Please help me with VPNs. In simple terms.

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by Mr Badger, Sep 22, 2022.

  1. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    Just fitted an Amazon Firestick to the tv and can get all the usual gumph on it but I'm wanting to put a sports app on to it and all the way through the various web pages etc it goes on about vpns. I think I follow what this means but in simple terms can you explain why I should get one (according to the web advice) and if so which one do I choose and does it cost much for what it supposedly does.
    I've downloaded LiveNet.tv. Are there any others you'd recommend?
     
    Mr Badger, Sep 22, 2022
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  2. Austiniho

    Austiniho Well-Known Member

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    A vpn is a way of disguising who you are and where you’re from on the internet.
     
    Austiniho, Sep 22, 2022
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  3. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    He wants to crack one off in the living room whilst his wife is out shopping.
     
    Stephen Dawson, Sep 22, 2022
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  4. Rev

    Revvie P Well-Known Member

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    I use surfshark. £60 for 2 years inc vat and 80% cashback on pre-VAT price via Quidco.
    Install the app on your firestick from the app store. Couldn't be easier to setup.

    If you want to do this but don't have aQuidco account, PM me for a referral link then I'll get a little kick back too
     
    Revvie P, Sep 22, 2022
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  5. Rev

    Revvie P Well-Known Member

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    It reroutes your web connection through their servers which don't keep logs of what you've accessed. They have servers across the world so you can make it look like you're connecting from overseas, making it harder to trace where you actually are and harder for UK ISPs to filter out certain sites.
     
    Revvie P, Sep 22, 2022
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  6. bri

    briscatyke Well-Known Member

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    Don’t access the BBC website whilst on a VPN though. For a corporation that couldn’t possibly survive on advertising alone you’ll see no end of advertising.....
     
    briscatyke, Sep 22, 2022
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  7. Farnham_Red

    Farnham_Red Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    Thats the answer that is most relevant to the OP but its a partial answer

    A VPN is a secure private connection to a server. Think of it like a separate dedicated cable directly into a server somewhere. I use one everytime
    I access the network of my US parent company. I can use it to appear as if I am in the USA by accessing the internet direct from the server in Boston and so potentially access websites that are blocked to people in the UK but allowed for people in the USA ( I dont do this this way mindyou)

    Lots of businesses use them either individually as I mentioned above or as ways of connecting offices together. When I worked in the UK office we had permanent VPNs to several other offices so anyone could log in to a computer in for example Singapore or Boston just from their desk

    As to the original posters question there are quite a few providers that allow you to connect to their servers and then launch out to the internet from there using a VPN - this allows you to pretend you are in another country, but there are also legitimate reasons as well. Its much more secure if you are on a public network and means no one can intercept your transmissions always a risk on a public WIFI for example.

    I use Windscribe ( https://windscribe.com/ ) which you can use for free -but with a limit on the data and servers you can access but its good enough to try out, or you can pay for a better service unlimited data and many more servers to connect to a bit more expensive than surfshark at $65 per year
     
    Farnham_Red, Sep 22, 2022
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  8. Rev

    Revvie P Well-Known Member

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    I had aimed on the side of simple and relevant but yes, once you've got one and understand it, they have many uses and you'll find you use it for more than just your firestick.
     
    Revvie P, Sep 22, 2022
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  9. Marc

    Marc Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    In the simplest terms possible, what you’re streaming is illegal, and a VPN prevents people being able to see who you are
     
    Marc, Sep 22, 2022
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  10. Wat

    Watcher_Of_The_Skies Well-Known Member

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    Adblocker is your friend. I occasionally view websites without one just for the hilarity value.
     
    Watcher_Of_The_Skies, Sep 22, 2022
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  11. Wat

    Watcher_Of_The_Skies Well-Known Member

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    I recently switched from Mullvad to Proton VPN. It's an upfront payment of £108 a year but aside from the excellent VPN I get multiple email addresses, encrypted calendar and cloud storage.

    If you're choosing a VPN primarily to avoid being blocked then choose carefully as some companies like Netflix will block VPNs meaning you can't access foreign content. Fwiw Not had that issue with Proton.
     
    Watcher_Of_The_Skies, Sep 22, 2022
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  12. Boaty Tyke

    Boaty Tyke Well-Known Member

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    I use ipvanish $40 a year with a 30 day free trial. Always been fine.
     
    Boaty Tyke, Sep 22, 2022
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  13. andytyke

    andytyke Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    Most of the websites insisting you need a vpn will link you to a vpn site via their referral link. So they make cash from every purchase.

    A vpn ok if you want to connect as if from a different country eg for iFollow. Never used one for downloading, streaming etc
     
    andytyke, Sep 23, 2022
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  14. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    I use a VPN if I fancy a crafty w@nk before 9pm.
     
    Stephen Dawson, Sep 23, 2022
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  15. Brush

    Brush Well-Known Member

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    A VPN hides your location and allows you to pretend you're in another country. For example, you could use one to fool iFollow and allow you watch a Saturday afternoon match. It also gives greater security.
     
    Brush, Sep 23, 2022
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  16. Farnham_Red

    Farnham_Red Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    Not sure if its a bug but my iFollow is offering me a video pass for £10 tomorrows game without any VPN so it seems you dont need to pretend to be abroad. -Not interested as I am actually planning to go to the match but its a bit strange
     
    Farnham_Red, Sep 23, 2022
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  17. Brush

    Brush Well-Known Member

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    Might see you there then. I normally sit in the Ponty towards the West Stand. If the wind is in the right direction you occasionally get a whiff of the famous West stand Bogs...:eek:
     
    Brush, Sep 23, 2022
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  18. kor

    korky Well-Known Member

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    i'd second surfshark too, been wayne king anonymously with em for years
     
    korky, Sep 23, 2022
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