VPNs Hotels and Banned IPs

[Mayhem]

I've seen a few post in other forums and discord of members who ask if they have been banned off of the forums when they are traveling usually when they are using hotel internet. Most of them it was because they were using a consumer VPN service.

Unfortunately using open wifi at a hotel or restaurant is kinda risky as any one with any tech knowledge can set up a Raspberry Pi as a Rogue AP/Man in the middle attack and steal peoples data/info. One of the best recommended ways to protect yourself using strange wifi is to use a VPN.

VPNs have several uses the three most common uses is data encryption/Privacy, changing Geo-location (Mostly for Content on streaming services), and anonymity (Hide your true IP).

Streaming services like Netflix know people use VPNs to change locations for Geo-locked content. So many steaming services block the known IP addresses from Consumer VPN services like PIA and NordVPN.

People also use VPNs to hide their true IP to get around having their IP blocked which is why the AH boards block VPN IP addresses from accessing the boards.

This brings you to a problem ... You do not want to use an open connection on a strangers wifi (Like a hotels) and using a Consumer VPN service will lock you out of accessing certain sites and services like Netflix and the AH Boards.

I personally get around this by using my own personal VPN to my own home Network. I have a an enterprise grade SDLAN on a No-cap 5gb/5gb fiber connection. My router supports a lot of VPN connections so I simply use my own VPN when traveling, I also run my phone and other mobile devices through my home VPN as it not only gives me security and privacy as it protects my data from my own mobile carrier.

Many Consumer grade routers have at least a few VPN endpoints you can set up. This will change your IP and Location to your home which should not be on any ban list.

With Jurisdictions trying to limit and tax content as well as push age verification, VPNs are going to become a major talking point if they have not already.

If you can't use a Consumer VPN you can set up and use your own. You just need a router or other devices that supports it, a fast home internet (100mb/50mb+) and some know how. If you have your own Router (Not your ISPs Modem/Router) you should check on if it is VPN capable and how to set it up if it is.

[Vulcan]

Unfortunately using open wifi at a hotel or restaurant is kinda risky as any one with any tech knowledge can set up a Raspberry Pi as a Rogue AP/Man in the middle attack and steal peoples data/info. One of the best recommended ways to protect yourself using strange wifi is to use a VPN.

That's not really accurate. Maybe 10-15 years ago you were vulnerable, but as most traffic is now on HTTPS that risk has disappeared. There is also a case around do you trust 3rd party VPNs as you are essentially handing all your traffic to them. If you run your own vpn at home that's good, but it's still a significant effort for non-technical people - and some free internet providers (hotels/cafes) limit traffic to certain protocols which can often break vpns, or use captive portals for auth which can also break vpns.

[AKIron]

Until Q-Day, which may have already happened.

[Animl-AW]

That's not really accurate. Maybe 10-15 years ago you were vulnerable, but as most traffic is now on HTTPS that risk has disappeared. There is also a case around do you trust 3rd party VPNs as you are essentially handing all your traffic to them. If you run your own vpn at home that's good, but it's still a significant effort for non-technical people - and some free internet providers (hotels/cafes) limit traffic to certain protocols which can often break vpns, or use captive portals for auth which can also break vpns.

Personally, laptop out of town, I just use an umbilical cord to iphone and use that data connection. Games will run on it no problem. Usually public connections BLOW.

Doin corporate stuff in hotel ballrooms the whole crew always complained about hotel connections, I used my phone and was much faster.

[Vulcan]

Until Q-Day, which may have already happened.

Meh Q-Day is gonna be like Y2K.

[AKIron]

Q-Day will come and go and only a few will know. It is an agent for spying like no other.

[Vulcan]

Q-Day will come and go and only a few will know. It is an agent for spying like no other.

Yes/nah/maybe. It can crack keys, but you still need the legacy kit to do the bulk decryption.

Meanwhile Microsoft leave backdoors in bitlocker for the NSA which quantum proof encryption irrelevant.

[AKIron]

China has been developing their own OSes and Russia is replacing Windows with Astra Linux. Probably no one should trust Microsoft.

[JimmyD3]

Microsoft forgot how to retain customers and stay at the top of the OS systems, decades ago, Best Operating System, with the Best Customer Service.

[save]

Because IPTV is illegal in some countries, many use VPN. Using Wifi with VPN creates more secure environment than without. Be sure to use a nolog VPN provider if you want to use it.