Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

[blue934]

Being located in Canada limits my access to many U.S. streaming sites. I'd like to try a VPN but there are so many conflicting views and vague opinions that I'm lost.

I'm on XP, use Firefox, and (18Mb/s?) interweb speed. I don't want a service that is slow or limited bandwidth.

Obviously I'd like free but reading reports about free VPN's having poor security, slow/capped usage, ads, etc, scares me so I don't mind paying for a good service.

I'd like something easy to set-up/use and some claim that users can choose which sites to cloak which might be handy as general webbing wouldn't be slowed down.

It would be nice if said service also works with torrenting (don't know if there are special requirements for this).

I am much less than a techno geek but not completely computer illiterate and I don't feel I can make an educated decision in this matter.

help,
David

[KevinN]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

Step 1 - get off XP!

[blue934]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

Does this have anything to do with VPN's in any way or just a personal beef with XP?

[KevinN]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

XP hasn't been a secure platform for a long time, and is now even more so due to lack of patching for discovered and yet to be found vulnerabilities. Every XP PC on the Internet makes it a more dangerous place for everyone else, as they are more easily enlisted by malware to act as hosts used to attack other PCs. So yeah, I guess you could say personal beef.

Legit uses for XP do exist (e.g. legacy industrial hardware/software platforms) - but a PC that sees regular Internet use is not one of them.

[thekorvers]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

Does this have anything to do with VPN's in any way or just a personal beef with XP?

XP is not supported anymore or will not be soon. So no security updates in the future. If you are concerned about security, which you seem to be as you are investigating the use of a VPN, you want to switch to Windows 7 or 8. A VPN will accomplish what you are looking for, but it's primary purpose is increased security.

[KevinN]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

XP is not supported anymore or will not be soon. So no security updates in the future. If you are concerned about security, which you seem to be as you are investigating the use of a VPN, you want to switch to Windows 7 or 8. A VPN will accomplish what you are looking for, but it's primary purpose is increased security.

Agree with you - but I believe the OP is primarily looking to have his PC appear to be connected to a US IP address, so he can access American streaming services (not so much for the potential security/privacy benefits of a VPN service)...

[Paul Carmody]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

I'm not sure I'm understanding how a VPN is going to accomplish this task. Do you have a computer/server/firewall you're VPN-ing into in the USA? Are we talking about proxies?

[Silver1omo]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

Look for unlock us or any other dns "masking" provider. Alternatively search free us proxy.
Unlock us is not free, but works really well.

[blue934]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

the OP is primarily looking to have his PC appear to be connected to a US IP address, so he can access American streaming services ...

correct.
Paul, these services provide an alternate ID for your computer so out of country websites can be viewed. Common use for traveling abroad.

[Silver1omo]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

I'm not sure I'm understanding how a VPN is going to accomplish this task. Do you have a computer/server/firewall you're VPN-ing into in the USA? Are we talking about proxies?

At this point in life you can use a proxy, a VPN or a dns provider. The faster is a dns, since you only are "redirected" and do not depend that much on their bw. Also, some proxy providers described their services as VPN.

[Silver1omo]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

http://www.unblock-us.com not exactly cheap, but it works.

[blue934]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

Thanks Silver, will look into them although I have seen good and bad reviews for Unblock us. I like that it will work on smart tv's. don't know if that's the norm or not.
So far VPN4ALL and Privateinternetaccess appear to be viable options maybe.

[blue934]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

As per Silver's suggestion, I looked up dns providers and that looks like a great option for the out of region websites. Not sure how it works for P2P though.

[thekorvers]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

Thanks Silver, will look into them although I have seen good and bad reviews for Unblock us. I like that it will work on smart tv's. don't know if that's the norm or not.
So far VPN4ALL and Privateinternetaccess appear to be viable options maybe.

I had to run off, but I am back now. I never answered your original question, but will do so now:

I have been using a VPN for about 1.5 - 2 years now. The VPN I use is Private Internet Access (PIA). I wanted to increase my privacy and security and enjoy the advantages mentioned by the O.P. in his first post. I also download a lot using torrents (KAT).

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It looks like a private network to the outside world. Data is enveloped when sent. They use the analogy of sending the data through a tube to a server elsewhere unseen by the outside world. There it is resent with a different IP address.

There are some advantages and disadvantages:

There is a cost. If I recall correctly (It has been almost a year since I renewed), PIA charges $39.95/year. I don't find this charge excessive.

Download and install is small and easy. There is a ghostlike looking small icon in my tray which shows whether I am connected through the VPN or not (red or green). It is easy to connect and disconnect. I can choose where my ISP seems to originate, different areas of the US or different countries in the world.



There is a small reduction in speed, but it is not bad. I have a much larger speed fluctuation from my cable provider at different times of the day. I have not encountered it going down. It has thrown me off a few times in the past, but it is obvious when that occurs as the icon is red. Reconnection was quick.

You get content and information for a different area as everyone thinks you are in a different area. A minor inconvenience. You also have to enter passwords and fill out security questions somewhat more often. Again, a minor inconvenience.

All in all, I like it and will keep on renewing my license.

I hope this helps.

[blue934]

Re: Any VPN users out there? Help me choose.

Thanks for that very useful reply. That combination ( PIA and KAT/Utorrent) is exactly what I'm considering.
Couple questions - Can you choose which sites you use the VPN on or does it blanket your whole bandwidth when turned on? In order to be a whole house combo (ie, pc,laptop,smart tv) I assume I need a compatible router. If so, what feature am I looking for when choosing said router?

David