Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    What information can vpn provider see when I use wireguard?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved WireGuard
    2 Posts 2 Posters 225 Views 2 Watching
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • R Offline
      rosskan
      last edited by

      Hi guys
      for privacy reasons, I never show my ip address to the vpn provider that I use on my main laptop. "But they keep no logs" I don't know that.

      what I do instead:
      I install vpn provider #1 on a crappy laptop that has windows 10. this is a laptop with a crappy processor and perhaps a broken screen but it doesn't matter. in windows 10 network settings, I send the vpn traffic from provider #1 to the ethernet port of the crappy laptop. I connect the main laptop with crappy laptop using an ethernet cable. on my main laptop I use vpn provider #2 using wireguard software.

      what I am trying to figure is if I use the same crappy laptop but change my main laptop, and I sign up with a new account with vpn provider #2, and I use wireguard on the new laptop, can vpn provider #2 figure out that I am the same person? I guess what it boils down to is this: does wireguard share the mac address of the ethernet port of the crappy laptop with vpn provider #2?

      GertjanG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • GertjanG Offline
        Gertjan @rosskan
        last edited by Gertjan

        @rosskan

        In theory, when you tunnel a 'VPN1' over another 'VPN2', VPN2 will see the originating IP as the one belonging to VPN1, not your real WAN IP.
        So far, ok.

        That said, when you subscribed to VPN1 and VPN2, you probably used your ISP IPv4 ^^

        You installed the VPN1 (or2) application on your crappy laptop ?, if so, 'forget about it' ^^ 'as they know', the app is at an end point, and can see 'everything'.
        Don't forget that you pay for your VPN subscription, but you give them more then your money.
        They can see and use your data connection for 'data mining'. And they will make use of that data - by selling it. Why ? Because the share holders want a good financial result.

        If you need to connect two (your !) networks (or sites) together, use your own VPN solution. Don't use a commercial company. For example, take the ones you got with pfSense.
        If you really need to use that public network (aka : the Internet) to contact public servers, you are aware that the connection is already encrypted end-to-end ? That's what https is all about. 'http' doesn't really exist anymore / shouldn't be used.

        Also, you need to take other steps to be safe : you really should start with removing "windows 10" out of the equitation ....

        @rosskan said in What information can vpn provider see when I use wireguard?:

        does wireguard share the mac address of the ethernet port of the crappy laptop with vpn provider #2?

        MAC addresses travel on a local segment. Your laptop's MAC doesn't travel any further then the first hop, this is most probably your first router (gateway) like pfSense.
        Packet capture your traffic to check this. The Ethernet headers are not encrypted.

        No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
        Edit : and where are the logs ??

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • First post
          Last post
        Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.