*** VPN Thread ***

Hello there hoping for some technical advice or corrections on my current thoughts.
In this hypothetical situation if I have a child who will be away from home 7 days every 14 days and he wished to make use of a streaming service that we subscribe to (lets say Netflix and Prime) whilst out of the house on a TV is this the setup to use?

Buy him a travel router similar to the GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 (Opal).

Onto this, I can load the login details for a VPN. This is where it gets more complex. I would assume, in this hypothetical scenario, that if he was to use one of those streaming services via a VPN whilst whilst travelling and we were at home on our usual VM IP address, it would flag something up?

If I am overthinking it, great and I can stop at the travel router and VPN.

However, I am thinking that I would need to buy another router for home, put the HUB 5 into modem mode and then install a VPN "tunnel" onto the new router. All of our home devices (phones, PC etc) would connect to this new wireless router using the VPN server and he would also have to log into (or connect to) that router, sort of as a default gateway, with his router whilst on the road so that we all use the same AP or possibly IP to connect to the streaming service.

Which is the option most likely?

TIA and apologies if I have mangled any technical terms.

NB
If they're only away for 7 days at a time then most streaming apps aren't going to care. Unless they need a UK ip for their content.

Nordvpn lets you tunnel to another device very easily, even without paying. I know there are other ways but I could leave my laptop drawing 20w with software already installed, to get a normal consumer UK IP when abroad so it worked well for me.
 
Netflix allows you to go travelling and have people watch at home as normal, as long as the device reconnects to the "home" internet within 30 days all will be good. Repeat as needed.

No idea about Prime, sorry.

I use my unifi USG to create a vpn that I can login into from anywhere, i'm sure other routers wil do the same job.
Ok. That is a good start. Thanks for the feedback
If they're only away for 7 days at a time then most streaming apps aren't going to care. Unless they need a UK ip for their content.

Nordvpn lets you tunnel to another device very easily, even without paying. I know there are other ways but I could leave my laptop drawing 20w with software already installed, to get a normal consumer UK IP when abroad so it worked well for me.
Yeh. It is this tunnelling thing that has me a little confused.

I know I cannot install VPN software directly onto my VM Hub 5. That means I need to buy a new router, set the VM router to modem mode and connect a new router (looking at this TP-Link Archer AX53 AX3000Mbps WiFi 6 Router).

Is that router sufficient and at least as good (and hopefully better than the Hub5? Can I install VPN software onto it?
If so, I should be able to install the VPN DNS stuff onto that which means all my devices into the home are automatically connected via the VPN. I think I have got that correct.

My son, hypothetically, could then buy that travel router I mentioned above and somehow he routes all his traffic through our router (and therefore VPN) so we are all "at home". I am sure that I read somewhere that NordVPN has a certain connection that goes through one server and then out another and the IP that uses is less likely to trigger any alarms with Netflix and possibly Prime.

However, using this method I think prevents me from setting some traffic to avoid the VPN entirely (because it is on the router not my desktop) which may cause some latency issues with some trading software I use but it may be the price I have to pay. Am I correct or have I misunderstood?

Thank you again for your help as this is not my area of expertise.

NB
 
As the saying goes, if it's free, you're the product.

I read another post not long ago about how free VPN providers use your PC to route traffic/sites for region spoofing, so people doing ticket scalping, etc. will pay the VPN provider and they'll basically use their bot network.
 
@Noughtboy I think you are overcomplicating it. You're proposing: Son's device > new travel router > new home router > nordvpn server when your son can just install nordvpn on his device and do the exact same thing with 2 less devices.

But that assumes that a nordvpn server will let you watch content when abroad which isn't agiven as the streaming services try to block this.

I wouldn't recommend routing all your traffic through a VPN as you'll constantly be filling out "are you a bot?" captchas and some sites don't work.

If he's only gone for a week or two, he could just download content in advance. Or do the nordpvn tunnel into your home network like I suggested earlier.
 
@Noughtboy I think you are overcomplicating it. You're proposing: Son's device > new travel router > new home router > nordvpn server when your son can just install nordvpn on his device and do the exact same thing with 2 less devices.

But that assumes that a nordvpn server will let you watch content when abroad which isn't agiven as the streaming services try to block this.

I wouldn't recommend routing all your traffic through a VPN as you'll constantly be filling out "are you a bot?" captchas and some sites don't work.

If he's only gone for a week or two, he could just download content in advance. Or do the nordpvn tunnel into your home network like I suggested earlier.
@Disco_P he will be on a 14 day work cycle 9 (5+4) days in 14 at the least. He may choose to not come home for a long weekend based on where he is but that would be the plan when he gets his driving license. But in the meantime, he will always have a Smart TV which he can hardwire to the travel router. His work laptop will likely be very locked down based on his employer and the industry and therefore will unlikely be able to watch streaming services nor add VPN services which is whay I thought the travel router scenario which will just connect to the TV.

However, what you are proposing is probably better but I wasn't sure it was possible. You are proposing that he can tunnel into my VM Hub 5 via the travel router and then connect out through there? Is it possible to allow him to do that on this router? Will we both still require Nord VPN or can I set this up via the hub and him via the travel router? I can see on the VM Hub 5 a Port Forwarding, Port Triggering and DMZ setting and the forwarding looks to only be for local devices.

I kind of have an idea conceptually but the practical side is not my forte.
 
Safeshell here, brilliant vpn. Has a handy feature that lets you connect different apps to different regions at the same time.
I use this on my Apple TV4k really handy if you use a lot of streaming services.
 
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I'm wondering how long it's going to take the government to go after VPN's. The free ones are especially problematic and make it too easy to bypass restrictions.
 
Been with Windscibe for awhile now and it's been a mixed bag of service I'd say. The port forwarding works but only for 7 days and then you have to renew it manually. Not a deal breaker but it does mean checking to see if its active or not before you need it. You can only do it via the account settings on their website rather than through the client too. Sites like imageBB are blacklisted at their end so some images on here don't show for me. Not a massive issue though.

edit: seems to be working now but sometimes I get blocked trying to watch football highlights on skysports website.
 
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A friend has recommended Norton 360.

I'm not so interested in the AV but the VPN is of interest. It's £14 for 5 devices for 12 months so seems cheap.

I'd be using it on Android devices and windows.

I'm only really interested in privacy/security and changing location.

How is their data storage/logging etc? Obviously I don't want them holding login details, bank info etc. Or is it standard practice that vpns don't hold or enxrypt this data?
 
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I'm only really interested in privacy/
Why do you think a VPN will help with privacy and security out of interest?

Every site you visit will be over an encrypted connection, and if it's not any modern web browser will put up big warning pages. Encrypting an encrypted connection does... nothing for privacy or security except make the connection slower.
 
Why do you think a VPN will help with privacy and security out of interest?

Every site you visit will be over an encrypted connection, and if it's not any modern web browser will put up big warning pages. Encrypting an encrypted connection does... nothing for privacy or security except make the connection slower.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but is the main purpose of the VPN not that your traffic is protected? Not just websites but banking apps etc too Eg when connecting to public wifi etc

Google seems to think this is the case
The main purposes of a VPN are to enhance online privacy and security by encrypting internet traffic and masking your IP address, which hides your online activity from ISPs, hackers, and advertisers.

Happy to be corrected but I'm unsure what you're suggesting a VPN is for if not this.
 
Maybe I'm mistaken, but is the main purpose of the VPN not that your traffic is protected? Not just websites but banking apps etc too Eg when connecting to public wifi etc

Anything that uses HTTPS is protected already, using a VPN on top adds nothing in terms of security. The most it can do is prevent the network operator seeing your DNS requests.

VPNs are there to evade ISP content blocking and region shifting, everything else is marketing.
 
For public wifi / networks VPN are a good idea, that includes things like hotels, cafes etc.

At home, unless your leaking your DNS requests a VPN will just hide the sites you are visiting from your ISP etc, you also have the option to exit in another country if required.

Not all VPN actually include DNS redirection, you can however use secured DNS with the likes of cloudflare 1.1.1.1 etc and some devices directly support this.

 
Maybe I'm mistaken, but is the main purpose of the VPN not that your traffic is protected? Not just websites but banking apps etc too Eg when connecting to public wifi etc

Google seems to think this is the case


Happy to be corrected but I'm unsure what you're suggesting a VPN is for if not this.
The connection between your phone and bank (and pretty much all of the internet) is encrypted without a VPN. No one can see the traffic except the client (your phone) and the server (your bank, or service you're accessing). If your bank were concerned about the security of the connection they'd recommend using a VPN, and none of them do.

Public wifi is a good shout. I do that. But I do it to my own home VPN rather than some 3rd party. The most anyone might see without a VPN is you have a connection to your bank. Wow, big deal. They can't steal your money or impersonate you with that information. It's not like you're giving the public wifi provider real details is it (you shouldn't, by the way).

I wouldn't trust the results of Google searches, they are heavily biased to whatever companies earn Google ad revenue. The only people claiming VPNs protect you are the companies who profit from VPN sales. Those same companies who have in the past claimed not to store user data, yet actually have as various legal paths and breaches have shown. What are they doing with it? Selling it no doubt. Any decent ISP won't do that.

VPNs have their uses: bypassing geo restrictions (or more recently to bypass required sign up to certain sites), providing secure access to a remote network (ie, VPN to access work based services, or access your home services securely) etc.

Do you know who owns Norton? Where are their datacenters located? What user data laws do they have in those countries? What are they doing with the browsing data you wilfully give them if you use their services? There are many ways to protect your information, starting with ensuring you are using DoH as an example, and changing any bad habits.
 
The connection between your phone and bank (and pretty much all of the internet) is encrypted without a VPN. No one can see the traffic except the client (your phone) and the server (your bank, or service you're accessing). If your bank were concerned about the security of the connection they'd recommend using a VPN, and none of them do.

Public wifi is a good shout. I do that. But I do it to my own home VPN rather than some 3rd party. The most anyone might see without a VPN is you have a connection to your bank. Wow, big deal. They can't steal your money or impersonate you with that information. It's not like you're giving the public wifi provider real details is it (you shouldn't, by the way).

I wouldn't trust the results of Google searches, they are heavily biased to whatever companies earn Google ad revenue. The only people claiming VPNs protect you are the companies who profit from VPN sales. Those same companies who have in the past claimed not to store user data, yet actually have as various legal paths and breaches have shown. What are they doing with it? Selling it no doubt. Any decent ISP won't do that.

VPNs have their uses: bypassing geo restrictions (or more recently to bypass required sign up to certain sites), providing secure access to a remote network (ie, VPN to access work based services, or access your home services securely) etc.

Thanks. Very informative.

Do you know who owns Norton? Where are their datacenters located? What user data laws do they have in those countries? What are they doing with the browsing data you wilfully give them if you use their services? There are many ways to protect your information, starting with ensuring you are using DoH as an example, and changing any bad habits.

No. That's why I was asking :D

I'll look into it though.
 
Following on from my previous questions and doing some graft, I bought to Cudy WR3000E routers. They have WISP, openvpn and Wireguard and I think dynu in the menu (or certainly configurable for a DDNS.)

From what I understand, I do not need a VPN to create a tunnel between the two. I just set my VM Hub 5 to modem mode and setup a wireguard server on the Cody home router (using a key generator) which will then just connect into the VM Hub WAN and becomes my new Wifi 6 Home router. I use dynu to setup a server hostname on the router. On the travel router (which my son will be using), set that up using WISP to connect to the WiFi at the place he would be overnighting in and set that up again using Wireguard as a VPN client.

He uses my dynu DDNS as the connection/tunnel for all his streaming traffic and his phone/laptop gets routed through the local wifi as per usual.

Saves having to configure a VPN and hopefully within my technical capability
 
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