Looking back at some posts I see you installed the cloudflare warp app. If this is still installed maybe this is the problem. If not maybe it didn't uninstall correctly.
Does anyone have any opinions on NordVPN ? I too am looking for a cheaper VPN. For the last couple of years I've been buying a licence off ebay for Freedome from F-Secure for about £16 a year, however I'm not 100% sure about their logging,thanks in advance
I have not used NordVPN, but... It's, probably, the MOST ADVERTISED VPN, the MOST MARKETED VPN. It's OBNOXIOUSLY prevalent on any web-sites about VPN's. I don't like it, but... I can't tell you about any specifics of NordVPN. Here is what I know for sure. You won't find any VPN that, from time to time, you'll have some issues.
I can't say that for IVPN and yes I know it's not cheap: https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/ivpn-discussion-and-update-thread.437171/
@zmechys Hi, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ivpn-vpn-for-privacy-security/id1446551281 Are you sure it's the same company which @Triple Helix talked? For me IVPN is here : https://www.ivpn.net/ and not MDC MEDIA CO LTD I run IVPN for several years now mostly on ArchLinux and it never failed me!!! Rules.
@zmechys I believe Rules was mearly pointing out that the link you provided (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ivpn-secure-vpn-for-privacy/id1193122683) is not the IVPN discussed here. Different app entirely. Here is the official IVPN from the Apple store. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ivpn-secure-vpn-for-privacy/id1193122683
To the OP, you mentioned you were looking at Cyberghost and Surfshark as they were amongst the cheaper end, I too am looking at spending as least as possible. I tend to think a lot of vpn review sites are motivated probably by money and not so independent. I did find one site that seems more impartial. Out of the two you mentioned it certainly comes down on favour of Surfshark. I am seriously considering giving it a go. https://restoreprivacy.com/ One thing i do find unsavoury is the fact that a lot offer longer length deals at discount prices but will auto renew 2 years later at a much inflated price.
@Wendi : The first question you should ask yourself is: What do I want to protect myself against? What's my threat scenario? Depending on your answer, a VPN may not be necessary for you at all (or, at least, not your first choice). Please read @jdd58's post about what else to consider. His recommendations are probably more important for you than using a VPN.
Mullvad, AirVPN, or IVPN. That's it. Don't be suckered by a cheap price. Go for quality over price. Personally, I use Mullvad. and have for years. No complaints here at all.
The Stack Social VPNs are much more targetted to streaming and geoblock bypassing than strict privacy. I do like the payment system where you get a digital coupon and the VPN provider doesn't see your payment details. I've tried several "lifetime subscriptions" and no real complaints considering the price. My main provider charges extra for streaming support and these cheap VPNs fill the gap. I mostly set up VPNs in routers and I never use the provider apps, just Openvpn GUI for Windows and OpenVPN connect for Android. I do take a good look at how they set things up from a server standpoint and Keep Solid is about the best one in that regard but the free VPN from Proton is much better than any of them for privacy. As I said, I don't do the apps, just generic OpenVPN that needs a .ovpn file and a user name and password to connect. The apps and extensions add to the possible risk and leaks and you're much better sticking to open source code wherever possible. So my recommendation to the OP is to get the free ProtonVPN which is pretty tightly set up. The free version does choke upload bandwidth to around 256kbs but download bandwidth is excellent for a free VPN. I'm considering getting a paid sub if there's a good black friday deal. After reading the other comments on this thread, I'll take a look at AirVPN on black friday as well. There is somewhat of a tier system to VPNs and the top tier ones all cost a bit more but have earned a real high trust rating. I like to have at least one good privacy centric VPN and several cheaper second and third tier VPNs to play around with for streaming. Good bandwidth is cheaper than good privacy these days.
I would tend to agree with you on that statement about the StackSocial VPN's. Free ? In addition, have you read about ProtonMail? AirVPN keeps no record (excellent) of your browsing activity or data. However, it is based in Italy, a member of the 14-Eyes Alliance. According to its privacy policy, when you use AirVPN, your information is protected in compliance with EU data protection laws, even if you use a server outside the EU. Further to this, it states that it is under jurisdiction of the EU, and will only respond to European Union laws, and not those of the 14-Eyes Alliance.
Wow! I've checked the price for Meta VPN with wireguard - just WOW! Now, the serious stuff. Based in PORTLAND, OREGON by ACTIVISTS() Sorry, NO WAY I would purchase ANYTHING from the PORTLAND, OR activists!!! I've just found a very cheap(!) VPN service from Romania. It's WideVPN with Wireguard. It cost only $15.99 for a two-year plan (7 devices). I'm going to try it. https://widevpn.com/
I'd like to ask you about your statement. What do you mean - QUALITY? The App quality? The KillSwitch button? The Speed? Oh, yes. It's about PRIVACY!!! How is ProtonMail - MARKETED by Snowden - good for PRIVACY? Do you think some Warrant Canary is going to hide my browsing activity if I use iVPN? N.B. As soon as someone tells me, "I'm trying to evade being tracked by C-I-A, F-B-I, N-S-A, etc... - IT'S NOT MY FIELD!!! Yes, there are some Wilderssecurity members who are into that domain - it's not me. Lots of IT real specialists and just hobbyists recommend AirVPN. It's based in ITALY, in the EU - say no more. Plus, A VPN based on OpenVPN and operated by activists and hacktivists. Don't get me wrong, but when I read or hear anything about some ACTIVISTS(!), I don't go that way! Let's explore deeper. I've tried a lot of VPN's with OpenVPN protocols, as in AirVPN. It's seriously slow in comparison to Wireguard! What would be MY REASON to purchase that AirVPN in order to browse the Internet and post some comments on WildersSecurity? P.S. I'd like to currently share an interesting fact. My Internet speed at the Router is about 870Mbps. My Internet speed on the wired computer with Chrome (plus,some extensions) is about 530Mbps - I've tried various DNS, it's almost the same. Now. Before Wireguard, my Internet speed with various tested VPN's and OpenVPN (various server locations) would vary between 70Mbps - 120Mbps. With Wireguard, my Internet speed jumped up to 240Mpbs. N.B. Everyday, I'm checking for any kind of leaks - it's my Hobby. Just recently, I've discovered that one of my VPN's - BulletVPN - can set up their VPN to be used with Wireguard App. I've downloaded Wireguard App, received several configuration schemes/tunnels from BulletVPN. Plus, I've checkmarked that "experimental WindowsNT kernel driver", and guess what. My Internet speed has jumped to about 350Mbps. It's the HIGHEST ever internet speed I've ever reached with any ENCRYPTED VPN service. What about my PRIVACY? Currently, I'm using Firefox. Here is what ipleak.com/full report shows about me. It has informed me that my Ad Block is on. I'm not in that time zone, no DNS leaks, no IP leaks, no WebGl leaks, no WebRTC leaks.
FWIW I tried the free Proton VPN for a while. The problem was the free servers were often heavily loaded and performance was poor. YMMV of course
Yes. All of those. Although, to be clear, a killswitch should never be a button. It's a feature. Agreed. That's why it's important to go with an established, reputable, VPN. That's an email services, not a VPN. Hiding your browsing activity and hiding your location/IP is not the same thing. Look in to isolation policies (process, cookies, scripts, etc.) for the former and a VPN (with perhaps a secure dns service) for the latter. I like airvpn., at least in part. I don't like their jurisdiction, but I like their logging policies. I don't like their refusal to adopt Wireguard, but I do like the technical inclination of the service. I don't like the eddie GUI, but I like what eddie can do. Agreed. That's why I don't use it, despite having two year left on my account. You don't need a VPN for that, or should I say just that. You only need a VPN if you're doing sensitive thing; p2p, work, shopping, banking, etc. The normal every day stuff that no one cares about, well, no one cares about Again, don't use a new fly-by-night VPN. Only use a reliable, reputable one. Price should never be the main factor in selecting a VPN.
Cloudfare offers DNS services, not VPN services. Don't count of a DNS service for privacy; nothing but the query will be encrypted.
Have you ever downloaded cloudflare warp and do you know what it is? I recommend you to download it and try it.
I have. It's VPN-ish. But not really a complete VPN. It's mainly a "VPN" for mobile devices. Unlike a traditional VPN, WARP is not designed to mask your IP address or hide your identity from the websites you visit, and collects way too many logs for my liking. Again, it's DNS service with encryption built-in. It's not really a VPN service; it's not built for security and anonymity but for speed.
@zmechys, I wasn't referring to BulletVPN specifically. In fact, I've never heard of it before now. It looks decent, but there are some red flags. Very old version of Wireguard Despite their claims, bad speeds (according to here and here) No mention of RAM disks, which means servers are disk-based; meaning that data is not flushed) Even on the website you mention it's ranked 182nd out of 293 I'm not saying it's bad. I have no experience with it. There are reasons why I would not use it, but to each their own.
Nothing's been proven. You stated an opinion, you did not prove it to be fact. Just because a VPN is not "cheap" doesn't make them good or bad. Likewise just be because a VPN is "cheap" doesn't make them good or bad. But "cheap VPNs don't tend to have the best reputation or notability. As I said, no site has them ranked highly (here, here, here, or here), so you know it's not just my opinion. You do seem very opinionated.