Need to buy a VPN

[craigkerstiens]

Have had a good experience with EncryptMe. If you have a RaspberryPi at home that would be easy to setup as one as well to just tunnel yourself directly.

 

[artinlife]

For those who don't know what a VPN is nor why one might wish to use one [especially if using public WiFi] this article is a good introduction: https://www.pcmag.com/article/352757/you-need-a-vpn-and-heres-why

The FTC has a nice article about VPN apps, including things to consider when choosing one: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/virtual-private-network-vpn-apps

And an FTC blog article about choosing a VPN app: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/02/shopping-vpn-app-read

And an FTC page of Tips for using Public Wi-Fi Networks: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0014-tips-using-public-wi-fi-networks which includes the following tip among several others:

" If you regularly access online accounts through Wi-Fi hotspots, use a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs encrypt traffic between your computer and the internet, even on unsecured networks. You can get a personal VPN account from a VPN service provider. In addition, some organizations create VPNs to provide secure, remote access for their employees. What’s more, VPN options are available for mobile devices; they can encrypt information you send through mobile apps. "

Thanks for posting these sites. I just learned a lot about vpns and network security.

 

[Starwind]

No. This is just me. on the road. No corporate or government job. No real paranoia to speak of. Mostly, I just want to do some online banking and move my money around, and a little bit of business with my art.

Will you be using cellular data or public wi-fi ?

You may find this article of interest: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/technology/personaltech/security-wifi-lte-data.html

 

[Woodview]

VPN is virtual private network. It is to keep what you do online safe as you are using public wifi.

Thank you ..... some of us learn something new everyday

 

[artinlife]

Will you be using cellular data or public wi-fi ?

You may find this article of interest: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/technology/personaltech/security-wifi-lte-data.html

Most likely cellular data as I have an iPhone with AT&T and can get that through the upper Midwest where I live and travel. I will assume the same when I drive through the South. Since I am taking my laptop (MacBookPro) with me any banking I have to do will be done through that, rather than my iPhone. Strictly speaking, I probably don't really need a VPN but I do like the idea of extra security. I have spent the last 10 summers since I retired in a small cabin on a northern lake and have relied on cellular data as nothing else was available to me. Of course my phone bill went way up too.

 

[Starwind]

Most likely cellular data as I have an iPhone with AT&T and can get that through the upper Midwest where I live and travel. I will assume the same when I drive through the South. Since I am taking my laptop (MacBookPro) with me any banking I have to do will be done through that, rather than my iPhone. Strictly speaking, I probably don't really need a VPN but I do like the idea of extra security. I have spent the last 10 summers since I retired in a small cabin on a northern lake and have relied on cellular data as nothing else was available to me. Of course my phone bill went way up too.

You are correct that you probably don't really need a VPN in that setup: connect the iphone to cellular data, set up a hotspot on it, connect laptop to the hotspot. Do banking via HTTPS secure web sessions on the laptop, connecting to your known bank website directly. ETA: don't go to malicious sites ;-)

Particularly since you are wanting to do banking, if you want to go with "trusted" name brands, here are a couple options, and they offer monthly plans as well as annual:

Norton Secure VPN: https://us.norton.com/products/norton-secure-vpn
( see review at https://www.pcmag.com/review/354003/norton-wifi-privacy-vpn )

McAfee Safe Connect VPN Proxy App: https://www.mcafee.com/consumer/en-us/store/m0/catalog/msc_558/mcafee-safe-connect.html

Note the pros and cons re: where they are located etc which may or may not be a factor for your needs.

SW

 

[pahoben]

Not applicable in this case but another problem VPN solves is blocked IP addresses that are now on many US sites. If you are in the EU and show an EU IP then many smaller US sites block your access. They have no idea if they comply with EU internet legislation after the last legislative frenzy in Brussels.

The only way I can read hometown news while in the EU is to use a VPN that shows a non EU IP address.

Cell phones can be much less secure than computers do to unverified 3rd party apps and lack of on phone security software. The only security is the OS and they are constantly patching security bugs in the OS’s.

 

[artinlife]

You are correct that you probably don't really need a VPN in that setup: connect the iphone to cellular data, set up a hotspot on it, connect laptop to the hotspot. Do banking via HTTPS secure web sessions on the laptop, connecting to your known bank website directly. ETA: don't go to malicious sites ;-)

Particularly since you are wanting to do banking, if you want to go with "trusted" name brands, here are a couple options, and they offer monthly plans as well as annual:

Norton Secure VPN: https://us.norton.com/products/norton-secure-vpn
( see review at https://www.pcmag.com/review/354003/norton-wifi-privacy-vpn )

McAfee Safe Connect VPN Proxy App: https://www.mcafee.com/consumer/en-us/store/m0/catalog/msc_558/mcafee-safe-connect.html

Note the pros and cons re: where they are located etc which may or may not be a factor for your needs.

SW

Thanks for your help and advice Starwind. I will probably go ahead and get one of these.

 

[artinlife]

Why not use your phone as a hotspot?

That is actually a good idea. Someone else said that too, last night at dinner. I looked it up and it is do-able. I am getting schooled in all of this stuff and am thinking I might not need a VPN after all. Thanks to everyone here for your advice.

 

[doubletoast]

Warp from Cloudflare

https://new.blog.cloudflare.com/1111-warp-better-vpn/

 

[jec6613]

Besides the cell phone and the paid service, there are also some home routers that you can use to open a VPN connection back to your house from, both to tunnel all internet access as well as to access your home network remotely. Sort of a business traditional VPN use case, except for home users.

 

[m.tyson]

I'm taking a road trip to Disney in a month and I want to purchase a VPN. Do any of you travelers out there have any suggestions?

I travel a lot because of my work and I use Surfshark, it works in restricted areas and has a kill switch. There's no free trial but from personal experience I can say that it's quite decent.