A Reason for More Widespread use of VPN in USA?
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Congress Moves to Strike Internet Privacy Rules
I geek out a lot on pfSense with things I don't need or deem personally important, OpenVPN being one of them. I don't personally believe for a second that any level of encryption would really protect you from a first world government that actually cared to know everything about you. I also probably have views different to most peoples on NSA & FBI internet surveillance. While I think that in some ways it may go too far I ultimately don't care and I am generally pro my governments intelligence programs, no matter how much it may piss of Dingus Daniel Demonstrator. :)
That all being said, I am not in favor of the private sector leveraging customers personal information for monetary gain. But we all know that's going on.
From the looks of this article the road has been cleared for even more tracking and monetizing of your information by your ISP.
However, the most concerning thing to me:"An individual's data collected by these companies also does not need to be secured with 'reasonable measures' against hacker."
That has always been about the only reason I personally could think up to justify putting a VPN on my whole LAN (let's be real I just did it because I thought it was neat). But now it looks like it might be a legitimate concern.
If you haven't before maybe you should take another look into using a VPN?
I don't mean to throw this out there in a chicken little sort of way, I don't think that your identity will be stolen and bank account emptied because you ISP is free to track and sell your data at will without protecting it. Your ISP no matter how "evil" they might be does have real world incentives to not get a lot of their customers private data stolen, but it still is an awkward situation to have your local service provider keeping a file on you.
Anyway, I thought this might be of interest on this subforum!
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Well no matter what VPN providers says. There are tracks. In my opinion. And if they so chose can collect and monetize your personal data too. Essentially the VPN provider becomes the ISP. All you really have is their "word" that they don't/won't. Because lets face the real world. Even if they did how would you know in order to hold them accountable?
I use pfSense OpenVPN server for road warrior access.
As far as protecting "personal" information (as apposed to say browsing habits). What about using SSL for sites that offer it? I think this is where the main push currently is. Free domain validation cert providers seem to be gaining some traction and picking up steam. Though so far I remain skeptical of their motives and whether or not there are government backdoors, master keys, etc. At least one such provider has a member with a questionable history in this regard.
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You're right, you are always going to put your data in someone's hands. But you can choose whose.
A VPN provider for example makes their living off of providing privacy, whereas an ISP provides internet to customers who mostly don't have a clue what a VPN is or does.
One company is obviously more vested in protecting their customers privacy than the other.
Then there are VPS providers where your can set up your own VPN server.The general thought I had was, your ISP is actively trying to sell everything that they legally can about you, and it looks like they will soon be able to get away with a lot more legally.
So it might be worth looking into putting your data in someone else's hands.But I agree, if you want true privacy then unplug all the cables and move to a cave haha.
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A VPN provider for example makes their living off of providing privacy, …
At least that is what their marketing says.
One company is obviously more vested in protecting their customers privacy than the other.
Or at least in creating that belief.
Is my VPN anonymity skepticism shinning through yet? ;)
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Haha yes sir it is.
Still, there is zero question that ISP is selling everything they can about you. They all do it so there is effectively a monopoly, their business is not affected when people know they are doing this.
VPN providers very well may do this, some have been caught doing so, but it is bad for their business if they are found doing this.
VPS providers I'm guessing probably do not engage in this activity much as they often serve large companies that would and could fight their data being sold.
Both options at least have the potential for improvement over ISP.