4 ms·

What would make it more useful, less parasitic and less slimy?

by pul 5y ago

meowface 5y ago
I'm really not trying to rag on anyone else's projects and detest it when other HN commenters do, but in this case the only honest answer I can think of would be "scrapping the site, domain, and concept and making something else instead". A slightly related concept I would find interesting would be a way of visualizing and summarizing ISP/AS information in general (without any expectation the user would be particularly interested in their own; though that could be displayed on the landing page, perhaps). For example, an alternative way of presenting what https://bgp.he.net https://bgp.he.net provides (example: https://bgp.he.net/AS33657#_peers https://bgp.he.net/AS33657#_peers, plus all the other tabs). Providing an easy, quick, simple way to see "what network providers are upstream of this ISP/AS?" could be a useful feature. Ideally without just being a proxy for bgp.he.net (unless the UI is totally unique and actually presents things in a fundamentally different way), and ideally without any VPN scarevertisements. Frankly, this is why I've yet to pursue solo entrepreneurship myself. Unless you get really lucky, it seems there's a constant trade-off between "parasitism/skeeviness" and "not being able to afford rent or food". I've got plenty of ideas, but, so far, all either wouldn't provide enough for me to sustain myself, or would be too shady for me to be comfortable with, despite being legal.
Gasp0de 5y ago
All business models that promote VPNs feel parasitic to me. For example, there is this "unprotected" thing in red screaming DANGER to the unknowing visitor that feels exceptionally scammy. It says I am unprotected while I'm using a VPN to my server, Mullvad VPN or even Tor Browser. Why don't you say "You are not connected to NordVPN, the sponsor of this site"?
- pul 5y ago
  In all fairness, Mullvad also shows as 'protected'. I think I'll add a pop-up on hover that explains what 'unprotected' means, and how a VPN helps.
- svnt 5y ago
  It works fine for the VPN I tested, which is not Nord. Like every IP list it just isn’t perfect.
svnt 5y ago
It looks fine to me I’m not sure what this person is on about.
- huhtenberg 5y ago
  It's basically a promo site for NordVPN.

What would make it more useful, less parasitic and less slimy?

by pul 5y ago

What would make it more useful, less parasitic and less slimy?

I'm really not trying to rag on anyone else's projects and detest it when other HN commenters do, but in this case the only honest answer I can think of would be "scrapping the site, domain, and concept and making something else instead". A slightly related concept I would find interesting would be a way of visualizing and summarizing ISP/AS information in general (without any expectation the user would be particularly interested in their own; though that could be displayed on the landing page, perhaps). For example, an alternative way of presenting what https://bgp.he.net https://bgp.he.net provides (example: https://bgp.he.net/AS33657#_peers https://bgp.he.net/AS33657#_peers, plus all the other tabs). Providing an easy, quick, simple way to see "what network providers are upstream of this ISP/AS?" could be a useful feature. Ideally without just being a proxy for bgp.he.net (unless the UI is totally unique and actually presents things in a fundamentally different way), and ideally without any VPN scarevertisements. Frankly, this is why I've yet to pursue solo entrepreneurship myself. Unless you get really lucky, it seems there's a constant trade-off between "parasitism/skeeviness" and "not being able to afford rent or food". I've got plenty of ideas, but, so far, all either wouldn't provide enough for me to sustain myself, or would be too shady for me to be comfortable with, despite being legal.

Gasp0de 5y ago

All business models that promote VPNs feel parasitic to me. For example, there is this "unprotected" thing in red screaming DANGER to the unknowing visitor that feels exceptionally scammy. It says I am unprotected while I'm using a VPN to my server, Mullvad VPN or even Tor Browser. Why don't you say "You are not connected to NordVPN, the sponsor of this site"?

pul 5y ago
In all fairness, Mullvad also shows as 'protected'. I think I'll add a pop-up on hover that explains what 'unprotected' means, and how a VPN helps.
svnt 5y ago
It works fine for the VPN I tested, which is not Nord. Like every IP list it just isn’t perfect.

svnt 5y ago

It looks fine to me I’m not sure what this person is on about.

huhtenberg 5y ago
It's basically a promo site for NordVPN.