Merged Should I have a VPN?

[jt512]

Every now and then I have to turn it off as a number of websites block access via VPN.
Somewhat more annoying than the international access it provides.

I don't know how the annoyance of having to sometimes disable it because it is blocked on some websites could outweigh the ability to access some website content that you otherwise could not access. The former is just an inconvenience; the latter is a necessity.

FWIW, I leave the VPN off be default. I only use it when I need it to access geographically restricted content or when using an unsecured wifi connection, like in a hotel room.

ETA: especially annoying for online shopping, as most search results on same are tailored to the country location of the IP.

Your bug is my feature. I've gotten some good deals by pricing the product using various VPN locations.

 

[theprestige]

Might as well say the quiet part out loud.

Most VPN users fall into one of two categories: Corporations, or private individuals.

Most VPN usage falls into one of two categories: Doing confidential business securely over third-party networks, or stealing.

Ironically, the corporations are not the bad guys here.

 

[lionking]

I don’t need to pirate movies or anything, and just do the standard stuff over the internet. But a VPN at a cost of $3-4 a month looks like a decent precaution. But I’m far from an expert.

 

[arthwollipot]

I have one. It's not turned on most of the time, but it's there for when I want it. There are some sites I use (one in particular) that don't work through the VPN. Right now I use it mostly to check for blocked videos in Forumvision games and search for alternatives.

 

[Thermal]

Firefox has a free VPN built in, just needs a one-click enabling. I can't decide whether to use it or not. Seems like a smart precaution against Invasively prying robot eyes (the American in me instinctively bristles against that). But in practice, seems like it just slows things down a bit? And makes you sign in and verify much more often?

Then I think about who would be spying on me and why. Pretty much just robots, to gather marketing information, right? Well I don't really even see ads, soooo.... I'm not sure there is any benefit to a VPN?

 

[SpuriusMaximus]

I only use mine to watch films and series that are either not available in Germany (mostly Anime,) or they're only available with a German DUB instead of sub. I am, of course, fluent in German, but I'm also fluent in English (as some of you may have noticed) and prefer to see movies in the original language if I'm good at it. Hell, I watched the Fantozzi movies in Italian, and old French comedies in French, and my mastery of either is... very iffy. Saves me from hearing Arnold Schwarzenegger speaking with a Swiss accent, or young Deniro sounding like a 60 year old guy, or such.

 

[Wudang]

It’s useful if you want to lookup say embarrassing medical questions and don’t want your social media flooded with ads for treatments. It’s also useful for Humble Bundle as some book bundles I want to buy are only on their US site. My view is they still get the money.

 

[SpuriusMaximus]

It’s useful if you want to lookup say embarrassing medical questions and don’t want your social media flooded with ads for treatments. It’s also useful for Humble Bundle as some book bundles I want to buy are only on their US site. My view is they still get the money.

Pretty much my view when watching a movie on a streaming site I'm subscribed to.