I currently use ExpressVPN and find it ok. In the past I’ve used Mullvad and AirVPN and tbh I think they were all fine.
However, I would probably trust a provider more if there has been an actual case where police tried getting the logs and the VPN provider gave them nothing.
For me I really distrust NordVPN because this provider is just so overshilled everywhere - like even on national TV NordVPN have ads, which for me is just a red flag.
Curious here to know what the consensus here is about the different VPN providers.
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Mullvad.
Shit you can pay for the service by anonymously mailing them cash.
You don’t even create an account with them either.
You technically do, but the account is literally a random number that you attach payments to.
so what’s the benefit here? just to not broadcast to your credit card/crypto chain that you purchased it? i assume they still have logs with the ip address you’re connecting from
They don’t keep logs, and are audited to prove that. When you sign up, you get an ID number, they don’t ask for your name or email or anything. There’s no password either.
i’ll have to read their audit. thanks for the pointer
They also support payment in Monero so you don’t even need your crypto chain
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Their servers are also RAM only, with no permanent storage at all. They load the OS and software from a network every time they need to reboot a server.
It’s physically impossible for them to keep logs.
interesting. thanks for the info
Could you give some pointers on how you can mail them cash anonymously?
You put cash in an envelope, write their address on it, apply sufficient postage and don’t include a return address. Or if the postal services in your home country require one, put any random address on the envelope.
Together with the physical cash, you include a payment token that’s randomly generated on their website to link it with the correct account. Done.
Thanks!
this
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Which is what I did, unlike you.
That.
Mullvad gets my vote as the goat. I’ve tried Proton and I get half the speed. No port forwarding is the only issue.
I’ve tried Proton and I get half the speed
I’m jealous
To clarify, Protons’ free tier is already enough to get the most out of my bandwidth.
My vote goes to Mullvad. Possibly Proton VPN as a second contender.
IVPN, Mullvad, or Proton VPN.
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Mullvad
Mullvad got raided in sweden not sure if recently but they have a post about it.
They complied with the law and provided nothing as they don’t store logs is my understanding but after a quick circle jerk Swedish pigs fucked right off. I think they posted the docs
However, I would probably trust a provider more if there has been an actual case where police tried getting the logs and the VPN provider gave them nothing
That literally is what happened with Mullvad.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/mullvad-vpn-hit-with-search-warrant-in-attempted-police-raid
AirVPN if you need port forwarding. Mullvad if you don’t.
AirVPN user here - would also recommend but would note they have not been audited and it does not seem likely they will be as staff does not seem interested.
They did though disclose a 2015 incident where servers were seized and no info was found. So there is some evidence their no log policy is more then just words although your still only getting their version of the event.
PIA have better track record and offer port forwarding
Not really. Both offer port forwarding and have real world tests of their no log policy but PIA is chaulk full of controversies. Including being owned by Kape, running a smear campaign against Proton, and hiring known scammers.
Isn’t PIA also owned by the guy who bought Freenode?
It was owned by his company (London Trust Media) until Kape bought it in 2019. PIA was $30M in debt, which was probably a big reason for the sale.
https://www.techradar.com/news/cyberghost-owner-buys-pia-for-dollar955m-to-create-vpn-giant
I haven’t seen any real world tests for air, only what air have claimed, no external sources
The server seizure is still a real world test. If you chose not to believe it due to no outside confirmation that’s totally fair.
Even so, I would argue there is no evidence of anything deceptive going on at AirVPN or any reason not to trust them whereas PIA has an objectively sketchy past and known awful ownership.
I’m an AirVPN user so obviously my opinion on this is not exactly objective.
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if you need port forwarding i would just buy a seedbox
Gotta wait for the seedbox to dl the file THEN dl it again to your local net. Saves time and work to just run at home.
fair
I run openvpn on my seedbox
Windscribe made an interactive VPN Relationship Map if you’re interested, besides listing all the connections between companies if you click on a provider it should list any publicly available cases where the logs handed over.
Proton is pretty good
I’ve had great success with proton
The comments here are clear. Mullvad is the champion. Mullvad, what is best in life? “To evade your enemies’ servers, see their tracking wilt before you, and to hear the lamentation of the blocked ads.”
Your gut reaction about Nord is correct. They completely mishandled a breach a few years ago and never did anything to even attempt to regain trust. I care more about the transparency here than I do about the attack itself.
@thesmokingman @GreyTechnician
Valuable lesson in not buying 69 years super discounted plans.
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@whale FAFO is how peasants get educated since good info is hard to come buy or outright is not available. we are always step behind unless people actively get involved in communities but even then…
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Been using proton vpn for a few years now, works great. They made a better Linux client recently too, so it’s just been smooth sailing from the get go for me.
Their new Linux client was a massive upgrade
+1
does the new Linux client support forwarding? I’d love to use that via CLI for my little seedbox
There is a port forwarding toggle, I haven’t tested it out though
I am currently writing my master thesis on this topic. The three beat choices out there are, Mullvad, ProtonVPN, IVPN. Plus Windscribe for an honorable mention (they have by far the funniest marketing team).
Neither one of them works in China, so I hope your thesis explains as to why they are “best” if a malevolent government can simply instruct local ISPs to block the client-server handshake nationwide and thus expose all customers relying on encrypted communication to crackdowns by local authorities.
I was not aware, but thanks!
Can i have access to your thesis? Is be very interested to give it a read
Appreciate it, but I am sadly still just in the planning and researching stage. I will start writing it in January and will be finished in June. If I can publish it without my name, then I will do so here on Lemmy 👍
You could give read access to the final draft and redact your name from the paper. Thanks for considering!
Care to give a deeper explanation and explain why not airvpn, or expressvpn?
Not done with my thesis yet… But, ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies, who also own PIA and Cyberghost. To me that’s already sketchy as I wouldn’t trust a company that owns three of the same services, feels like they are all the same but layered with different UIs, although I cannot prove that.
Furthermore, Kape Technologies used to be Crossrider, a company that were connected to malware distribution.
Although not a peer reviewed source, I hope to dive deeper into this:
