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Then you need to trust the VPS provider. Also, using a private VPN proxy, you're the only user. So there's even less anonymity than using a VPN service. The s
by mirimir 7y ago
Then you need to trust the VPS provider.
Also, using a private VPN proxy, you're the only user. So there's even less anonymity than using a VPN service.
The safest bet is arguably Tor. Although the connection to the US government is troubling. And then there's the issue that many sites block Tor users with difficult or impossible CAPTCHAs.
Using nested VPN chains is a reasonable compromise. It's much faster than Tor, and you don't need to trust any one VPN provider.
- kragen 7y agoYes, you need to trust the VPS provider. But many people already trust Amazon with their credit card number, their home address, which books they read when, and which passages they highlight in them, to say nothing of all the other websites they use that Amazon hosts; trusting Amazon instead of Comcast is probably purely an improvement for them. Tor is not operated by the US government; it's founded by them and partly funded by them. One reason is certainly to spy on Tor users; another reason is so that their own spies have anonymous internet access to exfiltrate stolen information; a third reason is to enable political dissidents in countries like Australia with onerous censorship regimes to access uncensored information. If you want to use a nested VPN chain that isn't Tor, how do you authenticate to the last provider in the chain, the one that knows which website you're connecting to? Are you using a VPN provider that you pay in ZCash? Or do they allow anyone to use their server without paying, like a Tor exit?
- mirimir 7y agoThe VPN that I connect directly to, I pay with a credit card. They know who I am, so why bother trying to hide. All other VPNs in my chains, I pay with Bitcoin that's been mixed multiple times. I have a bunch of Whonix instances that I use for mixing and storing Bitcoin. They all hit Tor through nested VPN chains. Each one has an Electrum wallet. It gets its Bitcoin from another Whonix instance through a mixing service. In any given mixing chain, I use a different mixing service for each step. So then, generally, VPNs that I use less directly get paid with Bitcoin that's been mixed more times. And I never use the same Bitcoin wallet to pay for VPNs at different "levels". Edit: You say: > But many people already trust Amazon with ... I trust Amazon with all those things. As my meatspace identity. But I wouldn't trust them with information that associates my meatspace identity with Mirimir.
- mijoharas 7y agoGenuine question. Why?
- mirimir 7y agoWell, I actually wouldn't trust anyone with that. But Amazon, less so. Because they're totally profit driven. And wouldn't think twice before pwning me. I want to remain pseudonymous. Basically so I don't need to worry about damaging my meatspace reputation. And what would be the point of going to all that trouble, if I were going to compromise myself?
- mijoharas 7y agoSorry, I just realised my question was super ambiguous as to which part of your post I was asking "Why" to. I was specifically asking why you go to such large efforts to obscure your identity. You've answered that, but it definitely seems a lot of effort to go to.
- mirimir 7y agoIt's also, frankly, a hobby. And an expression of my commitment to privacy, freedom, etc.
- mirimir 7y agoAbout being lots of effort. It was lots of effort. Some years ago. Mostly in learning how to do it. But now it's only maintenance. Not much more than maintaining my perimeter router.
- kragen 7y agoIt would be really interesting to see a how-to writeup so that other people can obtain the same levels of privacy without having to go through the steps of learning everything the hard way like you did. Also, it would probably help your privacy if there were other people doing the same thing.