Any Free VPN Users Here?

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted by uc50ic4more
Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
So does the VPN function built into the Opera browser encrypt your data before being sent over the air between the computer and the WiFi modem/router so someone can't glean any data by "packet sniffing"?

I would wager any and all VPN services are encrypting the data that traverses between your device and the VPN server. Hence any device at the router level and beyond will just see a bunch of obfuscated gobbledegook.


But does that mean the data is actually encrypted in the WiFi signal going back and forth between the computer and modem/router?

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted by uc50ic4more
Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
I want to setup a VPN for my computer. Is there anyone here that is using a free version VPN and have any recommendations? I'm sure a paid version is better, but just looking for a good free version now to see how it works out.

Free ones will be slow and/ or will come with a monthly bandwidth cap. I have never happened across one that I'd default to as my daily driver internet connection.

May I ask why you're interested? There is the "I want all of my traffic encrypted" angle (which, given the prevalence of browsers now spitting out warnings if a web site isn't https:// , and given how many sites are setting up SSL certificates, most web traffic is encrypted anyhow...) and there is the "I want some given service in another country to stop blocking me from accessing it" angle.

Internet traffic is more and more defaulting to using encryption. If you're concerned about your ISP snooping in on your traffic you could always just switch to another DNS provider like Cloudflare, Google or OpenDNS.


Because I want to be able to encrypt all the WiFi data going back and forth between my wireless computer and my modem/router so someone can't "packet sniff' the WiFi traffic and glean any data out of it.

Does the Opera browser VPN function (or any VPN program) do that?

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted by SR5
Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
Originally Posted by OVERKILL
WITH VPN: Your device --> encapsulation begins (assuming device-level, not router-level) -> Your NAT/PAT gateway--> Your ISP --> VPN --> encapsulation ends --> Internet


So I take that "encapsulation begins" means all the date is encrypted on your computer before it's sent out to the internet. So does that mean if I'm using a wireless laptop on a vulnerable WiFi network that the VPN engine will encrypt my data on my computer before it's sent through the air from my computer to the wireless modem/router?

That is what I'm looking for. I want my "in air" data to be encrypted so someone with a WiFi packet sniffing device can't glean data coming from my computer.


I'm no expert, but I believe the answer is yes, the crypto starts at your device (computer), part of the software you download when you get a VPN.
Ref: https://computer.howstuffworks.com/vpn7.htm
Quote
In a VPN, the computers at each end of the tunnel encrypt the data entering the tunnel and decrypt it at the other end.


Thanks for that info and link. If Opera VPN actually does strong encryption on the machine before a it's sent out on the WiFi signal then that is exactly what I want. That would be great security feature for anyone using a wireless computer/laptop.

IMO, all wireless computers should be encrypting their WiFi signals because the research I've been doing shows that anybody can obtain "packet sniffing" hardware/software to try and glean personal date, even on a WiFi network that is setup to be "secure" because a secure WiFi network does not encrypt the data going back and forth between the computer and WiFi modem/router.

 

[SR5]

BTW here are some VPN recommendations

https://au.pcmag.com/software/4558/the-best-free-vpns-for-2019

https://au.pcmag.com/vpn/138/the-best-vpn-services

I've heard of fake VPNs, so it's best to go with a name brand here. Annual subscriptions are cost effective, and they even hide your payment details via a third party, all they know is that your assigned random number has paid up. They should not log traffic or delete all traffic records immediately the job is done. If that's your thing it's worth paying a few dollars to a company that rests on its reputation.

My city has lots of free WiFi hot spots in parks, libraries, etc. My computer mates told me to get a VPN before using with any device, to keep my person data safe from hackers. I'm always at the park with my family, using their free wifi as the kids play, so I just followed their advice.

 

[SR5]

Originally Posted by Sierra048
To keep me from wasting my time researching and not understanding what I'm reading, can someone please tell me, in layman's terms, what a VPN is and why someone would want one. Thanks in advance from a technically challenged individual.


A VPN, or virtual private network, to protect your online privacy and maintain your data security.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
Originally Posted by OVERKILL
WITH VPN: Your device --> encapsulation begins (assuming device-level, not router-level) -> Your NAT/PAT gateway--> Your ISP --> VPN --> encapsulation ends --> Internet


So I take that "encapsulation begins" means all the date is encrypted on your computer before it's sent out to the internet. So does that mean if I'm using a wireless laptop on a vulnerable WiFi network that the VPN engine will encrypt my data on my computer before it's sent through the air from my computer to the wireless modem/router?

That is what I'm looking for. I want my "in air" data to be encrypted so someone with a WiFi packet sniffing device can't glean data coming from my computer.


Yes, it means anything plain text that your computer is transmitting (not already encrypted) gets encapsulated. That's why I always use one of my work VPN's when I'm at a hotel.

 

[ZeeOSix]

So reading through the Opera VPN article here:
https://proprivacy.com/privacy-service/review/operavpn

The last sentence says:
"It is not, however, a good choice for anyone who uses a VPN to protect their privacy, wants to use a VPN for Netflix, or who wants to use a VPN for torrenting."

The article also says:
"OperaVPN is proxy, not a VPN service. Connections are secured using HTTPS, the encryption scheme which protects sensitive websites, making OperaVPN an HTTPS proxy."

Is it true that when a computer transfers data back and forth on the internet using HTTPS that the data encryption is done at the computer level before data is send and unencrypted after data is received over the WiFi air between a modem/router and the computer? If so, then how can they say in the article that Opera's VPN is "not a good choice to protect their privacy"?

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
Originally Posted by uc50ic4more
Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
So does the VPN function built into the Opera browser encrypt your data before being sent over the air between the computer and the WiFi modem/router so someone can't glean any data by "packet sniffing"?

I would wager any and all VPN services are encrypting the data that traverses between your device and the VPN server. Hence any device at the router level and beyond will just see a bunch of obfuscated gobbledegook.


But does that mean the data is actually encrypted in the WiFi signal going back and forth between the computer and modem/router?


My impression as to the Opera VPN service is that it ONLY encrypts data that's transmitted inside the browser, so if you have other stuff going on outside it, that traffic will be transmitted in whatever format it was already in, and that likely includes DNS queries, which leaves you vulnerable to network-level DNS injection schemes or hijacks/redirects.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted by OVERKILL
Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
Originally Posted by uc50ic4more
Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
So does the VPN function built into the Opera browser encrypt your data before being sent over the air between the computer and the WiFi modem/router so someone can't glean any data by "packet sniffing"?

I would wager any and all VPN services are encrypting the data that traverses between your device and the VPN server. Hence any device at the router level and beyond will just see a bunch of obfuscated gobbledegook.

But does that mean the data is actually encrypted in the WiFi signal going back and forth between the computer and modem/router?

My impression as to the Opera VPN service is that it ONLY encrypts data that's transmitted inside the browser, so if you have other stuff going on outside it, that traffic will be transmitted in whatever format it was already in, and that likely includes DNS queries, which leaves you vulnerable to network-level DNS injection schemes or hijacks/redirects.


Is it even possible to encrypt everything that goes back and forth between the WiFi modem/router and the computer? Is that what a full blown VPN service does?

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted by ZeeOSix

Is it even possible to encrypt everything that goes back and forth between the WiFi modem/router and the computer? Is that what a full blown VPN service does?


Client isolation is a feature that prevents wireless clients from talking to each other. If you are on an untrusted wireless network though, you'll want to use a VPN, because at least that prevents local sniffing and you have no idea what level of security is in place on those networks.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted by OVERKILL
Originally Posted by ZeeOSix

Is it even possible to encrypt everything that goes back and forth between the WiFi modem/router and the computer? Is that what a full blown VPN service does?

Client isolation is a feature that prevents wireless clients from talking to each other. If you are on an untrusted wireless network though, you'll want to use a VPN, because at least that prevents local sniffing and you have no idea what level of security is in place on those networks.


I'm mainly concerned about using the internet on a wireless computer ... so will Opera's VPN feature at least stop anyone from gleaning information from sniffing packets going back and forth via WiFi through Opera?

I don't know exactly what else would be sensitive info over WiFi that's not being sent back and forth through an internet browser that a hacker/sniffer could use for nefarious purposes.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
Originally Posted by OVERKILL
Originally Posted by ZeeOSix

Is it even possible to encrypt everything that goes back and forth between the WiFi modem/router and the computer? Is that what a full blown VPN service does?

Client isolation is a feature that prevents wireless clients from talking to each other. If you are on an untrusted wireless network though, you'll want to use a VPN, because at least that prevents local sniffing and you have no idea what level of security is in place on those networks.


I'm mainly concerned about using the internet on a wireless computer ... so will Opera's VPN feature at least stop anyone from gleaning information from sniffing packets going back and forth via WiFi through Opera?

I don't know exactly what else would be sensitive info over WiFi that's not being sent back and forth through an internet browser that a hacker/sniffer could use for nefarious purposes.


DNS traffic (the sites being resolved) if it occurs outside the tunnel. I'm not sure as to the scope of what's being forced through the integrated proxy/VPN in Opera, but name resolution is typically adapter-level.

 

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
But does that mean the data is actually encrypted in the WiFi signal going back and forth between the computer and modem/router?


Yes. Using the same encryption that takes place when you interact with a https:// web site, it is encrypted right from your device to the device with which you are communicating.

 

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
I'm mainly concerned about using the internet on a wireless computer ... so will Opera's VPN feature at least stop anyone from gleaning information from sniffing packets going back and forth via WiFi through Opera?


The Opera VPN'll suffice for that - to prevent malicious parties from seeing what you're doing on a public WiFi.

I have a router at home that features a VPN server so I just load up my devices with the OpenVPN client and connect to my own router when I am out and about. That is actually a good deal faster than Opera's free VPN but of course does NOT serve the function of spoofing a non-Canadian IP. (eg. All of my traffic when out and about appears to be originating from my home IP.)

Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
I don't know exactly what else would be sensitive info over WiFi that's not being sent back and forth through an internet browser that a hacker/sniffer could use for nefarious purposes.


If you wanted to visit https:// (note the "s" - all of your communications with that site will be encrypted **once you're connected**) https://my_bank.tld or perhaps https://some_site_that_implies_you_like_playing_with_My_Little_Pony_dolls.tld then malicious parties will, at the very least, know where you went. The least nefarious use of that information would be to customize advertising by selling that data about you; the worst involves theft (they now know where you bank, which is a good start for them) or extortion (presuming you don't want you predilection for My Little Pony dolls to become public knowledge).

 

[ZeeOSix]

uc50ic4more - thanks for that info. I was trying to understand the differences in security between a regular https:// connection to websites vs. a connection using VPN with respect to what state the data is in when it's traveling by WiFi between the computer and modem/router.

Sounds like using a VPN is essentially going to give https:// type of encryption security of at least the in-air WiFi signal data if using an unsecured WiFi network, like a at Starbucks, etc.

But VPN doesn't leave that unencrypted "gap" like https:// does before the connection is fully established with the website your going to - ?. So does that mean someone could "packet sniff" for sensitive info like username and password if you're logging into a website that needs a log-in if you're using https:// without VPN? If so, that's a vulnerability with https:// ... even on a secured website, is that right?

Is the level of encryption between https:// and VPN the same, or does using VPN encrypt the date to a stronger level than regular https:// ?

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
uc50ic4more - thanks for that info. I was trying to understand the differences in security between a regular https:// connection to websites vs. a connection using VPN with respect to what state the data is in when it's traveling by WiFi between the computer and modem/router.

Sounds like using a VPN is essentially going to give https:// type of encryption security of at least the in-air WiFi signal data if using an unsecured WiFi network, like a at Starbucks, etc.

But VPN doesn't leave that unencrypted "gap" like https:// does before the connection is fully established with the website your going to - ?. So does that mean someone could "packet sniff" for sensitive info like username and password if you're logging into a website that needs a log-in if you're using https:// without VPN? If so, that's a vulnerability with https:// ... even on a secured website, is that right?

Is the level of encryption between https:// and VPN the same, or does using VPN encrypt the date to a stronger level than regular https:// ?


All they would see is the site you are connecting to, not any of the data transmitted. If you use a VPN product, they won't even see that. Not sure if that is concealed using the Opera VPN client, as name resolution (DNS) normally happens at the system level, but they could be forwarding that through the proxy/VPN too.

 

[alarmguy]

Always liked Opera browsers, always wanted to like Firefox but just couldn't, didnt matter if it was on a cell phone, windows computer or Mac.
Whether you choose to use their VPN or not doesnt matter to me, Opera is a great browser and still my second go too browser after my native Safari.