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Following your link, my impression was that 1-NETs main purpose is the connection of your devices, not so much the obscuring of your presence in the web. The direct device-to-device connections may offer the obscuring as a side-effect, but I don't see how it would help me when I (or some unwanted program service on my system) connect to anything else on the web.
It surely looks interesting for the specific purpose of connecting my devices. But beyond that, I'd still need an actual VPN.
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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OK, maybe the front page of the 1-NET website is a little confusing that give you the said impression, its still work in progress, you know. It stipulates the ultimate effects of connecting a user's devices across LAN boundaries using the user's existing network resources (the connection is of course encrypted and have both ends authenticated). But as one would expect, connected devices can pass data through the connection using custom or standard protocols, like SOCKS. Otherwise what is the point of connecting? Majority of mature networking applications can handle SOCKS protocol, including but not limited to ssh, git, ftp clients, some remote desktop clients and of course browsers the list goes on ....
A user can use one of his/her existing devices located in a set "safe" locations (LAN) as exit endpoints that his/she can delegate all his/her web browsing to (this feature is build into the 1-NET gateway). The external world only knows only these endpoints are doing the browsing but the user may actual doing the browsing at an endpoint far a way (logical or physical) from exit one, (e.g. across Atlantic Ocean, etc.). Is this what you were asking for? It's a build in feature of the 1-NET gateway! In the VPN services on the market, the "exit endpoints" are controlled by the services providers who does not belong to the "external world". In our solutions, the "exit endpoints" are controlled by the user himself/herself. So the later is a more privacy respecting architecture in design ...
If one really like to have pure IP level VPN solution, there is no problem at all. There are open source tun2socks lib that one can use to build VPN systems base on SOCKS tunnels. Some compiling and networking setup may be involved, but we are programmers, right?
But as I stated VPN can handle simple application scenarios, for more sophisticated ones at larger scale, a more controllable one is needed and our solution is 1-NET ...
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Shuqian Ying wrote: 3) Setting up of VPN is not easy.
This is absolute rubbish in most cases. I use CyberGhostVPN and once you install the client all you have to do is login, select the country and you're done. If so desired, you can even select a specific server in the country. They have almost 900 servers in 27 countries and do not keep logs so there will be nothing to hand over when some 3-letter agency comes calling.
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I know it easy if you use a third party service which host your "other endpoint" for you. But then you are letting the service provider as an insider of you network. That is why they almost all declare that they do not do logging, etc. Do you really trust them, that is the problem ...
Try to host the other endpoint your self! Just try it, then you will know ...
modified 10-Apr-17 15:55pm.
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Do you plan to have your own servers in 27 countries? If you do, start your own VPN company and make some money in the process.
Otherwise, having your own VPN server is
1. unnecessary because there are plenty of VPN service providers
2. impractical because you will be severely limited in your access points
3. an unnecessary, potentially prohibitive, expense you have to carry
99.9% of people just want some reasonable way to not be constantly tracked or spied upon or to have access to websites that would otherwise not be accessible because of geographic limitations. For that purpose, any good VPN service is more than adequate and that was what the poster was looking for. The only thing that really counts is that the VPN provider does NOT keep logs and that they are NOT based in the USA or the UK, the two largest mass surveillance centres in the world.
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Having the other endpoint of the VPN under your own control makes the whole thing quite useless for obfuscation. If you are the known owner of the VPNs exit point, then you are identifiable again.
Using a VPN for obfuscation only makes sense if you are NOT the exit point yourself an - if possible - share the same exit point with hundreds of other "unknown" people.
The downside is of course, that you have to trust the VPN provider that he does his job as expected and really makes it impossible to track the traffic back to you.
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Thank you very much for the link. I always like a (somewhat?) neutral source to compare products.
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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Enjoy! 
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I have used PIA over a year and recommend it. But you also asked about TOR.
PIA provides privacy so that your internet provider can't spy on you. It also provides
encryption so you are safe on public Wifi. However, your browser also collects data on your browsing habits, so something like TOR is extremely valuable, in addition to a VPN. I don't use TOR, but I configured my browsers (both Chrome and Firefox) to clear my browsing history when I exit.
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My only experience is with PIA (Private Internet Access) as well. It does well enough for what I need. Speeds were not that great in the beginning (2 maybe 3 years ago) but are now up to par. I notice only a marginal drop in bandwidth while connected, which is to be expected due to VPN overhead.
They also have a large number of regions you can connect to for circumventing geo-tracking/fencing, et cetera, as well as offering port forwarding on a handful of those if that's something you need. They also include a few concurrent connections without using their client, so you can connect a mobile device as well without needing additional software (this has come in handy while traveling abroad; never know who is recording what off of those hotel wifi points...)
For me, the price is more than reasonable for what I'm getting ($25 USD a year, iirc.) Your mileage may vary (obviously) based on your needs.
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I can vouch for PIA as well. Reasonably quick and it cost something like $40 for a whole year. That said, don't expect 100Mbps through it, so if you are downloading large files you want quickly you will probably want to disconnect, but it's the best VPN I've used in that price range by far and I've tried a several of the top recommended options on review sites.
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Thanks for the warning. It's always hard to decide on something when you're not aware of the pitfalls.
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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Stefan_Lang wrote: that for VPN I need to choose a provider.
Which means you're issue of caring about who has what data is still there. Now, it will be a VPN provider who sees your data. 
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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True. But supposedly many of them don't actually store these data. My greatest fear isn't so much who sees it now, but who may be gaining access to it for darker reasons in the future. With most internet companies located in the US, any of them might hand over data about me to any three letter 'intelligence' organization on a whim. Also, hackers have the nasty habit of breaking into even the most secured databases, and they may have even worse ideas about what they could do with it.
Data that isn't stored, can't be handed over, or stolen.
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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Stefan_Lang wrote: But supposedly many of them don't actually store these data.
Supposedly is the keyword there.
Stefan_Lang wrote: gaining access to it for darker reasons in the future.
I guess I have no imagination on this subject. What possible darker reasons are there? What are you actually concerned might happen? (Not looking to fight, I genuinely don't know.)
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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RyanDev wrote: What possible darker reasons are there?
To be honest, I have trouble coming up with a concrete example. But in real life I learned that just because you can't think of a way how someone could take advantage of you, that there isn't one.
As a programmer, I try to watch out for unexpected errors. I don't know what bugs the programs I write will expose in the future. It's not that I built them into the program on purpose, but I simply didn't forsee the specific circumstances causing an issue. Therefore I take precautions to restrict the likelyhood of bugs, and the effect that they can have.
As a private person, I watch out for unexpected ways others can take advantage of me. Unfortunately I don't have a sufficiently dark mind to think of all such possibilities. Therefore, as a precaution, I try to keep as much of my personal information close to me as possible. That way I am offering a smaller attack surface, and I limit the potential damage others could cause me.
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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Stefan_Lang wrote: But in real life I learned that just because you can't think of a way how someone could take advantage of you, that there isn't one.
Of course.
I feel like this is similar to if someone wanted to come by my house and take a picture of my grass or my tree.
What specific data are you concerned about? What sites you are seeing? I'm not even sure what else they could get.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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Ah, you're thinking of browsing. I'm more concerned about stuff like Microsofts CompatTelRunner that does scan your entire hard disks even if you don't participate in CEIP. MS states that (1) it should only be running if you participate, which is a blatant lie, (2) that you can uninstall and hide the related KB update(s), which doesn't help since they wrapped up all KB updates in the cumulative updates, and hidden updates will keep getting unhidden on a regular basis, (3) that it doesn't report any data that I should be concerned about, which I don't believe because of (1) and (2).
Any confidential data stored on my disks, including e.g. stuff related to my work, is effectively compromised by MS, no less.
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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Stefan_Lang wrote: Any confidential data stored on my disks, including e.g. stuff related to my work, is effectively compromised by MS, no less.
So, you're concerned they might send your Microsoft Money file to their servers? Technically, any program you install on your PC has the capability to do that.
But that's fair.
A couple of times I've had charges show up on my credit card that I did not do. First time I called and disputed. Gone. Second time, I did it online. No big deal. Not that it couldn't be worse but I guess I don't see it as enough of a threat to worry too much about it.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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RyanDev wrote: So, you're concerned they might send your Microsoft Money file to their servers?
Erm, no. I'm not so much concerned over data they send to their servers, but third parties hacking their servers and doing real bad stuff with it.
MS might be using my data to take advantage of me, but I trust they won't do it in such a big way that it hurts me real bad - after all they've still got some reputation (and money) left to lose. But others may have less scruples.
But all of this is missing the point. I was looking for advice on VPN, not to discuss privacy. I am concerned, for various reasons. VPN seems a good way to reduce the risks. I am well aware that it may not solve the issue entirely, but I rather do something than nothing at all.
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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I disabled the CompatTelRunner service only to find it had been re-enabled a few days later. Seems as if the only sure way is to pull the RJ45 out.
We're philosophical about power outages here. A.C. come, A.C. go.
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If you don't uninstall the related Windows kb updates, it will be re-enabled automatically.
If you don't hide them after uninstallation, they will be reinstalled with the next Windows update.
Even if you hide them, they will be unhidden with the next Windows update rollup.
Personally, I switched to manual updates, and when I do an update I will remove the pests that I don't want afterwards:
Quote: KB971033 Description of the update for Windows Activation Technologies
KB2952664 Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7
KB2990214 Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 7 to a later version of Windows
KB3021917 Update for Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program
KB3022345 Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
KB3035583 Update installs Get Windows 10 app in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 SP1
KB3044374 Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to a later version of Windows
KB3068708 Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
KB3075249 Update that adds telemetry points to consent.exe in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7
KB3080149 (update for CEIP and telemetry)
(taken from Meine Methode die Telemetrydatenerfassung au… | Forum - heise online[^] ; also see Windows update KB2952664 (Compattelrunner.exe) cannot be uninstalled from Windows 7 - Super User[^] )
I expect this method will keep working for Windows 7 until MS stops rolling out updates.
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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In this case, you should not use a VPN to provide protection since VPN are not visible to applications, anything "your" application can do can also be done by third party applications ...
I have not think this way before, but I belief there should be a solution to this problem using security gateways (black list them is one of potential the solution). But it's not build in yet, I will think about it
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