Questions tagged [vpn]
This tag is applied to questions related to various VPN types such as PPTP or IPSec.
177
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71
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Differences between using Tor browser and VPN
I can't quite figure out the differences between using the Tor browser and using a VPN (like concretely proXPN). From what I understand the idea is the same, that they both hide the IP address. The ...
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votes
1
answer
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Could logless VPNs be traced?
Logless VPNs, such as ExpressVPN, claim that they can't tell authorities your real IP even if asked. They claim:
No connection logs. Never logs connection timestamps, session duration, your ...
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24
votes
9
answers
20k
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What's the best way to make my internet traffic anonymous?
Recently I have thought more and more about how to make my Internet traffic anonymous. Not for illegal reasons, but just to stop leaving information about me. The methods I know of to anonymize my ...
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58
votes
9
answers
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How does Google Maps know where I am, when I'm using a VPN?
How does Google Maps determine my location?
I've gotten some understanding of Google Maps' geolocation methods from here:
http://friendlybit.com/js/geolocation-and-google-maps/
In the newer ...
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21
votes
2
answers
37k
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How safe is it to connect to Internet through VPN?
Sometimes I connect to the Internet using a VPN connection to be able to access the blocked websites. I've got a few questions regarding this:
Are my important data (like my credentials) vulnerable ...
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76
votes
3
answers
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symmetric encryption session keys in SSL/TLS
This question concerns the session send and receive keys used in SSL/TLS protocol. my understanding is that this key uses symmetric encryption (DES, AES, BlowFish, etc.) I'm wondering, if public-...
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245
votes
14
answers
47k
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My college is forcing me to install their SSL certificate. How to protect my privacy?
My college administration is forcing us to install Cyberoam Firewall SSL certificate so that they can view all the encrypted traffic to "improve our security". If I don't install the certificate than ...
- 2,161
52
votes
8
answers
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Can an open Wi-Fi hotspot be considered "secure" when using a VPN connection?
There are many open Wi-Fi hotspots scattered around from cafes to airports.
I understand that a non-passworded Wi-Fi leaves traffic unencrypted and therefore available for hackers to read. I also ...
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47
votes
8
answers
119k
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How can you be caught using Private VPN when there's no logs about who you are?
I know there are 2 services of VPN (free and paid). Normally, free VPNs need money from somewhere and sometimes they can sell your information to any agency that needs it.
Now, if we are talking about ...
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43
votes
5
answers
140k
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Connect through two VPN clients
What exactly happens if I connect through two VPN clients on my laptop? For example, I connect using Cisco Any Connect, and then use another VPN client (such as HotSpot Shield or proXPN) to connect ...
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26
votes
5
answers
12k
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Can a VPN Provider MitM my SSL traffic without me noticing?
If I connect to lets say gmail over a VPN. How does the provider forward the traffic without exposing my IP, but also without breaking the SSL. Shouldn't gmail know my real IP if the traffic just gets ...
22
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9
answers
6k
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How do I pick a VPN provider?
There's a lot of VPN providers out there. Some are free, some are for a fee, some report logs to the government, some inject ads into your HTTP, some are in other countries, you might not have any ...
- 5,264
10
votes
3
answers
51k
views
How can I detect a VPN connection (even just in some cases) to get the real location of the user
I'm creating a web site, I would like to allow people to sign-up only from their "real" physical location (not using a VPN).
I was thinking maybe comparing local and server time... what else...?
...
- 369
3
votes
3
answers
37k
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Can my company access my computer via the VPN?
The job I have requires that we have computers at home, a few years ago they had everyone install a VPN on our home personal computers (the company did not provide us with these computer) how safe if ...
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66
votes
6
answers
260k
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If I use a VPN, who will resolve my DNS requests?
Will they be resolved by my VPN provider, or by my original ISP (if left on "automatic" settings)? Would I have to manually configure a dns server, to make sure my requests will not be resolved by my ...
user7848
26
votes
5
answers
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What are the pros and cons of a VPN for privacy
Recently I have been getting more and more interested in the security (privacy and anonymity) issues of my online life. Not that I have anything to hide, or that what I do online is so interesting to ...
user7525
20
votes
2
answers
36k
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Are VPNS vulnerable to active man in the middle attacks?
I know that with SSL/TLS, man in the middle attacks are not possible. For example if Alice and Bob are trying to communicate and Trudy is trying to perform a man in the middle attack, then when Alice ...
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16
votes
1
answer
2k
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How was the Apple Hacker caught? How can meta data be used to identify users through chained VPNs?
Online privacy is a big issue for many people nowadays.
Using VPNs is the usual suggestion as a means to stay anonymous. More often than not, somebody comes up with the point "just chain multiple VPNs ...
- 9,720
10
votes
1
answer
7k
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How do VPNs bypass ISP monitoring
How exactly do VPNs bypass monitoring of the requests and traffic? I get that the traffic is encrypted, but how do VPNs manage to hide the DNS requests before establishing an encrypted transfer?
If a ...
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127
votes
7
answers
49k
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My ISP uses deep packet inspection; what can they observe?
I found out that my ISP does deep packet inspection.
Can they see the contents of HTTPS connections? Wouldn't having HTTPS ensure that they can't see the contents being transferred?
And can having a ...
- 1,253
53
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Is there any way for my ISP or LAN admin to learn my Gmail address as a result of me logging into Gmail's web interface through via their network?
The title says it all, really. I'm Alice, and I want to login to Gmail's web interface through my browser. Ike, the internet service provider, and Adam, the local network administrator, would like to ...
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14
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Should you use VPN if the website uses HTTPS?
If I visit the website which uses https, is there a point using an VPN? In places like coffee shop where internet is not secure. Because I think https already encrypts data?
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votes
2
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What is a DNS leak?
I'm planning on getting a VPN service (probably Privateinternetaccess) and read that it is imperative to plug DNS leaks. The only information I found on google describing what these are is here and I ...
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69
votes
8
answers
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What is the difference in security between a VPN- and a SSL-connection?
I would like to design a client-server application where the server is placed on Internet. I assume that I could set up the client-server connection using VPN (is it using IPSec?) or using a SSL ...
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30
votes
3
answers
41k
views
Are there any known vulnerabilities in PPTP VPNs when configured properly?
PPTP is the only VPN protocol supported by some devices (for example, the Asus RT-AC66U WiFi router). If PPTP is configured to only use the most secure options, does its use present any security ...
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19
votes
4
answers
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views
VPN tunnel inside other VPN tunnel
This question is kind of asked already but it was asked with different context:
VPN tunnel in VPN tunnel
Connect through two VPN clients
https://superuser.com/questions/763433/tunnel-in-a-tunnel-...
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11
votes
1
answer
18k
views
Can VPN provider see my data?
I have a 2 questions:
If I use a VPN and I go to any websites via HTTP - does VPN provider will be able to see the traffic? Those. logins, passwords, all the texts that pass through the channel (in ...
- 507
11
votes
3
answers
26k
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Does a VPN hide what URLs I visit?
It's clear that someone listening on a network could still find out what website I visit over HTTPS (as discussed here) but what about when surfing in a VPN? What exactly can the underlying network (...
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votes
5
answers
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Can you still be tracked when using a VPN?
If I am using a VPN to connect to Twitter, can an organisation like Anonymous or Lulzec track me and find out my identity?
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3
answers
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Understanding VPNs : How VPNs can be used for anonymization?
Previously, I asked the question Why is it difficult to catch “Anonymous” or “Lulzsec” (groups)? I understood every answer except the VPN thing. Its because I never knew what VPNs were. Any how that ...
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6
votes
4
answers
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Is using Tor and VPN combination more secure?
I have been reading more about Tor and its risks to personal data leakage to the exit nodes in the chain. This last node can snatch encryption keys or log in information of websites I may have ...
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4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Public AP: How to reduce vulnerability window between Captive Portal and starting VPN?
I always use a VPN on my Mac when I access over public APs (such as coffee shop free WiFi)
How much should I worry about the window of time where I am in the captive portal (the agreement screen) and ...
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2
votes
1
answer
5k
views
My ISP provides IPv6 natively but my VPN does not support IPv6
I have an internet connection that is soon rolling out IPv6 native support but my VPN connection is far from rolling out IPv6 connection.
Can there can be any sort of leak if I still connect to my VPN ...
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125
votes
12
answers
25k
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Is there a legitimate reason I should be required to use my company's computer? (BYOD prohibited)
I just got a new job at a medium-sized (~100 employees) company and one of the first things I was told is that I cannot use my own computer, because I need to be able to connect to their network, ...
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60
votes
6
answers
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Anonymity on Facebook - how do they suggest people I should know?
I want to know how Facebook discovers the people who you know in real life or who know you.
I tried the following to see if Facebook can still discover my acquaintances in real life and suggest them ...
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32
votes
6
answers
8k
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How safe are employee laptops in China against International corporate espionage?
I recently took a business trip to China. Our IT department told me I could not take my normal machine, and instead gave me a loaner. This loaner had MS Outlook and was linked to my normal company e-...
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21
votes
2
answers
41k
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Do VPNs provide sufficient protection over public wireless networks?
I know that VPNs are the standard way to secure communication between a remote user and their primary network, but I've never felt entirely comfortable relying on them when using an open wireless ...
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17
votes
8
answers
70k
views
Is it possible to Identify a VPN user by finding relations in traffic?
If I am using VPN service to protect my identity, can my traffic be used to identify all my traffic?
For example, if I am accessing two services:
Some service A, where I do not leave any ...
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16
votes
3
answers
12k
views
Can a VPN decrypt my SSL traffic?
Are VPNs able to decrypt SSL traffic originating from my use of services such as Gmail, Dropbox and Skype, Google Talk and HTTPS-enabled websites? I'm asking because I always turn off these and other ...
- 1,319
15
votes
1
answer
3k
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Does a VPN provide any security benefits over sshuttle or a vanilla ssh tunnel?
I use sshuttle to tunnel my traffic through one of my remote boxes whenever I'm in a cafe or connected to an insecure network.
Does a VPN provide any additional security benefit over this kind of ...
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11
votes
1
answer
10k
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How to generate a unique and uncopyable VPN certificate/key for a specific client hardware device?
The problem is : Nothing prevents the user to copy the certficate/key on a different hardware device and use it from a different hardware device...
Is it possible to generate a really unique ...
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8
votes
1
answer
4k
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Is it possible to detect VPN in the network?
Is it possible to detect the use of a VPN in a network?
Let's say that I'm going to use a VPN during my connection in a country where the internet is filtered, and to avoid being monitored I installed ...
- 459
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votes
2
answers
5k
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Does using a VPN completely stop MITM (man in the middle) attacks? If not, what other defences should I consider?
Just for added context, I am curious about connecting to a remote desktop using a VPN but if there are any major differences that can be highlighted for other services I would be interested in that ...
- 1,489
8
votes
3
answers
13k
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SSL VPN Detection and possible to block
Is it possible to determine the difference between a VPN on port 443 compared to standard SSL traffic?
In order to access SSL websites you need port 443 open but if you setup a VPN Service on port ...
- 3,096
7
votes
6
answers
16k
views
What can my university see if they have my MAC address?
When I first got to my university I had to provide my MAC address to get access to the internet. What I want to know is what information can they get from having my MAC address linked to my name. I ...
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4
votes
3
answers
15k
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Setup of Kali Linux for reverse shell connections over the internet
I am running Kali Linux as a VM on my Windows machine which is NAT'd behind my company network, if I wish to pen test a website for a client and believe that a reverse shell is possible, what is a ...
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4
votes
4
answers
705
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How can a network be secured against attacks coming from the inside?
(updated to (hopefully) be less broad)
No matter how well one secures a network there's always the chance of an attacker gaining access. In a shared home + home office network (eg. for a remote ...
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votes
4
answers
6k
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Is my browsing history on the server hidden when I use a VPN?
I am a client within a server in a school.
My computer has a static IP address to enable me to connect to the internet.
We have a server that records the browsing history of the computers that are ...
- 23
1
vote
1
answer
7k
views
Defeating Browser Fingerprinting by spoofing the browser user agent and VPN
I don't want any website to identify me and to know what is my geographical location.
As far as a website is concerned, I am always a new visitor who never visits it prior. If I leave the website, ...
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vote
3
answers
2k
views
How can I use a VPN to protect my privacy
How should I configure a VPN in order to access blocked websites and to hide my identity?
Usually I use SSH tunneling to protect my privacy and to escape censorship. I know nothing else about VPNs ...
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