VPN INSIDER'S MYTH-BUSTING! Separating Fact from Fiction: How VPNs Really Work

As a VPN Service Provider, I can tell you the truth about VPN's. They are not the end-all. They do not protect everything. And they can be vulnerable IF you don't understand the limitations. This is a particularly important discussion for people in Brazil who are now threatened with a $9000 daily fine for using a VPN. Can you get caught if you use it? What can the government see? What does it really protect? Are there substitutes like iCloud Private Relay or other alternatives?

VPN's are banned in other countries like China and Saudi Arabia. Can you use it anyway?

-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
Merch Store
-----------------------------------

I'm the Internet Privacy Guy. I'm a public interest technologist. I'm here to educate. You are losing your Internet privacy and Internet security every day if you don't fight for it. Your data is collected with endless permanent data mining. Learn about a TOR router, a VPN , antivirus, spyware, firewalls, IP address, wifi triangulation, data privacy regulation, backups and tech tools, and evading mass surveillance from NSA, CIA, FBI. Learn how to be anonymous on the Internet so you are not profiled. Learn to speak freely with pseudo anonymity. Learn more about the dangers of the inernet and the dangers of social media, dangers of email.

I like alternative communication technology like Amateur Radio and data communications using Analog. I'm a licensed HAM operator.

Please follow me on
Odysee
Rumble

[keitha.]

As a retired Network Architect, this is one of the best tutorials I've ever seen on the subject of individual use VPN.

[mauriciodasilva]

Brazilian here. After this Elon Musk battle with the Supreme Court, i woke for the privacy problem. I am taking several measures to protect myself and your channel has been a great help! Thank you very much! I am learning a lot!

[sugaith]

here in Brazil a 9k fine would literally ruin the life of 90% of people

[restfulplace]

It’s incredible any government would ban privacy. Truly a sign of evil.

[DJJS]

*I have a one single rule when it comes to any VPN, if any of them advertise (No Logs) but when you go to there terms and conditions and they have tons of reason they collect data it’s than it’s an instant no!. Tons of VPNs do this, I highly recommend to always read the terms and conditions always!!!*

[himanshusojitra]

I came here after Google recommend me this channel😂😂😂. Google knows my interest that I am interested in hiding my privacy. Google says OK I have collected all your data now you can hide your privacy.😂😂😂

[kennethsmith]

This video is why I trust "you Rob" thanks for being transparent 🤘🏼

[gohrt]

Interesting rob, and it is looking more and more likely that all these things will be needed as we progress

[shyamdevadas]

I lived in China ten years ago and used a VPN to get through "the Great Firewall". It worked, but not for long. The Central Government put so many resources into hunting down and shutting down the ports that the most you could count on was a few days. (Sometimes, a few hours.) After that, you had to change servers and connection protocols. I got good at it and was generally able to get through. But, it was a hassle. My understanding this that it is far harder to do this in the PRC today. Whether Brazil is willing to go this far remains to be seen. Then again, I was using my VPN mostly to access YouTube, Netflix, etc.. A lot of these countries have their own local or regional equivalents. (Ex. No one in China pays to stream movies.) So, in the end Brazilians may not care enough to try to access Twitter. A lot of the country is too poor to afford a VPN service. Among the others who can, they generally use whatever works for staying in touch with other Brazilians. If this only damages some of Twitter's services, it may be enough for most Brazilians to dump Twitter.

[shacker]

It’s all very important that while using a VPN, that you are not leaking any DNS traffic that can point back to you.

[hhk]

I work in cyber security and I love how simply you explained this.

[NoEggu]

Rob, the Brazil government could see who is sending traffic to a VPN (without knowing, yet, that it is a VPN), by seeing that, aside from an initial DNS lookup by the user (for the client to connect to the VPN), no other DNS lookups have been requested by the user. And yet, lots of data passing between the user and the ISP. Or am I mistaken?

I do not know the laws in Brazil. But when they outlaw X, and they have no freedom of speech, then I would imagine that the Brazil police might be ordered to round up anyone using a VPN service, or to break in to people's homes who are suspected of using a VPN service. Thus, if my first paragraph is correct, the citizens of Brazil might get their doors kicked in if they have only 1 DNS lookup, followed by streams and streams of encrypted data, 100% of which is going to a single IP address in a foreign country.

And it is only a matter of time before the Brazil authorities identify who owns the target IP address.



Logs:
Courts can order a VPN service provider to keep logs, and also issue a gag order, not allowing the VPN service provider to reveal the court order for them to keep logs.



I see VPN services as glorified proxy servers, that are highly attractive to governments.

There are legitimate uses for VPN services. But I would never trust one where my freedom would be at stake, and be at the whim of an anonymous VPN employee handing over my data to the authorities.

[SavedByTheBloodOfJesus.]

This is why I have been using your VPN for almost two years Rob!!!! I also have your email and phone services. I cannot thank you enough for doing what you do Sir!

[kwaki-serpi-niku]

I don't particularly prefer to use a VPN because it masks my location. I'm more looking for the encryption of my internet traffic so that my ISP, for instance, doesn't know what I'm doing at any point in time.

[christophersoutherlin]

First, does the VPN actually own its network and servers?
Second, many VPN companies claim to be located in a non-Five Eyes nation, but this is a front. I personally knocked on the door a VPN company, and no VPN company was there. A Google Map search can find this.
Third, many VPN companies use virtual servers with virtual IPs to save cost. They claim you're connecting to a specific nation, but don't be surprised if your data is being routed to an entirely different location. In one instance, while in the USA and connecting to a nearby USA server, my data was being routed to Japan with huge delays!

[thepurplesmurf]

My main reason to use a VPN is to block ads. Services like Twitch force ads on you based on your geo location, determined by your IP. If you come from a rich country with a rather common language, a lot of companies run ads on platforms like Twitch. One example is German (I'm originally from Germany, living in Switzerland). If I'm connected to a German ISP, Twitch runs ads 2-3 times per hour with ads as long as 3 minutes. This is annoying to say the least. If I switch to a Swiss ISP, ads already go down to maybe 1-2 ads per day, usually 30 seconds in length. If I connect to a tiny country (e.g. Luxembourg) or a poor country (Albania), I see an 10 second ad maybe once every 2 months.
It's sad, that the Internet became with global ad platform. But there are ways around it, for the moment.

[NathanGregoryAuthor]

I used your IP-Check tool to test my IP connection on (1) Comcast, no VPN, (2) Using a private VPN that is served out of a data center I control, and (3) Proton VPM. In all three cases, your tool says I am NOT using a VPN. Clearly, my VPNs are not very private. I would love to see a more in depth discussion of why this might be the case.

[bindiberry]

Make sure your own private vpn servers allow you to configure it to clear all connection data after you use them..

[ryanqvincent]

Excellent information about the realities of VPN use. Obviously, they really are a useful part of our 'security layer'.
As a seperate topic I visited the 'Geo' website. It showed that I could be located by 'wireless' data. Ouch.
I realized I needed to switch off 'Geolocation' from my browser. Embarrasing, not a major issue for me. However, it was an excellent reminder about us needing to be careful about how we use the 'internet' as regards privacy with web browsers.
Thanks for all your work. It really is appreciated. :)

[CatsAndCode]

13 years in devops, and over 20 years in dev/IT. this is literally the first time i heard the term "VPN Insiders".
Just a little note Rob: If a company/service/agency are using a real good security system they should be able to filter "Source" and "Origin" without guessing. That way...you cant "cheat" the destination. In fact, most of those company/service/agency "encourage" that the first line of defense would be more open than the basic generic servers. Why? To be able to collect as much data they can and... spy.