Subj : Re: Vitrual Private Networks (VPNs)
To   : warmfuzzy
From : mug
Date : Tue Mar 03 2020 21:29:25

A VPN can be useful as long as you understand what risks are being
mitigated through its use.  IMO a VPN is most useful when your local Internet
connection is not trustworthy.

Example, you stop at a mom 'n pop coffee shop and want to use their "free
WiFi" to do some communicating.  You could just hop on the network and assume
all your services use HTTPS and that your device validates all certificates
properly.  Or, you could get on the questionable WiFi and immediately connect
to your VPN.  This tunneling feature will protect your communications from the
local WiFi clients and network provider.

Some people in less fortunate parts of the world may suffer municipal or
state sponsored filtering of free speech.  In this scenario a VPN may be
helpful so your traffic can egress from a country that does not filter free
speech.

I have never paid for a VPN service and I would be extremely wary of any
Internet service labeled "free" because, well, we know that when something is
free the product is usually you.  Whether or not they're forthright about it
is a whole other question.

In the past I've used openvpn with much success, however about 3 years ago I
switched to running WireGuard.  I have a VM in AWS (LightSail actually)
that's super cheap, like ~$3/month and it's the VPN endpoint for all my
devices.  It helps me feel more confident when I'm on a low-trust final mile
Internet connection.

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