SHOCKER - Free VPNs Sell Your Data

FrgMstr

FrgMstr

Just Plain Mean
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In this edition of You Get What You Pay For, The Next Web points out that the EU's new GDPR laws are uncovering a lot of services and what they are doing with you data. Most notable, free VPN services which are mostly used to protect user privacy, seem to be an ugly offender when it comes to selling your data. I know, you are shocked that a free VPN would have business model based on you and your data.


It was recently revealed that contrary to claims on their websites, 26 of the 117 most popular VPN services log user data despite touting contrary claims in their marketing. That revelation will seem tame compared to findings on how free VPNs operate: many openly and brazenly share/sell user data.
 
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iNViSiGOD

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That's why I stick to pay to play when it comes too things like this. I only pay $100 and that's enough peace of mind for me.
 
pendragon1

pendragon1

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61266a865545f3c757921c0bb0b32764.jpg
 
/dev/null

/dev/null

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Hm, I provide my own vpn service and I don't charge myself & I dno't sell my own data...

So as usual, you should just run your own :)

Not like people here don't have spare hardware to use at home :)
 
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BSmith

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I cannot believe anyone would not have known this. Are there really people that stupid.....check that......yeah,...nevermind.
 
J

Joust

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BSmith said:
I cannot believe anyone would not have known this. Are there really people that stupid.....check that......yeah,...nevermind.
Click to expand...
"Stupid." Meh. I would think more likely "uninformed."
 
Master_shake_

Master_shake_

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Not only am I shocked I am appalled.

I was promised anonymity and I was sold like a prostitute.

Buy me dinner next time.
 
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Kdawg

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and you think some paid products don't sell your data behind your back?

forgive my ignorance, but isn't vpn data encrypted, so even the host can't see what you're looking at, other than the ip address you're connecting to ? If so, what data is there worth sharing..
 
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Lakados

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Kdawg said:
and you think some paid products don't sell your data behind your back?

forgive my ignorance, but isn't vpn data encrypted, so even the host can't see what you're looking at, other than the ip address you're connecting to ? If so, what data is there worth sharing..
Click to expand...
They are literally the man in the middle, they can log every data packet that goes through them if they choose to.
 
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Seventyfive

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Fuck, this whole time I thought they paid for their services with unicorn farts. You mean they are monetizing my data? That's ok, let me go check my free gmail account to see if my free mint data is updated. At least there are still a few companies that give away stuff for free without using my data /s
 
D

Deleted member 184142

Guest
M76 said:
free vpns are not for protecting your privacy. They're for watching gelocked content :p
Click to expand...

One addition, VPN is not all you need for privacy as well. Nor should it be expected to provide privacy, even on paid services.
 
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shpankey

Limp Gawd
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The shocker... hmm.. I guess that has a different meaning nowadays. The old meaning not so PC :p

edit: wait, I see the image now. I guess it still means the same thing. rofl
 
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lcpiper

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Kdawg said:
and you think some paid products don't sell your data behind your back?

forgive my ignorance, but isn't vpn data encrypted, so even the host can't see what you're looking at, other than the ip address you're connecting to ? If so, what data is there worth sharing..
Click to expand...

Your data .... You sign up for a VPN, a username, an email address, if you are paying, your method of payment .... Your Data.

Could include your history of connections, like a web history but the VPN links, etc.

Not necessarily the content of your communications.

Still, as others have said, the buys who operate the bridge do control the traffic. Nothing is secure when you have physical access.
 
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Spidey329

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/dev/null said:
Hm, I provide my own vpn service and I don't charge myself & I dno't sell my own data...

So as usual, you should just run your own :)

Not like people here don't have spare hardware to use at home :)
Click to expand...


I don't think you're using the VPN for the same reason as many other people. Many people don't want to be tied to the IP# of what they're doing, so tunneling to your own home VPN is a no go for them.
 
/dev/null

/dev/null

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Spidey329 said:
I don't think you're using the VPN for the same reason as many other people. Many people don't want to be tied to the IP# of what they're doing, so tunneling to your own home VPN is a no go for them.
Click to expand...

Except a VPN doesn't hide you....as shown by this article.

With my VPN at least only my home ISP knows where I'm going and I can remotely manage my home machines.
 
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aldamon

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At this point I think we're in a personal information bubble. How much value could it have now?
 
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Lakados

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At this point the only VPN provider I think I can trust is Porn Hub’s. They are a wholesome entertainment company that values and understands consent.
 
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