VPNs what's the catch?

Vidar · 31 Jul 2013 at 02:22

Okay I posted the other day about which VPN service provider you guys would recommend and went with Mullvad....

From my limited understanding of VPN's they provide complete anonymity while connected and can be used for illegal activities like leeching files etc. But where does this anonymity end? As far as I understand it I could hack an email account etc (not that I could or would want too, just to clarify) and cause all manner of mischief and anyone trying to trace would see my new switzerland IP address and that's it..... So what's the catch and how in the hell is this legal?

Chihero · 31 Jul 2013 at 02:45

because VPNs have legitimate uses too

bremen1874 · 31 Jul 2013 at 02:54

Connecting via a VPN is completely legal, and there are perfectly legitimate reasons why you might want to use one.

Believing that using a VPN service will provide complete anonymity is probably just a fool's paradise. If you cause enough of a nuisance they will ultimately catch up with you.

Rroff · 31 Jul 2013 at 02:56

If you did do anything outright illegal the VPN provider would be bound by law in many cases to give up any information they have on you. (Obviously if your renting it from some countries then it becomes a more complicated story).

Besides which these days within reason there are tools out there available to law enforcement (more intelligence geared tho) that can narrow down or in some cases track data either side of a VPN or similiar proxy.

TALON1973 · 31 Jul 2013 at 08:17

very handy for getting music from hdtracks

!bluetonic! · 31 Jul 2013 at 08:44

From another perspective, I could set up my own VPN on my router at home.

I could then connect to my VPN on my mobile phone giving me access to my home network and files securely on the move.

That's all above board in my mind.

RHS · 31 Jul 2013 at 08:59

Not that you would break the law but a VPN is not a bombproof secure method of doing so.

LulzSec case in point http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/may/16/lulzsec-hackers-jailed-cyber-attacks (TLDR version, guy got 32 months in jail)

If you need access to your desktop creating your own VPN on your Windows/Linux PC offers a great way to remote desktop to your computer from other devices.

KIA · 31 Jul 2013 at 13:27

No one knows if Mullvad log as little as they say they do. It's good for a basic level of anonymity, nothing more.

worthingsaxovtr · 3 Aug 2013 at 08:52

I tired Mullvad and it didnt seem to work, it came up as Virgin media was still blocking some websites.

So I restarted and instaled again and still didnt work.

ince · 3 Aug 2013 at 09:13

You can most like.y be traced of they need to trace you

busbyuk · 3 Aug 2013 at 23:26

A balaclava also provides anonymity but just because someone could use them to do crimes shouldn't mean they be made illegal.

As mentioned above they are used for legitimate uses and this is why they still exist.

AtaRo · 4 Aug 2013 at 14:50

Just because Mullvad said they do not keep log it does not mean that they will not log your traffic if force to do so by a court order.