I was wondering what the best VPN service provider is and any considerations I'd need to observe when getting one.

Thank you for your help.

Hint from Mod:
https://audiosex.pro/threads/need-vpn-recommendations.73889/

 

Last edited by a moderator: Jun 11, 2025 at 12:37 PM

NordVPN

HONEST NordVPN Review | The Only NordVPN Review You'll Need! (2025)

 

VPNs that operate in China, Russia, or India are the safest of all.

 

Do you care to explain why and maybe provide examples of said providers? Do you use any of them? What's your experience with that like?

Thank you.

 

I use Tailscale on unRAID locally

 

Spoiler: Source: ChatGPT KI

Hello! I'm glad you're looking for a reliable VPN. For your needs, namely a VPN that works in India, China, and Russia, I recommend using services known for their strong server coverage and good censorship bypassing.

Some of the best options are:

ExpressVPN – Known for its fast connection and strong security features.
It works well in countries with strict censorship, including China, India, and Russia.

NordVPN – Offers a wide selection of servers worldwide and has dedicated servers for censorship bypassing.

Surfshark – Cheaper but still reliable, with good features for access in restrictive countries.

Please note that in countries like China, the use of VPNs may be restricted, and it's important to be aware of the current legal regulations. It's always a good idea to check the respective terms of use and legality in your country.

 

Last edited: Jun 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM

I use NordVPN for IPTV when some blocks happen during football matches, and that's it. For anything else when away from home, I can connect to my home internet and that is safer than a third party VPN. Of course, your home router will need to support incoming VPN connections.

 

Take a look at Mullvad

 

Tailscale

 

Proton VPN is (almost) free.

 

It all depends for what purpose do you need one really.

Mullvad is probably the best all-rounder. ProtonVPN is solid, and comes with some extras like encrypted storage and e-mail, though basic Proton Mail is free.

Though remember that while VPNs can be truly no-log, for instance, this was proven by Mullvad that they had nothing to give to the police when raided, e-mail by it's nature will keep some metadata which can be given out by court order. This has happened to Proton Mail.

But if you truly need paranoid-level security, just a VPN won't do (though useful), and you need to do a ton of research. Because shit like this happens.

 

NordVPN for Anonymous Downloads

NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, which means the company is not legally obligated to store user logs.
This means they don't record any of your online activity.

NordVPN offers a secure connection that provides you with a high level of anonymity online.
With one NordVPN subscription, you can protect ten connections simultaneously—that is, ten different devices.

Most importantly, NordVPN is compatible with P2P downloads. They have dedicated servers for torrent downloads.
These servers are very fast, allowing you to download files in no time.

With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try NordVPN risk-free.

 

They all claim to be the best and work everywhere, as if, so the real test is do any of these offer free trials (no CC, signup or "moneyback guarantee" hoopjumpy contact us bs required), even if only for a few days?

 

ProtonVPN, because almost every drug dealer on the darknet I've talked to use protonmail, so they should know.

 

For most people it will come down to which one functions best at their specific location. If your use scope of naughtiness is streaming, torrenting, warez, or darknet markets (as a buyer) then any known VPN will be fine. They all have trial demo's, just find one you like.

If the need is darknet (as a seller), political dissent, whistle blowing, or otherwise masking sensitive information were their is a non-delusional threat of a real world entity with real resources at disposal then before you engage in any of that you need to spend some time learning about encrypted communication and how to obfuscate your patterns and fingerprints. The vast vast majority of people who get into shit are discovered because they reveal themselves in some form with their activities. A VPN is a lock on the front door (as regards security). Enough of a deterrent for most situations. A locked front door, however, does not stop a 3 letter agency from busting right in. Neither Warner Bros, nor Steinberg, nor your ISP has a battering ram.

 

pretty much amazing to see how Nordvpn is spammed everywhere ... even here

if you want to truly be hidden, choose a vpn based outside any EU & NATO / "Five eyes" treaty or globalist government ran country

Cryptostorm is one of them ... at least i think

https://cryptostorm.is/

 

Last edited: Jun 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM

Just ask Edward Snowden? The whole world is unsafe! The essence of an intelligence agency is to remain secret.

Spoiler: Source: ChatGPT KI --> Snowden

Edward Snowden has consistently emphasized the importance of online privacy and security, offering nuanced perspectives on the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

Snowden's Perspective on VPNs
Snowden acknowledges that VPNs can enhance privacy by encrypting internet traffic and masking IP addresses. However, he cautions that not all VPN providers are trustworthy. Some may log user activity or be susceptible to government pressure, undermining their effectiveness. He has specifically advised against using services like ExpressVPN, citing concerns over their history and potential vulnerabilities. reddit.com+1privacyjournal.net+1

Recommendations for Enhanced Privacy
For individuals seeking higher levels of anonymity, Snowden recommends using the Tor network. Tor routes internet traffic through multiple volunteer-operated servers, making it more challenging to trace. He personally uses Tor and considers it a vital privacy tool. blockchain.uvt.ro+3theregister.com+3wired.com+3blockchain.uvt.ro+1theatlantic.com+1

Additionally, Snowden advises adopting a comprehensive approach to digital security, including:theregister.com

• Utilizing secure communication tools: Such as Signal for messaging and SecureDrop for whistleblowing.
  
  
• Employing disposable or secure operating systems: Like Tails, which leaves no trace on the device.
  
  
• Implementing strong authentication methods: Including two-factor authentication and password managers like KeePassX.
  
  
• Being cautious with mobile devices: Recognizing that smartphones can continuously track physical locations. theregister.comcbsnews.com
  

Conclusion
While VPNs can offer a layer of privacy, Snowden emphasizes the importance of choosing providers with a proven commitment to user anonymity and combining VPN use with other privacy-enhancing tools like Tor and secure communication platforms. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these measures depends on individual threat models and the specific privacy needs of the user.theregister.com

Spoiler: Source: ChatGPT KI

Yes, VPNs can potentially be hacked or compromised, including by sophisticated actors such as state-level intelligence agencies. However, whether they actually are in a given situation depends on many technical and operational factors. Here's a breakdown:

How Secure Is a VPN?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is designed to encrypt your internet traffic and hide your IP address, offering privacy and some degree of anonymity. Well-configured VPNs using strong protocols (e.g. WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec) are quite secure.

But "secure" does not mean unhackable.

️‍♂️ How Secret Services Might Compromise a VPN

1. Endpoint Compromise:
   • Intelligence agencies might hack your device (phone, laptop), bypassing VPN protection completely by seeing what you do before the VPN encrypts anything.
     
     
   • They can also compromise servers at the VPN provider’s end.
2. Weak or Backdoored VPN Providers:
   • Some VPNs may log user activity, even if they claim not to.
     
     
   • Governments can legally compel companies to provide access or install backdoors.
     
     
   • Free VPNs or those based in certain jurisdictions are more likely to cooperate with authorities.
3. Traffic Analysis:
   • Even with encryption, timing and size of data packets can be analyzed to infer who’s communicating with whom (especially on a national scale with access to internet infrastructure).
4. Zero-Day Exploits:
   • Advanced agencies may exploit unknown vulnerabilities in VPN software (zero-days) to bypass encryption or inject malware.
5. Compromised Certificate Authorities (CAs):
   • If an intelligence agency can issue or spoof certificates (via a CA they control), they may perform man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.

️ How to Minimize the Risk

• Use trusted VPN providers with a no-logs policy and proven audits.
  
  
• Choose providers based outside 5 Eyes or other surveillance alliances.
  
  
• Use multi-hop VPNs or combine VPN with Tor for added anonymity.
  
  
• Keep your devices secure and updated to avoid endpoint compromise.
  
  
• Avoid free VPNs—they often come with trade-offs in security and privacy.

Bottom Line
Yes, secret services can hack VPNs—especially if they have access to the endpoints, legal authority over the VPN provider, or sophisticated tools. But a strong VPN, used properly, still significantly increases your privacy and makes casual or broad surveillance much harder.**

Let me know if you want help choosing a more secure VPN or combining VPN with other tools like Tor.

 

I am now using Tailscale: it is a free VPN dedicated to network your devices. With Tailscale I can make my home computer a server and share the music collection on the smartphone wherever I am

Tailscale VPN - free
https://tailscale.com/

Jellyfin media player - free
https://jellyfin.org/

 

@Dom_Perignon That´s exactly what I also do with Tailscale(all devices), though I´m still on Plex, but have to change for Jellyfin, since Plex changed they´re policies for free users. For music I use navidrome and Symfonium