Using Virtual Machines for Privacy and Security

This is a discussion of how a Virtual Machine installation can help with your privacy and security on a computer. I will also demonstrate an installation of a VM on Windows 10 with Ubuntu as the VM. Then the video compares the speed of watching a Youtube video on a VM vs a native OS. This will indicate if there's a significant overhead to running a VM.

I also discuss the different benefits of a VM with privacy and security and its limitations. Additionally I will introduce you to a specific secure Linux distro, intended for Virtual Box and that is WHONIX.

Some discussion on how to license Windows 10 in a Virtual Machine
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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! (Previously LBRY.tv)

[anantha]

I have been using VirtualBox and VMWare Virtual machines for over 8 years. I used to install Windows 10 virtual machine on Debian 10. Your machine is so safe you can be free from worries of virus, malware attacks and be safe

[alexj]

Good work. VMs really are brilliant. I've been using windows forever but going to switch to Linux and VMs.

[petakarini]

-Ive been watching yourvideos for sometime down here in NZ, very informative, as a relative "newbie" as they say, .most of what ive learnt if not all has been through watching your videos, .thanks so much for helping us all keep safe online, ..Thanks

[trueriver]

7:08 I disagree with running the host network via a VPN. It makes more sense to me to run the virtual machine on the VPN. That is simply done by installing the VPN on the VM. There is no problem doing that: the VM thinks it is talking to a wired network connected to the web, and is quite happy to set itself up there.

That way the host and the VM have different IP addresses, as seen by the bad guys. Do stuff on the host that you are happy to be tracked with (whatever that may be -- for some that will be an almost empty set -- Rob might only use the host for offline work like video editing) and do stuff in the VM that you want tracked separately.

A more advanced approach would be to have VPN routing on both but using different IP addresses, if your VPN provider allows that (ideally needs the host VPN to pass through the traffic destined for the VM, to avoid the extra delay caused by the traffic going through two tunnels)

[brandonzawaski]

Great step by step tutorial and excellent selection of non distracting background music. My blood pressure is lower already!

[rosemarieosborn]

I have Whonix on a virtualbox, I also have MX Linux as my operating system. I swear by it. I love it.

[wayneholzer]

You are spot on about using VM's but I will add one thing that adds another 2 blankets of protection is running a VPN on the host system then running a VPN to a different server in the VM of course there are always risks even with VPN's but it doubles your encryption a native OS VPN with a VM VPN so you further protect both machines so to speak hope that helps. Some data centers do this technique with their VM's to protect sensitive data further.

[QuikRay]

Thanks Rob. I was thinking my privacy would be better running several tasks in different linux VMs. It's always nice to have confirmation from another techie.

[ArsenicShooter]

I got a OpenSUSE server running on the xen kernel module and several computers using different os through virt-manager and all behind a hardware firewall with ipfire running through a vpn. The dom0 keeps everything inside the box and separated from the hosts and I always do a first backup after I installed everything I need and then other backups on a regular basis. The only thing that could go wrong is a hardware failure 😄

The good thing is that you can clone any vm image for use of the same os by several pc’s at the same time. You can also cross-use the os installed on the hypervisor. That’s so cool 😎

[charlesrunthesum]

of mine hacked for many years...Feds really went wrong on me and know when I expose them it will be ugly...So its a daily fight to use the internet...In my quest to get some use on line many people tell me just what you say...there getting in. Only difference is you set up admitting that...thats the best approach I've ever heard..thanx for posting...

[NICKELGHANDI]

VirtualBox is a pretty solid program. It is my go to for graphical Linux VM's because of how well it handles video compared to MS Hyper-V. I did a video on this a long while back and did a video more recently about sharing files between the host and guest.
You can also use a VM as your router and DNS and really control your network.

[svka]

I've been using Linux in a virtual machine on a Windows PC. Been a good setup so far.

[steevjobs]

thx 4 da music, gotta have instrumental music while gaming, thx for the vid, it answered the question "can my OS be offline while my VM is online" now that would be a gr8 feature, my OS disconnected from the world and my VMs used to connect to it. imagine a world where u didnt have to update windows10, no windows 10 phoning home, how perfect.

[tomasr]

Rob, you are awesome! Just thought I’d let you know. Keep up the excellent content... Much appreciated!

[melgibson]

If you are running linux, gnome boxes by far is the easiest setup. In windows there are some good virtual android systems you can use to create things like a google or facebook account, combined that with a temporary phone number and a famous actors

[Recon_Racing]

wow, I didn't realize Mr.Zulu was such a technical person. Just kidding, thanks for the info buddy!

[memeconnect]

i really really wanna see you on PowerfulJRE podcast i think that could be one of the most interesting podcast ever and eye opening to many people, keep up the good job :)

[matthewsjardine]

It doesn't appear to be too tough on the CPU, but it does hit the RAM quite hard. Most laptops you buy these days still only provide 8GB, even the premium ultra-portables. This just makes it quite clear, if you want to run VMs somewhat regularly, you need at least 16GB of RAM and 500GB of storage, preferably an SSD. Most modern CPUs (Intel i5 or better or AMD Ryzen 3 or better) should handle this just fine.

[jc-OTECH]

Yes yes thankyou ... I am so grateful for your expertise.. I am new to PC world and want to begin trading... safest n discrete way possible... I'm understanding mostly and am trying to make sure I cover all bases, considering 1 weak point n well there'd be no point in any... thanks a lot... I'm in the UK ...

[simongelfand]

I enjoy your work.

Admins on rogue sites are able to penetrate Sandboxie, virtual box (VM), remove layers of tor, etc just by injecting malicious rootkits through the keyboard and I'm sure other paraphernalia. What I mean to say, there is more to security than VM, sandbox, VPN, etc...

What I haven't done yet is get into the cloud-based OS to avoid malware on my pc.