VPN Software

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Fish

What are you wanting constant VPN for? Because it's not a simple setup, and there are performance drawbacks.

Everyone says to use one and I may have a cheap IPTV I like to use that lets me watch anything. I’m a Boomer when it comes to technology though so please guide me.

Check your Rep.

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by Fish

What are you wanting constant VPN for? Because it's not a simple setup, and there are performance drawbacks.

Originally Posted by lewdog

Everyone says to use one and I may have a cheap IPTV I like to use that lets me watch anything. I’m a Boomer when it comes to technology though so please guide me.

Check your Rep.

If you truly want to do that and you know nothing of networks or how they work and have 0 troubleshooting skills you might want to give something like this a try - https://www.flashrouters.com/

They supposedly send you a router already all configured for your VPN service. Do your own research on this though.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by BigRichard

If you truly want to do that and you know nothing of networks or how they work and have 0 troubleshooting skills you might want to give something like this a try - https://www.flashrouters.com/

They supposedly send you a router already all configured for your VPN service. Do your own research on this though.

We upgraded to a Nighthawk router a few years ago. It seems to work well so not sure I want to get something else. Maybe I should just do a few devices instead of at the router?

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by lewdog

We upgraded to a Nighthawk router a few years ago. It seems to work well so not sure I want to get something else. Maybe I should just do a few devices instead of at the router?

You could google your router model # and setting up VPN on it. You may luck out and someone has a video for that exact model. They often do. Then, if something isn't clear on the instructions you could ask those questions here.

Make a backup of your settings before you start and just restore if you **** anything up. Absolute worst case you have to restore to factory settings and you would most likely just have to set up your wifi again unless you have some other funky settings in there but it sounds like maybe you don't jack with those types of things.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Everyone says to use one and I may have a cheap IPTV I like to use that lets me watch anything. I’m a Boomer when it comes to technology though so please guide me.

Check your Rep.

OK. This is a bad idea for you.

VPN software is meant to provide secure data encryption across networks that are not secure. It's intended to be used for purposes like securely connecting to your work network from across the globe, and be able to access the files on the server in your datacenter and copy those files to your laptop desktop. The VPN server encrypts all data that you transfer from point A to point B, so it cannot be captured by any other shady internet users and stolen.

It was never intended to be used for watching TV. Or being on all the time, outside of situations like a remote office that you want to have the same network access as in the main office. But VPN providers started advertising services to hackers who were trying to illegally download copyrighted games/movies/TV/etc. Essentially using the VPN as a middleman to anonymously access illegal data. The way copyright owners catch people is they search for any internet user downloading their stuff, log the IP address, and then confront your ISP saying you've stolen intellectual property. But with a VPN enabled, they can't see what it is you're downloading because it's encrypted. That is where you get the idea that "Everyone says to use one." To prevent getting caught by Universal or Nintendo, etc.

But here's the problem.. when you use a VPN in this manner, it requires that all data you send acrross the internet, must travel from your computer, to the VPN, then to the site you're wanting to go to, then back through the VPN server again, then back to your PC. Which will decrease your transfer speeds by much more than half the speed you would be getting without the VPN. Which usually results in buffering and lag when streaming. It also causes your location to be reported as the location of where the VPN is physically located instead of where you are. Which can present all kinds of problems with websites that require your location. Like YoutubeTV and Hulu Live, etc. require you to check in from your home location(home address) to continue using their service. You won't be able to do so with the VPN enabled, and if it's enabled at the router level it's on all the time. If your VPN is located outside the US, then it would actually prevent you from accessing quite a few US based streaming options, like Netflix. Since they have separate access outside the US. It could also give you local news stations from where the VPN is instead of your actual home address. There are many other geographic related issues this causes as well. You should really only use a VPN when you have to. It should not be viewed as just another security piece like your virus scanner.

In addition, the site you mentioned specifically mentions that a VPN is not needed:



Another thing you should note.. that IPTV site you referenced me is not exactly legally legit. It's based in the Netherlands so they can skirt around copyright violations and show you stuff from all kinds of different providers like Netflix and HBO at the same time. You aren't going to get into any legal trouble or anything just by watching, unless you try to stream the same feeds to other people. But you should know what it is.

Thank you for attending my TEDTalk.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Fish

OK. This is a bad idea for you.

VPN software is meant to provide secure data encryption across networks that are not secure. It's intended to be used for purposes like securely connecting to your work network from across the globe, and be able to access the files on the server in your datacenter and copy those files to your laptop desktop. The VPN server encrypts all data that you transfer from point A to point B, so it cannot be captured by any other shady internet users and stolen.

It was never intended to be used for watching TV. Or being on all the time, outside of situations like a remote office that you want to have the same network access as in the main office. But VPN providers started advertising services to hackers who were trying to illegally download copyrighted games/movies/TV/etc. Essentially using the VPN as a middleman to anonymously access illegal data. The way copyright owners catch people is they search for any internet user downloading their stuff, log the IP address, and then confront your ISP saying you've stolen intellectual property. But with a VPN enabled, they can't see what it is you're downloading because it's encrypted. That is where you get the idea that "Everyone says to use one." To prevent getting caught by Universal or Nintendo, etc.

But here's the problem.. when you use a VPN in this manner, it requires that all data you send acrross the internet, must travel from your computer, to the VPN, then to the site you're wanting to go to, then back through the VPN server again, then back to your PC. Which will decrease your transfer speeds by much more than half the speed you would be getting without the VPN. Which usually results in buffering and lag when streaming. It also causes your location to be reported as the location of where the VPN is physically located instead of where you are. Which can present all kinds of problems with websites that require your location. Like YoutubeTV and Hulu Live, etc. require you to check in from your home location(home address) to continue using their service. You won't be able to do so with the VPN enabled, and if it's enabled at the router level it's on all the time. If your VPN is located outside the US, then it would actually prevent you from accessing quite a few US based streaming options, like Netflix. Since they have separate access outside the US. It could also give you local news stations from where the VPN is instead of your actual home address. There are many other geographic related issues this causes as well. You should really only use a VPN when you have to. It should not be viewed as just another security piece like your virus scanner.

In addition, the site you mentioned specifically mentions that a VPN is not needed:



Another thing you should note.. that IPTV site you referenced me is not exactly legally legit. It's based in the Netherlands so they can skirt around copyright violations and show you stuff from all kinds of different providers like Netflix and HBO at the same time. You aren't going to get into any legal trouble or anything just by watching, unless you try to stream the same feeds to other people. But you should know what it is.

Thank you for attending my TEDTalk.

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I am sending you a message too.