Question about using VPN and browsers
#1
So I recently got an email from my ISP Spectrum on copyright infringement. I bought Nord VPN, have been getting used to using it.

I had a question for you all: would it be good idea for extra protection to use Tor browser along with the VPN, like for browsing torrent sites and using the magnet links? Or is that overkill? Would it be fine to use a browser like Firefox so long as the VPN is active? I'm new to all this so just trying to understand more.
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#2
You don't need the VPN for the browsing part unless the sites you are trying to reach are being blocked.

You aren't trying to hide from your ISP. Your ISP doesn't care what you do as long as you pay the bills.

You just don't want your ISP assigned IP address to appear when you are actually downloading using bittorrent.

So just be sure the VPN is on when your bittorrent client is running.
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#3
(Jan 11, 2021, 22:03 pm)Moe Wrote: You don't need the VPN for the browsing part unless the sites you are trying to reach are being blocked.

You aren't trying to hide from your ISP.  Your ISP doesn't care what you do as long as you pay the bills.

You just don't want your ISP assigned IP address to appear when you are actually downloading using bittorrent.

So just be sure the VPN is on when your bittorrent client is running.

Ok, thanks for the reply. Do you think it would help if I set the VPN server to a more "torrent-friendly" country or that doesn't matter?
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#4
1. Get a VPN in a non-5eyes country - SE Asia a good place. Avoid the heavily advertized ones. Usually honey pots.
2. Ensure they do not keep logs.
3. Learn to use OpenVPN, turn off IPV6, and learn about browser and DNS leaks.
4. Use qBittorrent and bind it to the TAP,. So it will break connection if the server goes down, and drops to your local ISP.
VPNs will abort and expose your IP -from time to time. Trust none of their software - use OVPN and tap/tun binding.

little test - fire up VPN , it will change network connections. Send it a sigkill and as it aborts it will restore your default connection.
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#5
(Jan 11, 2021, 23:40 pm)JGD85 Wrote: Do you think it would help if I set the VPN server to a more "torrent-friendly" country or that doesn't matter?


The most important thing is that the VPN server you choose is not in same legal jurisdiction where you are.  After that, it is up to the policies of the VPN service.  Some restrict which of their servers can be used for torrenting.



(Jan 12, 2021, 04:39 am)waregim Wrote: 1. Get a VPN in a non-5eyes country - SE Asia a good place. Avoid the heavily advertized ones. Usually honey pots.
2. Ensure they do not keep logs.
3. Learn to use OpenVPN, turn off IPV6, and learn about browser and DNS leaks.
4. Use qBittorrent and bind it to the TAP,. So it will break connection if the server goes down, and drops to your local ISP.
VPNs will abort and expose your IP -from time to time. Trust none of their software - use OVPN and tap/tun binding.

little test - fire up VPN , it will change network connections. Send it a sigkill and as it aborts it will restore your default connection.


Loosen up the tin foil hat dude.  This is file sharing, not spycraft.


The points about IPv6 and binding are good ones though.  Both are essential to prevent your client from using anything but the VPN tunnel.
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#6
Its not spycraft, its precaution.

Though I am sure the NSA wouldnt give a tinkers damn about your porn collection, your NoFlyList score just might go up if their filters flagged some downloads like 'terrist handbooks' and Stormfront type materials.

The 'spies' of the 5Eyes are closeley intertwined, and share info.

Personally, while my VPN company is in Asia, I normally download from their USA and Canadian servers. I dont think they care about old TV series, or veterinary etexts.

And I am not about to participate in 'insurrectionist' movements, when I so much hope that both sides lose.
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#7
(Jan 07, 2021, 05:36 am)surferbroadband Wrote: The points about IPv6 and binding are good ones though.  Both are essential to prevent your client from using anything but the VPN tunnel.

I think this deserves honorable mention too:

(Jan 12, 2021, 04:39 am)waregim Wrote: Trust none of their software - use OVPN and tap/tun binding.

If you are downloading setup executables and running them rather than controlling your tunnel with ovpn, you are kind of asking for it...
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#8
I mean, if you want to get really technical, disable IPv6 and run your VPN client on the router. Then there is no way anything on the network can communicate outside of the tunnel.

But people are going outside of the context of OP's question, which is how to avoid getting unwanted toilet paper from your ISP. Though I suppose in these times, there is no such thing as unwanted TP.
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#9
I think that when it comes to using TOR, it's there for a reason and in the situation with TPB if you need TOR it's good if the https server is down, just an alternate way to connecting to the torrents on TPB.  You don't really need to use both VPN and TOR at the same time and if you're using Nord VPN then I'm sure that's fine and there shouldn't be any problems.  TOR does help a lot when things aren't working and you can check the TPB status button from time to time to see what's happening.

I've been using a VPN now for quite some time, it works very well for me, I tend to not bother switching it around too much and just stick to certain locations.  In my own country you find there's lots of blocking going on with sites, I'm sure you can reach them just fine with TOR I tend to use Firefox and Chrome a lot with a VPN and I use also Adblockers and things to help stop popups that might attack your browser.  Using Firefox with a VPN is very good and I would highly recommend it, I also like Chrome because it's very easy.  You've just got to be careful that you make sure your VPN is running when you visit pirate sites and watch out for anybody who uses your computer and make sure it's on the whole time so you don't expose your identity.  I would also watch out for leaking DNS as certain kinds of programs like Anti Virus software can leak your information of which sites you visit so just watch out for that make sure you check first to see what you are exposing over the internet.  It should just be your VPN provider that has your browsing history and nobody else.

I've always stayed safe and I've never received a letter or anything and I always make sure I'm fully protected.  I never do daft things like get really drunk and forget I'm on the computer without turning the VPN on which I would imagine some people do.  Nord VPN is pretty good and they get good reviews if you're not sure just visit the website and read about the rules of using it you can learn a lot.
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#10
(Jan 13, 2021, 21:23 pm)RodneyYouPlonker Wrote: I've always stayed safe and I've never received a letter or anything and I always make sure I'm fully protected.  I never do daft things like get really drunk and forget I'm on the computer without turning the VPN on which I would imagine some people do.  Nord VPN is pretty good and they get good reviews if you're not sure just visit the website and read about the rules of using it you can learn a lot.

I'll likely keep the VPN on all the time, doesn't seem to affect my speed much. I enabled the killswitch also. I did a DNS Leak test and it's only showing the VPN server, so I think I'm good to go.
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