this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2024
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Privacy
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VPN: essential or snake oil?
Neither. A VPN is a tool. It's useful for bypassing geo-restrictions, allows you to act as a local device in the server's local network which is really useful, and can have a benefit to privacy when paired with other tools.
A lot of VPN ads however are overblown with the "VPNs keep you safe online" and "Don't use the internet without a VPN", these are dishonest marketing practices which should be seen as a massive red flag.
Deceptive marketing and straight up lying is so prevalent that people have all sorts of wild ideas about VPNs. That’s why it’s high time someone cleared things up.
Tom Scott did it already.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVDQEoe6ZWY
maybe neither. and the benefits depend on its kind. a public vpn can easily be contra-productive when the provider is dishonest, but even when its honest and secure, a VPN that you run for yourself at home has different effects
There is no such thing as too many layers of obfuscation. At least until we abolish all empires, states, religions and corporations.
…when the last king is hanged on the entrails of the last priest.
Now THAT's my kind of party.