Domestic Proxy Use?

[kerkdream]

Hi,

I'm not really that well versed in using proxy sites etc but I was wondering whether it's something I should do considering I don't live in Colorado, Holland or Uruguay for example....do other FC members have similar concerns?

 

[RUDE BOY]

I don't worry about it, but I don't post pictures or videos just words and I don't post anything that would be seen as a threat to National Security so it ain't an issue to me.


...

 

[canj00digit?]

Almost all of my internet usage is through a VPN. It's connected 24/7.
I only disconnect it to send emails and for banking.
But I live in a country with concerning ideas about the usage of citizens' stored metadata.

 

[kerkdream]

Excuse my ignorance but what is a VPN and how does it help and work?

 

[canj00digit?]

Excuse my ignorance but what is a VPN and how does it help and work?

Here is a good site explaining proxies and VPNs and the differences:
https://www.bestvpn.com/blog/4085/proxies-vs-vpn-whats-the-difference/


A VPN provides me with a high level encrypted connection to host server through which all of my internet activity is done.

For instance, all my ISP or the government can see is an encrypted connection between me and my VPN server. They can't see content, they can't see what websites I visit, images I view, images I upload or videos, files, etc.

The only possible way to be indentified via a VPN is if your service keeps logs and turns them over to the law on request. The VPN service I use is highly respected for their privacy policy and keeps NO logs of user's VPN activities.

https://www.privateinternetaccess.com
It's $7 bucks a month, cheap peace of mind, and they allow torrents, and they're very fast.

 

[kerkdream]

Thanks for that info, I'll sure look into it though the service sounds great I wasn't really expecting there to be a cost involved...

 

[canj00digit?]

Thanks for that info, I'll sure look into it though the service sounds great I wasn't really expecting there to be a cost involved...

Google 'Free VPN'... there are some out there.
However, you get what you pay for.
Free means the host servers are very busy, highly congested and that means your
time to encrypt goes up and network speed goes down, WAY down.

Or if you can look into TOR. It's free. It's also very slow.

 

[Radio]

TOR is incredibly slow.. Which is a massive shame!
I wanted to order some nice strains from america but it ended up backfiring because the whole process took forever

 

[canj00digit?]

TOR is incredibly slow.. Which is a massive shame!
I wanted to order some nice strains from america but it ended up backfiring because the whole process took forever

I agree. For me, the dark web is virtually unnavigable 95% of the time due to speed. Endless timeouts, etc.

I'm too chicken shit to order anything interesting anyway

 

[Radio]

I ordered heaps of hydro stuff on ebay to my home address and nothing happened.. Been months and no DEA kicking in my door.
They aren't watching anything -_-

 

[canj00digit?]

Were you talking about flowers or seeds?
I assumed flowers from a blackmarket like Evolution?
That's what I mean, I'm too chicken to import flowers.
Seeds are no problem to get through I've heard.

Hydro equipment is completely legal so yeah no worries there.


As an Aussie you should know that our government wants to permanantly store your internet metadata and be able to access it without warrant.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-...nd-the-law-of-unintended-consequences/5901958

"A bill currently working its way through Parliament will, if enacted, require internet service providers to store every Australians' personal digital history so that law enforcement officers can access it without a warrant."

 

[pakalolo]

Hi,

I'm not really that well versed in using proxy sites etc but I was wondering whether it's something I should do considering I don't live in Colorado, Holland or Uruguay for example....do other FC members have similar concerns?

I live in Canada and for the most part, we have an enlightened attitude here despite officially maintaining a prohibition. I don't use a proxy and I don't feel the need to do so. I understand that it might be more restrictive in some countries, but even so, unless you are engaging in bulk drug sales or importing or have done something else to make them want to nail you, I don't believe you are at any risk at all. Posts on a forum are exceedingly difficult to enter into evidence. The effort required to prosecute someone is far too much for law enforcement to bother unless the crime is much more grave than just saying that you possessed or consumed cannabis. Remember, even if you say that they'd still have to prove that you actually did it.

You have to decide what your paranoia level is and what makes you comfortable, and of course my opinion is worth what you paid for it, but I think the effort required to use a proxy or VPN isn't warranted.

 

[canj00digit?]

You have to decide what your paranoia level is and what makes you comfortable, and of course my opinion is worth what you paid for it, but I think the effort required to use a proxy or VPN isn't warranted.

Like you say, it's about one's personal paranoia level and what makes them comfortable.

 

[BuzzDanklin]

I would like to think that in the Unites States, any agency that has the power to actually see what we are posting online is only looking for serious crime, not people posting about vapes.

With that said, VPN's are pretty easy to setup, I had an old roommate who downloaded like every movie in existence via a VPN without a hitch, I believe he used 'privateinternetaccess'

 

[canj00digit?]

I would like to think that in the Unites States, any agency that has the power to actually see what we are posting online is only looking for serious crime, not people posting about vapes.

With that said, VPN's are pretty easy to setup, I had an old roommate who downloaded like every movie in existence via a VPN without a hitch, I believe he used 'privateinternetaccess'

Yeah, that's the service I use also. Dead easy to set-up.
While it's not the main reason I use a VPN, unlimited torrent downloading with no possible consequence is definitely a nice side benefit!

 

[kerkdream]

Thanks for posting your thoughts guys.

 

[Radio]

I just don't worry about it. I think that few people get busted for general semi-criminal web activity

 

[randybishop]

For those that use VPN's, how much does it slow down your internet speed?
I just use a pay proxy to download torrents currently.

 

[canj00digit?]

For those that use VPN's, how much does it slow down your internet speed?
I just use a pay proxy to download torrents currently.

It varies wildly.

Free VPNs are as so slow as to make you want to kill yourself.
Among pay VPNs, PrivateInternetAccess is the fastest I've tried of 3 major ones.
Most of the time it's invisible. Sometimes streaming HD video it can show itself and cause slowdowns.
Usually switching to another server location solves the issue.
For torrents I peak at 1MB/s over multiple files but I am on other side of world.

In the vast majority of browsing I never notice my VPN is running.

 

[randybishop]

It varies wildly.

Free VPNs are as so slow as to make you want to kill yourself.
Among pay VPNs, PrivateInternetAccess is the fastest I've tried of 3 major ones.
Most of the time it's invisible. Sometimes streaming HD video it can show itself and cause slowdowns.
Usually switching to another server location solves the issue.
For torrents I peak at 1MB/s over multiple files but I am on other side of world.

In the vast majority of browsing I never notice my VPN is running.

Cool thanks canj00digit!

 

[Athanor]

I wish this site would allow HTTPS. It's 2014 for cryin' out loud. At this point, I have to seriously question any site that doesn't. Google is too, they have started moving sites that don't offer HTTPS down in the search results. It's only a slight scoring modifier so far, but they've committed to increasing the weight over time.