VPN protection???

beyond the blue

beyond the blue

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Last night I bought my first ever VPN protection package (F Secure Total). As it was getting late the only thing I did to test it was to connect via a US server to look at costs of tickets on Emirates, Qatar and Singapore airlines, I then disconnected switched off my phone and went to bed. This morning I have been bombarded on Facebook by airline advertising. I thought the idea was a VPN protects you identity?
 
did you have FB open while you were looking at tickets?
 
beyond the blue said:
Ooh! I can't be shure to be honest. Could that be the problem?
Click to expand...

yup having a vpn just puts "you" in a different location with the vpn keeping an eye on anything malicious coming down the pipe but cookies and tracking etc will still operate as normal for your local apps and browser stuff unless you lock that down which to be honest is hard work.
 
VPN are a waste of money if you ask me.

Great at making it look like you’re somewhere else for watching Netflix but rubbish at protecting you from anything online.
 
ecoleman said:
VPN are a waste of money if you ask me.

Great at making it look like you’re somewhere else for watching Netflix but rubbish at protecting you from anything online.
Click to expand...
..but you'll need it if you are a bit naughty and want to download e.g. torrents. Nordvpn is one of the best it also has protection for malicious files, websites and trackers.....but although it shows what it has stopped, I don't know how effective it is.
 
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excalibur2 said:
..but you'll need it if you are a bit naughty and want to download e.g. torrents. Nordvpn is one of the best it also has protection for malicious files, websites and trackers.....but although it shows what it has stopped, I don't know how effective it is.
Click to expand...

How does the VPN protect you when downloading torrents or malicious files?
 
VPNs are best for accessing content not available in you area.
I access torrent sites that are blocked by most UK ISPs using a very simple one built in to Opera browser.
I also use OpenVpn to connect to my micro server at home in the UK when in my house in GC to do all my secure banking and stuff
if i try to login to any of these things in GC it has a hissy fit and my Halifax bank account refused completely so i binned it off.
 
ecoleman said:
How does the VPN protect you when downloading torrents or malicious files?
Click to expand...
Your internet provider doesn't know what site you are on as the VPN switches to their IP, so e.g. if you were naughty and downloading say software from a pirate site, the owners of the software (and your internet provider) can't track you. But I suppose with the right resources e.g. police, MI5 or M16 etc could track you if they wanted to.
protonvpn.com

Can you be tracked when using a VPN? - Proton VPN | Proton VPN

A VPN will prevent many forms of online tracking, but it’s important to understand what they can and can’t do.
protonvpn.com protonvpn.com
 
excalibur2 said:
Your internet provider doesn't know what site you are on as the VPN switches to their IP, so e.g. if you were naughty and downloading say software from a pirate site, the owners of the software (and your internet provider) can't track you. But I suppose with the right resources e.g. police, MI5 or M16 etc could track you if they wanted to.
protonvpn.com

Can you be tracked when using a VPN? - Proton VPN | Proton VPN

A VPN will prevent many forms of online tracking, but it’s important to understand what they can and can’t do.
protonvpn.com protonvpn.com
Click to expand...

the thing with downloading torrents is its a two step thing, getting the torrent file itself requires access to the torrent site, that's pretty easy to get round an ISP block also obtaining the torrent seed file is not illegal so happy days. where it gets messy and you have to take care is loading the torrent seed file into your downloader, i use UTorrent. Once you load the torrent file your client will start broadcasting and connecting to other clients seeds/leachers if you are not using any form of proxy or vpn this is basically a massive red flag to your ISP this sticks out like a sore thumb and will get you noticed very quickly.

the way to stay safe is to use a good proxy like BT Guardian , this routes all your up/down torrent data through an anon proxy in some country that couldn't give a poke. I am not sure if a VPN would allow torrenting as it might violate there Ts and Cs and it would be very easy for them to detect.
 
Mr Bump said:
I am not sure if a VPN would allow torrenting as it might violate there Ts and Cs and it would be very easy for them to detect.
Click to expand...
Well Nordvpn allows you to download torrents and have been with them for years.
 
excalibur2 said:
Well Nordvpn allows you to download torrents and have been with them for years.
Click to expand...
So does Proton VNP.
I was going to use Nord but a switched on friend who used them switched to Proton so I signed up with them.
I like how it will look for the fastest connection.
The thing with torrent sites is that it depends wether it's an open tracker or private tracker.
I've been using four very when known private trackers for over te years.
I've never needed to use a VPN for those only the ones blocked by ISPs.
 
Depending on why you want a Virtual Private Network, you could always keep it simple and use the Tor tools...

en.wikipedia.org

The Tor Project - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
excalibur2 said:
Well Nordvpn allows you to download torrents and have been with them for years.
Click to expand...
I didn't say it wouldn't but I guarantee it violates there terms and conditions . Like I said you don't need a VPN to do torrenting I have never used one just a torrent proxy I use BT guardian at 5 quid a month
 
hashcake said:
So does Proton VNP.
I was going to use Nord but a switched on friend who used them switched to Proton so I signed up with them.
I like how it will look for the fastest connection.
The thing with torrent sites is that it depends wether it's an open tracker or private tracker.
I've been using four very when known private trackers for over te years.
I've never needed to use a VPN for those only the ones blocked by ISPs.
Click to expand...
The lime ‍ one for me and a few russian ones
 
Mr Bump said:
I didn't say it wouldn't but I guarantee it violates there terms and conditions . Like I said you don't need a VPN to do torrenting I have never used one just a torrent proxy I use BT guardian at 5 quid a month
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Huh! re Nordvpn.

www.safetydetectives.com

How to Torrent Safely With NordVPN: 2026 Guide

Here’s how to hide your IP address and prevent third parties, like your ISP, from seeing what you torrent by using NordVPN.
www.safetydetectives.com www.safetydetectives.com

Anyway I always thought it is not illegal to download torrents, but could be illegal using them or uploading same.
 
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excalibur2 said:
Huh! re Nordvpn.

www.safetydetectives.com

How to Torrent Safely With NordVPN: 2026 Guide

Here’s how to hide your IP address and prevent third parties, like your ISP, from seeing what you torrent by using NordVPN.
www.safetydetectives.com www.safetydetectives.com

Anyway I always thought it is not illegal to download torrents, but could be illegal using them or uploading same.
Click to expand...

torrenting isn't illegal but are you saying you don't download illegal material?
I hold my hand up 100% i do , the reason "we" hide behind vpn's or proxy services is so when companies like disney get feed up and demand action from ISPs they can and have in the past tracked illegal downloaders and taken them to court.
 
Mr Bump said:
torrenting isn't illegal but are you saying you don't download illegal material?
I hold my hand up 100% i do , the reason "we" hide behind vpn's or proxy services is so when companies like disney get feed up and demand action from ISPs they can and have in the past tracked illegal downloaders and taken them to court.
Click to expand...
Well I have done in the past o_O and as I have mentioned if you have the resouces you could track someone down. As for Disney, Sky etc there are free sites you can watch films on your Tv e.g. you could watch Shogun 2, anyway anything on Disney, Sky etc that I can't get free from a site will probably be released eventually for general viewing and I can wait.
 
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excalibur2 said:
Well I have done in the past o_O and as I have mentioned if you have the resouces you could track someone down. As for Disney, Sky etc there are free sites you can watch films on your Tv e.g. you could watch Shogun 2, anyway anything on Disney, Sky etc that I can't get free from a site will probably be released eventually for general viewing and I can wait.
Click to expand...

the difference is it all depends on what the business model of the VPN is , you see most if not all will store logs of customer data for law enforcement. A true torrent proxy like BT Guardian that I use robustly states it has ZERO logging enabled on all its proxy servers, thats important to not as if law enforcement come knocking with a warrant for instance NORD VPN they will have to hand them over, my proxy service doesnt have them to hand over.
 
h'mm on checking Nordvpn doesn't keep logs (if you can believe the internet?):-
www.01net.com

Does NordVPN Keep Logs in 2026? (In-Depth Analysis)

Is NordVPN keeping logs in 2025? No, it doesn't, and we give you proof of its no-logging policy with two security audits.
www.01net.com www.01net.com
AAMOI when you click on talkphotography do you often get the message "oops your IP has been banned", for me I have to pause my VPN for 5mins to get in then when my VPN autoconnects it's accepted and for a while no problem logging in until some time later (logging in) I get the message oops...... and guessing I assume my VPN has changed the IP address again?
 
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beyond the blue said:
Last night I bought my first ever VPN protection package (F Secure Total). As it was getting late the only thing I did to test it was to connect via a US server to look at costs of tickets on Emirates, Qatar and Singapore airlines, I then disconnected switched off my phone and went to bed. This morning I have been bombarded on Facebook by airline advertising. I thought the idea was a VPN protects you identity?
Click to expand...
If you're using the same device - unless the VPN prevents tracking in the browser you're going to get tracking regardless. All the VPN hides you from is your ISP (or whomever is running the network you're on)

Imagine the internet is a cesspool (should be easy to do) & you want to access some potable water on the other side of it. VPN simply offers a hosepipe to the water so your potable water doesn't get adulterated with turds. If the turds were present in the presumed potable water you get the turds
 
beyond the blue said:
Last night I bought my first ever VPN protection package (F Secure Total). As it was getting late the only thing I did to test it was to connect via a US server to look at costs of tickets on Emirates, Qatar and Singapore airlines, I then disconnected switched off my phone and went to bed. This morning I have been bombarded on Facebook by airline advertising. I thought the idea was a VPN protects you identity?
Click to expand...
You could suspend cookies temporarily if you want to visit some sites and how to do it in the link for different browsers, but can be annoying visiting your favourite sites so read all in the link.
 
hunnymonster said:
If you're using the same device - unless the VPN prevents tracking in the browser you're going to get tracking regardless. All the VPN hides you from is your ISP (or whomever is running the network you're on)

Imagine the internet is a cesspool (should be easy to do) & you want to access some potable water on the other side of it. VPN simply offers a hosepipe to the water so your potable water doesn't get adulterated with turds. If the turds were present in the presumed potable water you get the turds
Click to expand...
Well that explained it in terms I understand. Thank you.
 
Maybe a silly question but if you purchase a VPN for home broadband. Can it also protect your mobile at the same time while you're away from home for example?
 
dcash29 said:
Maybe a silly question but if you purchase a VPN for home broadband. Can it also protect your mobile at the same time while you're away from home for example?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about protection, but it's very handy when abroad and you want to use your Netflix etc content just as it would be at home, you simply log into a UK server and they think you are still in the UK.
 
ecoleman said:
How does the VPN protect you when downloading torrents or malicious files?
Click to expand...
The ISP or regulating bodies can't follow your trail when you use a VPN so if you use an open torrent tracker, they can't see your connection.
 
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ecoleman said:
VPN are a waste of money if you ask me.

Great at making it look like you’re somewhere else for watching Netflix but rubbish at protecting you from anything online.
Click to expand...
It's a wonder that so many large businesses spend so much on them. Pretty much all home workers in tech are using them which is just one reason why the recent proposal to ban them is being mocked.

Re the flight ads - imagine a VPN is a secure soundproof room. Nobody outside that room can hear what you are saying and nobody can get in. But of course, everybody else in the room can hear what you say. So either, you invited Facebook to the conversation (running in another tab they are in the same room) or despite it being a VPN the flight sites saved some cookies to your computer. Then when you turned on the computer without the VPN, Facebook went looking what it could snack on.

However, it's recently come to light that Meta may have actually managed to get round VPNs using an extremely clever and very illegal technique called identity bridging https://wire.com/en/blog/metas-stealth-tracking-another-eu-wake-up-call - I read another very techie article that suggests this may not be limited to Android. It was something to do with a site using a unique tag which it stores in the cloud. Meta can then find this tag, compare it with a public tag you have when you use FB and figure out where it came from.

hashcake said:
The ISP or regulating bodies can't follow your trail when you use a VPN so if you use an open torrent tracker, they can't see your connection.
Click to expand...

There's been a popular theory for a while that some of the really good VPNs are run by the world's governments - it's by far the easiest way to spy on the "bad guys"
 
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