4 ms·

Whether this is true or not isn’t really the point. The fact that it it’s even possible is a huge red flag for my use case / threat model. It’s relatively easy

Whether this is true or not isn’t really the point. The fact that it it’s even possible is a huge red flag for my use case / threat model. It’s relatively easy, not to mention cheap (less than $10 per month) to spin up a streisand (0) instance and protect myself that way. As long as I keep my traffic encrypted, I can keep most / all of the vultures away that I’m concerned about. Happy to walk anyone through it. Takes less than 30 minutes and it just works. Edited to add link. Second edit to change reference # typo. 0. https://github.com/StreisandEffect/streisand https://github.com/StreisandEffect/streisand

icelancer 7y ago
These approaches work (and I use one myself in addition to a group VPN) but remember, if you roll your own, you lose any/all plausible deniability for sure.
- zigzaggy 7y ago
  Good point, thank you. Because of my use case, this isn’t an issue. But I understand we all have different models and should act accordingly.
tgsovlerkhgsel 7y ago
VPNs have three purposes: 1. Encapsulate traffic on the way from your machine through the first few hops of your Internet connection. 2. Shield your identity from third parties trying to discover it, through technical or legal means. 3. Provide a bottomless pit for disposal of DMCA complaints and other nastygrams. Your solution covers only purpose 1, which is becoming increasingly irrelevant as almost everything uses HTTPS, and DNS-over-HTTPS and Encrypted SNI is coming.
- zigzaggy 7y ago
  I disagree with a couple of things. First of all, you missed one thing that is really one of my primary concerns. I hate the idea of my ISP working with other ad surveillance companies to track and sell MY data about mine and my family’s and friends’ online activities. Having a VPN stops that part of the surveillance machinery from working as intended. Combining that with pihole and other tools allows me to disrupt (at least a little bit) the business of the internet that I hate so much. Also, Tor and other tools (all part of the same solution above) address #2 to the degree I need it addressed. And I am currently not worried about #3, but with the decentralization of streaming services, it won’t be long now.

icelancer 7y ago

These approaches work (and I use one myself in addition to a group VPN) but remember, if you roll your own, you lose any/all plausible deniability for sure.

zigzaggy 7y ago
Good point, thank you. Because of my use case, this isn’t an issue. But I understand we all have different models and should act accordingly.

tgsovlerkhgsel 7y ago

VPNs have three purposes: 1. Encapsulate traffic on the way from your machine through the first few hops of your Internet connection. 2. Shield your identity from third parties trying to discover it, through technical or legal means. 3. Provide a bottomless pit for disposal of DMCA complaints and other nastygrams. Your solution covers only purpose 1, which is becoming increasingly irrelevant as almost everything uses HTTPS, and DNS-over-HTTPS and Encrypted SNI is coming.

zigzaggy 7y ago
I disagree with a couple of things. First of all, you missed one thing that is really one of my primary concerns. I hate the idea of my ISP working with other ad surveillance companies to track and sell MY data about mine and my family’s and friends’ online activities. Having a VPN stops that part of the surveillance machinery from working as intended. Combining that with pihole and other tools allows me to disrupt (at least a little bit) the business of the internet that I hate so much. Also, Tor and other tools (all part of the same solution above) address #2 to the degree I need it addressed. And I am currently not worried about #3, but with the decentralization of streaming services, it won’t be long now.