You canāt just tell people toĀ āget a VPN (Virtual Private Network)ā. Buying a VPN is like buying a house. Itās very very important. Having no VPN or having a āwrongā one can seriously damage your life. Especially for Americans because their privacy laws are garbage. I am going to try explain why you should get a VPN but bare with me, I am from Germany and my English is far from perfect.Ā
Letās start with a simple test.
Click this link here:Ā https://whatismyipaddress.com/
It will tell your IP adres, your ISP (internet service provider), and your location. The location might not be very accurate, but then again, itās just a simple website. Imagine what the government can do!
So basically, everyone can find out where you live. But there is more danger. Your ISP. Your ISP logs your every move online and they are required to keep it in case the government wants access to it (or if a 3rd party wants to buy your data (yikes). They have everything. What websites you visit. How long you stay on a website. What you download.Ā Your search terms. European laws are more subtle on this but if you are from the US you are #@*#&, especially because Trump doesnāt support the open internet. Itās scary but maybe in the future you canāt get a job because the recruiter knows your searched onĀ āhow to deal with depressionā or anythings else thatās supposed to be private because itās your f*cking right. Or you get a $100k fine because you pirated a movie 15 years ago. You need a VPN. Youāre dumb for not using one. but what does a VPN do?
A VPN encrypts all your data so if it were be intercepted no one canĀ ācrack the codeā and damage your privacy.Ā
Usually being online goes like this (simplified): Your computer ā-> ISP (āā> keeps data āā> sells it)
But with a VPN it goes like: Your computer āā> VPN (encrypts data)āā> ISP (ISP canāt see shit)
Furthermore, a VPN hides your IP address and location by giving you another IP address located in Spain for example (you can often choose from a list and change as many times as you want). Ā
Now that you know why you should get a VPN and what is does it is important to educate yourself because people often choose the wrong VPN. VPN providers are also businesses and have to obey the law. If you choose a VPN provider located in the US then you are throwing your money away because the laws in the US shits on your privacy. If the US gov wants the provider to give all their logs they have to obey.Ā The ISP Ā still canāt see what you are doing online and sell your data but the US gov can interfere with your VPN provider so NEVER CHOOSE A PROVIDER LOCATED IN THE US.Ā
I just wanted to make that very clear so my followers donāt buy false security.
There is still more danger!Ā
Who says your VPN provider isnāt selling your data? You need to check their logging policy. Do they keep logs? If yes, what for? For how long do they keep them? Tip: Choose a provider who doesnāt keep logs
More about lawĀ
The US is part of the Five Eyes program (the worst):Ā Ā
The Five Eyes, often abbreviated as FVEY, is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. These countries are bound by the multilateral UKUSA Agreement, a treaty for joint cooperation in signals intelligence (source)
There is also a Nine Eyes (bit better) and Fourteen Eyes Program (better).Ā
You donāt want a VPN provider who is located in one the Five Eyes countries.Ā
If you had to choose go for a provider located in a country thatās part of the Fourteen Eyes Program or even better, go for a country that isnāt part of any program!Ā
I know this is a shitty explanation and please pardon my english but now itās time to do your own research. Take your privacy seriously. Maybe WWIII breaks out and you get killed for liking the āwrongā FB-page. Ā
Go to this website:Ā https://thatoneprivacysite.net/simple-vpn-comparison-chart/
Make sure that your future VPN provider both has green boxes for Privacy Jurisdiction and Privacy Logging.Ā
I recommend ovpn.se and trust.zone. ovpn is located in Sweden so they are part of the 14 Eyes Program and they keep minimal logs. Their business ethics, however, are alright.Ā
Trustzone is located in the Seychelles. No country can interfere and their privacy jurisdiction is the best you can get. The US want your data but needs to get it from Trustzone? The Seychelles will simply give them the finger and wave them goodbye. However, this makes this provider very appealing for people who torrent and criminals because they keep no logs (and that is how it shoud be) Also, Ā there are almost no marketing efforts so this provider is one the cheapest)
Also, often providers such as ExpressVPN are being calledĀ āThe Bestā on websites about VPNs but know that this is just marketing which also makes those provider more expensive (and they too shit on your privacy)
This must be the worst article you have ever read but please, please take your privacy very seriously.
EDIT: I got many people asking me which provider I use. For those who want to know, I use Trust Zone. They offer a free 3-day trial with no strings attached. But still do your own research!Ā
