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While this is a legitimate problem, the article seems to be a disguised advertisement for NordVPN and 1Password, who Troy Hunt is partnered with [1] [2]. There

While this is a legitimate problem, the article seems to be a disguised advertisement for NordVPN and 1Password, who Troy Hunt is partnered with [1] [2]. There is a clear bias towards suggesting that the solution to the problem is that everyone signs up and pays for these services. [1] https://www.troyhunt.com/im-partnering-with-nord-as-a-strategic-adviser/ https://www.troyhunt.com/im-partnering-with-nord-as-a-strate... [2] https://www.troyhunt.com/have-i-been-pwned-is-now-partnering-with-1password/ https://www.troyhunt.com/have-i-been-pwned-is-now-partnering...

fuzxi 6y ago
And this is not the first time [1], either. I feel it's unethical to not disclose in the article that he's affiliated with the services he's advertising. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24544195 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24544195
- boogies 6y ago
  > Please don't use HN primarily for promotion. It's ok to post your own stuff occasionally, but the primary use of the site should be for curiosity. — https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html I wish I could downvote this submission. I wonder whether I should flag it.
  - fuzxi 6y ago
    Neither the parent link nor the post I linked are from accounts with an inordinate number of posts for Troy Hunt's blog (I count 1 each). I don't think he's breaking HN rules, I just think he's being deceptive and unethical.
    - boogies 6y ago
      Right, I don’t want to take the accounts’ karma (certainly not more than they’ve gained from the submissions), I just want to lower the prominence of the links funneling traffic to the unethical and deceptive post.
politelemon 6y ago
Also take note of the latest post on author's blog, "I've Joined the 1Password Board of Advisers" https://www.troyhunt.com/ive-joined-the-1password-board-of-advisers/ https://www.troyhunt.com/ive-joined-the-1password-board-of-a...
leephillips 6y ago
Honestly, it wasn’t much of a disguise. Not subtle.
ljm 6y ago
He loses my respect with that. NordVPN isn't without its problems and he's also selling a VPN that monitors your browsing to detect this stuff. A VPN that grows by underselling itself all over youtube isn't one I want to be a customer of. If he wants to use his rep to write fluff pieces for his corporate sponsor, so be it. But he discredits himself for doing so.
- jonny_eh 6y ago
  > A VPN that grows by underselling itself all over youtube You're avoiding a service because it sponsors content you enjoy?
  - 0xdeadb00f 6y ago
    Yes.
- basicexploit 6y ago
  I dont want to be devil's advocate as a quote says, but I see Troy Hunt implication in Nordvpn as a huge step. His authority and reputation are very good so I believe his straightforward will keep improvements ongoing. I still think being inside of the industry remains the best way to improve it.
  - troublesom 6y ago
    I like to read all sorts of opinions and I will be in your side this time. I do understand the disappointment of some but I am convinced this is for the best. Many initiatives have been taken since the beginning, as well as efforts. For example the Trust Initiative or the bug bounty. One way or another, they have a positive impact on the whole VPN industry although there is some room for improvements.
- trustfailure 6y ago
  You can't blame a company for doing its business and wanting to grow mate. It's part of company evolution, as soon as the produit is built, you can promote it, thats one way to earn money. It's just the growing cycle. And look at how competitive this industry is.
sebastian_j 6y ago
I don't blame the guy trying to earn some extra money for the work he puts in. You can't expect him to spend time creating useful content and getting nothing out of it. The products are relevant, so I don't see a problem.

fuzxi 6y ago

And this is not the first time [1], either. I feel it's unethical to not disclose in the article that he's affiliated with the services he's advertising. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24544195 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24544195

boogies 6y ago
> Please don't use HN primarily for promotion. It's ok to post your own stuff occasionally, but the primary use of the site should be for curiosity. — https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html I wish I could downvote this submission. I wonder whether I should flag it.
- fuzxi 6y ago
  Neither the parent link nor the post I linked are from accounts with an inordinate number of posts for Troy Hunt's blog (I count 1 each). I don't think he's breaking HN rules, I just think he's being deceptive and unethical.
  - boogies 6y ago
    Right, I don’t want to take the accounts’ karma (certainly not more than they’ve gained from the submissions), I just want to lower the prominence of the links funneling traffic to the unethical and deceptive post.

politelemon 6y ago

Also take note of the latest post on author's blog, "I've Joined the 1Password Board of Advisers" https://www.troyhunt.com/ive-joined-the-1password-board-of-advisers/ https://www.troyhunt.com/ive-joined-the-1password-board-of-a...

leephillips 6y ago

Honestly, it wasn’t much of a disguise. Not subtle.

ljm 6y ago

He loses my respect with that. NordVPN isn't without its problems and he's also selling a VPN that monitors your browsing to detect this stuff. A VPN that grows by underselling itself all over youtube isn't one I want to be a customer of. If he wants to use his rep to write fluff pieces for his corporate sponsor, so be it. But he discredits himself for doing so.

jonny_eh 6y ago
> A VPN that grows by underselling itself all over youtube You're avoiding a service because it sponsors content you enjoy?
- 0xdeadb00f 6y ago
  Yes.
basicexploit 6y ago
I dont want to be devil's advocate as a quote says, but I see Troy Hunt implication in Nordvpn as a huge step. His authority and reputation are very good so I believe his straightforward will keep improvements ongoing. I still think being inside of the industry remains the best way to improve it.
- troublesom 6y ago
  I like to read all sorts of opinions and I will be in your side this time. I do understand the disappointment of some but I am convinced this is for the best. Many initiatives have been taken since the beginning, as well as efforts. For example the Trust Initiative or the bug bounty. One way or another, they have a positive impact on the whole VPN industry although there is some room for improvements.
trustfailure 6y ago
You can't blame a company for doing its business and wanting to grow mate. It's part of company evolution, as soon as the produit is built, you can promote it, thats one way to earn money. It's just the growing cycle. And look at how competitive this industry is.

sebastian_j 6y ago

I don't blame the guy trying to earn some extra money for the work he puts in. You can't expect him to spend time creating useful content and getting nothing out of it. The products are relevant, so I don't see a problem.