone with Nordvpn and Tor. I don't download other than legal stuff I paid for. I heard some feedback that my speeds would be really slow but a day later I don't see too much of a slowdown.

Theoretically, the government could trace your traffic to your VPN account, and then force the VPN provider to give the details as to how it was paid for. They could then force Paypal to give more info such as your home address.

They are now looking into seizing people's computers if they use VPN, so being able to pay for it in an anonymous way is very important as the payment method is a way the VPN traffic can be traced back to you.

 

[blackangst1]

Theoretically, the government could trace your traffic to your VPN account, and then force the VPN provider to give the details as to how it was paid for. They could then force Paypal to give more info such as your home address.

They are now looking into seizing people's computers if they use VPN, so being able to pay for it in an anonymous way is very important as the payment method is a way the VPN traffic can be traced back to you.

Link?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Link?

http://www.techworm.net/2016/05/tor-vpn-users-labeled-criminals-hacked-spied-fbi-new-law.html

 

[mauiblue]

Well I'm not a criminal and I just want more privacy and security. I don't need to steal and I don't need any drama. I already paid for a year of VPN service. I'll see how that goes. So far the last two days has been good. A little slow the connection but that is expected.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

 

[John Connor]

http://www.techworm.net/2016/05/tor-vpn-users-labeled-criminals-hacked-spied-fbi-new-law.html

It will fail in court.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It will fail in court.

And they will keep trying to pass it. Eventually it will go through. Just like all the other insane bills like the patriot act.

They also now want to put people who search for Linux related stuff as part of the terrorism list.

http://www.in.techspot.com/news/sec...-users-as-extremists/articleshow/47743699.cms

I guess I'm definitely not going to America ever, probably get detained and put in jail.