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Zack Whittaker

You're probably thinking, "not another VPN guide!" But this one is different!

Introducing TechCrunch's skeptics' guide to VPNs. You probably don't need a VPN, and we'll tell you why. VPN providers are bad for privacy, and you should doubt their claims.

If you do need a VPN, the best one is an encrypted VPN you've set up and control yourself. We'll show you how to get started. And if you don't need one, we'll show you what can meaningfully improve your privacy online.

techcrunch.com/2024/09/30/thin

30 September at 16:26 | Open on mastodon.social
15 comments
Zack Whittaker

VPNs are a booming business, advertising everywhere, claiming that they can protect your privacy and security online. Don't believe their claims. VPNs are bad for privacy.

In this explainer, we dive into why we're skeptical of VPN providers and their claims, and why you should be as well.

techcrunch.com/2024/09/30/we-a

30 September at 16:32 | Open on mastodon.social
Zack Whittaker

It's true that VPNs can still be helpful in a handful of situations, like avoiding content streaming geoblocks, and remotely accessing another computer located elsewhere.

Even then, the best VPN is one that you've set up and control yourself. TechCrunch's @romaindillet has written a how-to guide on setting up your own encrypted VPN server in 15 minutes. It's really easy to get started!

techcrunch.com/2024/09/30/how-

30 September at 16:33 | Open on mastodon.social
Zack Whittaker

Most people don't need a VPN, so we look at the best privacy tools that can meaningfully help protect your privacy online, and why.

There's no one-size-fits-all solution, but reducing the digital trail you leave behind online as you browse the web is really important. Some of these have immediate effect!

techcrunch.com/2024/09/30/vpn-

30 September at 16:34 | Open on mastodon.social
Walter Burns

@zackwhittaker

If you use the right VPNs (Mullvad, IVPN, and ProtonVPN) - it does in fact and indeed provide online privacy.

30 September at 16:38 | Open on toot.community
Ian Campbell

@zackwhittaker Great article. I'd like to add a few points:

-Privacy-first service providers like Proton.

-As of MacOS Sequoia quite a bit in networking and DNS is either broken or changed. iCloud Private Relay now overrides any DNS system setting or proxy and defaults to Cloudflare, a company many security professionals find problematic.

-NextDNS has been a neat value-add for me so far.

(COI: none other than Proton and NextDNS customer)

30 September at 16:43 | Open on masto.deoan.org
🌻 Defederate Threads 🌻

@zackwhittaker ISPs have stated their intent to sell customers' access info to "partners". Even if they are only IP addresses, those are easy to reverse-lookup.

Advice: Most people should be looking for a VPN that honors the "P for private" part of the acronym. But do avoid any VPN or other service offered by parent company Kape inc.

30 September at 20:14 | Open on infosec.exchange
🌻 Defederate Threads 🌻

@zackwhittaker The fact is that the "handful of situations" where VPNs can help is actually all the time, IMO. If you want to avoid #surveillancecapitalism commercial tracking, they are an important ingredient along with ad blockers and a browser that uses first-party isolation (most browsers other than Chrome).

If you jump between Wifi access points, and ISPs, then VPNs are important. Its not just a matter of whether you (mis)trust your home ISP. And its a lot easier to choose (and actually obtain) an alternative VPN than it is an alternative ISP.

@zackwhittaker The fact is that the "handful of situations" where VPNs can help is actually all the time, IMO. If you want to avoid #surveillancecapitalism commercial tracking, they are an important ingredient along with ad blockers and a browser that uses first-party isolation (most browsers other than Chrome).

30 September at 20:20 | Open on infosec.exchange
Victor S Sigmoid

@tasket @zackwhittaker I am unclear why the content producers releasing the "you don't need a VPN" seem to consistently downplay the use cases where they are potentially effective. Not all of those use cases are satisfied by running your own, either.

30 September at 20:24 | Open on hachyderm.io
skry

@zackwhittaker amnezia.org/ is a very easy DIY VPN that also offers Wireguard.

30 September at 16:46 | Open on mastodon.social
Chris Farris :verified:

@zackwhittaker @romaindillet

I heart Tailscale for this. I've got a machine at home and a few in AWS and I can VPN out from anywhere I want.

30 September at 17:26 | Open on infosec.exchange
Not David Beckham

@zackwhittaker
Writer who writes for a website that is owned by a company who has a vested interest in people not using VPNs writes an article telling people not to use VPNs. M’kay.

30 September at 16:49 | Open on mstdn.social
Andy Mouse

@jrod3737

Spot on. More bullshit from bullshit central.

@zackwhittaker

30 September at 20:59 | Open on todon.eu
Adrian Cochrane

@zackwhittaker The clearest way I can put this: VPNs don't remove the trust you put in your ISP, they replace it. They move that trust to themselves.

Which *might* be useful, but is no panacea.

30 September at 18:52 | Open on floss.social
Cybarbie

@zackwhittaker This is perfect. I have seen so many people post "you probably don't need a VPN" without making this very important distinction. They heard it from somebody else usually and deliver this half-truth with all the vehement confidence of the truly ignorant. Though I doubt I would be recommending Tor for anything to be honest. Most of the time the exit node is blocked or compromised.

30 September at 16:43 | Open on mastodon.social
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