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The advantage of using a commercial VPN is that it only might be a front, and if it is, it could be a front of a government of a country that you aren't in, whe

The advantage of using a commercial VPN is that it only might be a front, and if it is, it could be a front of a government of a country that you aren't in, whereas my ISP for sure does the bidding of the government that has direct influence over my life. It's a sad state of affair, but seems unavoidable. Being truly anonymous is extremely difficult. Being anonymous to a selective set of entities is easier, if you aren't a targeted subject of their interest.

trompetenaccoun 5y ago
You assumption being that the government is after you specifically? That's unlikely. What's a lot more realistic is that autocratic and totalitarian governments collect all these data to analyze trends and find out how to better influence people or shut certain developments down before they reach critical mass. That is assuming they are a government front, because they could also just be private individuals snooping through and selling your data.
- Johnny555 5y ago
  the government is after you specifically Not specifically and not today, but they are collecting and archiving data just in case they do find me interesting in the future. While it's less likely that some foreign power will ever find me interesting.
  - trompetenaccoun 5y ago
    How is it less likely? We're living in an ever more globalized world, there's ample evidence that for example the Chinese government collects tons of data on foreigners. Depending on which country you live in foreign governments may be collecting more data than your own. Telling people to use a VPN as an easy fix for privacy makes their privacy worse. They need to look into and understand how to make their traffic secure, how DNS works, how to use proper encryption, etc. There sadly isn't a simple fix, just like with most things in life. What you do with a commercial VPN is give control over your traffic into the hands of some completely unknown and often very dodgy looking business. One that, like you and others noted, might not even be a business at all.
    - Johnny555 5y ago
      I didn't say they don't collect the data, of course they do, just like the USA collects data on foreigners. Just that they have less reason to find anything about me interesting than the USA does since I live in the USA. What you do with a commercial VPN is give control over your traffic into the hands of some completely unknown and often very dodgy looking business. As opposed to my ISP, who has only my best interests in mind?
bee_rider 5y ago
OTOH, if I was a government I'd be way more interested in the stuff that people decide they should send over a VPN.

trompetenaccoun 5y ago

You assumption being that the government is after you specifically? That's unlikely. What's a lot more realistic is that autocratic and totalitarian governments collect all these data to analyze trends and find out how to better influence people or shut certain developments down before they reach critical mass. That is assuming they are a government front, because they could also just be private individuals snooping through and selling your data.

Johnny555 5y ago
the government is after you specifically Not specifically and not today, but they are collecting and archiving data just in case they do find me interesting in the future. While it's less likely that some foreign power will ever find me interesting.
- trompetenaccoun 5y ago
  How is it less likely? We're living in an ever more globalized world, there's ample evidence that for example the Chinese government collects tons of data on foreigners. Depending on which country you live in foreign governments may be collecting more data than your own. Telling people to use a VPN as an easy fix for privacy makes their privacy worse. They need to look into and understand how to make their traffic secure, how DNS works, how to use proper encryption, etc. There sadly isn't a simple fix, just like with most things in life. What you do with a commercial VPN is give control over your traffic into the hands of some completely unknown and often very dodgy looking business. One that, like you and others noted, might not even be a business at all.
  - Johnny555 5y ago
    I didn't say they don't collect the data, of course they do, just like the USA collects data on foreigners. Just that they have less reason to find anything about me interesting than the USA does since I live in the USA. What you do with a commercial VPN is give control over your traffic into the hands of some completely unknown and often very dodgy looking business. As opposed to my ISP, who has only my best interests in mind?

bee_rider 5y ago

OTOH, if I was a government I'd be way more interested in the stuff that people decide they should send over a VPN.