My VPN didn't protect me

[freetobe]

Hi,

So I'm furious right now.

I'm waiting for a manager from Private Internet Access to contact me.

Their first level support is almost always rude & condescending, so it's often hard for me to actually get a REAL manager when I need one b/c most times first level support isn't very helpful for me.

Why am I furious you ask?

Well I just got a DMCA from my ISP re: Outlander Season 1 episode 5 (Sony's show) & it was while my VPN was running as it's always running & yes, the kill switch was on & it was like at 05:00 when I was sleeping.

Just to confirm, if I watch the TV show on a computer NOT protected by a VPN, can they somehow trace it?

What's really screwed up is that I had already deleted that episode, unless I deleted it last night when I got home, there's no way for me to remember. I have other episodes that were uploading to hit my ratio, but not that one. I've deleted them all now. <sigh>

About 1-2 weeks ago there was a brief 1-2 minutes that the VPN wasn't working & my utorrent was up, but I Xed out of the utorrent as soon as I realized it.

The notice specifically says it was yesterday.

Question - could they have found out a week ago & only sent out the notice yesterday? They even gave details like how large the file is, so I assume this all went down yesterday.

So my point is, the VPN clearly isn't working which I'm NOT happy about & I was using a CND server as that's what Private Internet Access told me I should do vs. using an American one.

Do I need to respond to my ISP b/c of course they are threatening to shut down my access & this is the 2nd time now I got caught, the first time was before I started using a VPN & they shut it down without any notice & gave me a warning.

I mean the ISP can tell you are DLing & ULing a lot, they have to be able to see that, right?

Thanks for any help.

[kjf]

So I'm furious right now.

I'm waiting for a manager from Private Internet Access to contact me.

Their first level support is almost always rude & condescending, so it's often hard for me to actually get a REAL manager when I need one b/c most times first level support isn't very helpful for me.

Why am I furious you ask?

Well I just got a DMCA from my ISP re: Outlander Season 1 episode 5 (Sony's show) & it was while my VPN was running as it's always running & yes, the kill switch was on & it was like at 05:00 when I was sleeping.

If you got the notice from your ISP then you were not using the VPN when you were spotted in the swarm.

This is hardly something you can blame on PIA and at best all their customer service can help you with is making sure the VPN is working at all. They hold no liability in this, so if you are going to continue speaking with them, be considerate of that.

Just to confirm, if I watch the TV show on a computer NOT protected by a VPN, can they somehow trace it?

Nobody can trace what you are viewing unless you are streaming it.

The notice specifically says it was yesterday.

Question - could they have found out a week ago & only sent out the notice yesterday? They even gave details like how large the file is, so I assume this all went down yesterday.

Without seeing the notice I can't say if they are stating that they spotted that IP in the swarm yesterday, or if they sent the notice yesterday. It doesn't really matter because your ISP believes the reported IP was assigned to you at that time it was spotted.

So my point is, the VPN clearly isn't working which I'm NOT happy about & I was using a CND server as that's what Private Internet Access told me I should do vs. using an American one.

Again, making sure your bittorrent client is properly routing traffic through the VPN is your responsibility. Once it is properly configured it does work.

They are correct to advise you not to use an American exit server. It is generally better to pick an exit server in a country other than the one you reside.

Do I need to respond to my ISP b/c of course they are threatening to shut down my access & this is the 2nd time now I got caught, the first time was before I started using a VPN & they shut it down without any notice & gave me a warning.

Do not respond unless it is absolutely necessary, and if you do have to respond, deny all knowledge.

I mean the ISP can tell you are DLing & ULing a lot, they have to be able to see that, right?

Yes. You cannot hide bandwidth usage from your ISP.

Using a VPN just means they can't see what you are using the bandwidth for, not that they are ever looking to begin with.

[freetobe]

So are you saying I shouldn't have my VPN & torrent running 24/7?

I don't sit there & stare at my laptop to make sure the VPN is working 24/7. Anyone who requires that must be NUTS!

And yes I hold any VPN responsible if their product doesn't work. This isn't the first time I've had problems with their software & every time I have to contact their support it's min. 30-60 minutes to fix the problem. If that happens every 2 weeks, that's my time wasted.

If the green light is on, I assume it's working. I shouldn't have to babysit their software & second guess whether the green light doesn't REALLY mean it's working.

Just last month I spent an hour (twice) dealing with issues & their software.

So along with rude techies who also refuse to get me the manager, I'm going to start looking for another VPN <sigh>

And here I was recommending them to everyone. Well that's going to stop NOW!

Here's a portion of what was said...

http://i972.photobucket.com/albums/ae209...8e94f8.jpg

Thanks for your help!

[kjf]

Unless your client and/or VPN software is configured to prevent network activity when the VPN drops or disconnects, then no, you shouldn't leave your client running 24/7 unless you are OK seeding without the VPN.

No VPN provider on the planet is going to guarantee 24/7 uninterrupted connectivity. If your client or VPN software doesn't provide the necessary functionality, you'll have to manually configure your firewall to ensure your client only ever uses the VPN connection.

[freetobe]

PIA has a kill switch. I will never go w/ a VPN that doesn't have that. That is ALWAYS turned on. I was under the impression that would always kick in & I've seen it kick in many times. I even used to have problems getting my own IP back until I was told how to do that (in Oct.). So I have no idea what happened, all I know is that I'm in this terrible situation now & I certainly didn't do anything, I wasn't even in front of the computer at the time, I was in bed.

Did you see the SS I sent you? Should I respond back to them?

Thanks

[ddoking007]

well speaking from experience here all long as you have something going to or from your computer to the net (be it video, audio, text, or even streaming) they can find your IP if you keep sending data I only let my client run till either it hits 5 shares or 48 hours never any more cause then I run the risk of getting cause even more.

they can find your IP in the IRC chats to ya if you wondering what I mean by text chat...

[freetobe]

well speaking from experience here all long as you have something going to or from your computer to the net (be it video, audio, text, or even streaming) they can find your IP if you keep sending data I only let my client run till either it hits 5 shares or 48 hours never any more cause then I run the risk of getting cause even more.

they can find your IP in the IRC chats to ya if you wondering what I mean by text chat...

IRC chats? What IRC chats???

Are you saying even with a VPN they can find me???

[ddoking007]

well speaking from experience here all long as you have something going to or from your computer to the net (be it video, audio, text, or even streaming) they can find your IP if you keep sending data I only let my client run till either it hits 5 shares or 48 hours never any more cause then I run the risk of getting cause even more.

they can find your IP in the IRC chats to ya if you wondering what I mean by text chat...

IRC chats? What IRC chats???

Are you saying even with a VPN they can find me???

depending if the on VPN yes

some will willingly give up your IP for copyright holders but as long as your VPN doesn't put up with the DMCA BS you should be fine...