Tag Archives: VPN

Tor, VPN or Proxy – Which is Right for You?

Records of an average person’s browsing history may not be worth much, but when you add every citizen of the U.S. to the equation, the value becomes millions of dollars.

ISPs want your personal data so they can sell it to the highest bidder or find ways to upsell you. Advertisers and titans of Web search want to track your online activity so they can display products you’re most likely to be interested in. Finally, governments want access to your online activities, in case they find a reason to monitor them.

These players are becoming a bigger threat to your online privacy by the day, and it’s about time you stood up to this menace. It starts by protecting yourself, namely with Tor, a VPN, or a proxy.

There’s no perfect solution, however, it should be said they’re not all in the same league either. So, let’s look at the pros and cons of each of these technologies.

Tor

What is it?

Known as “the onion router,” Tor is free software that allows you to join their anonymity service. Tor directs traffic through a network of thousands of relays run by volunteers around the world. It makes it very difficult if not impossible for someone to monitor your online activity, and also prevents site owners from seeing your true location.

Over the years, Tor Browser has become the main focus of the Tor Project. It integrates Tor’s technology with a Web browser, making it straightforward to use. Tor Browser requires no setup. However, it won’t hide your activities in other apps such as email, FTP, torrent client, etc.

Only accomplished tech aficionados should tackle their Expert Bundle which is the standalone flavor of Tor. It allows you to manually configure programs to work with it.

Pros

Not only is Tor free software, but it’s also a free service which is amazing.
Tor Browser is easy to use.
Tor Expert bundle allows you to hide your IP address on apps beyond your web browser.

Cons

In terms of speed, expect varying degrees of slow. Considering all your browsing data is bouncing around various relays worldwide, it’s understandable why. The other reason is advancements in the network and software are dependent on altruistic contributions, which are short in supply.
Since launching in 2002 it has created a reputation for being a favored tool of cyber criminals, spammers, and dissidents. Attempts to hide yourself with it can backfire as Tor users are viewed with suspicion. It can be a red flag for services, businesses, or organizations that can detect its use.

Visit the Tor Project site.

VPN

What is it?

A VPN extends a private network across a public network. It acts as a fast, secure bridge between your computer and the internet, encrypting your data as you browse the web.

With a VPN enabled, websites you visit and prying eyes online can’t see your real IP address. Instead, they’ll see the IP associated with the VPN service. VPNs also allow you to bypass geographic restrictions by allowing you to assume an IP associated with a different country.

VPN access is a service, and just like internet access, you’ll be billed monthly to use it.

Pros

Paid service so servers are robust, reliable, and fast.
Quality VPN services have huge networks of servers located around the world.
Used for professional applications by IT professionals. VPN users are generally granted more trust than Tor or proxy users.
Services offer extensive software for use with any OS (desktop or mobile) and with any application.

Cons

You need to subscribe to a service with an associated monthly fee.
Some companies block their users from accessing services with a VPN.
Premium VPNs are generally fast, but using a VPN might cause weaker performance in highly demanding applications such as online gaming.

View a comparison of top VPNs.

Proxy

What is it?

Before VPNs exploded in popularity, proxy servers, and web proxies were the go-to method for hiding your identity. Similar to a VPN a proxy is a gateway between your home network and a public network such as the Internet.

When viewing lists of proxy servers published online, you’ll come across three types: anonymous, elite, and transparent. Basically, the slower the proxy type, the more secure the connection. So transparent is the fastest, and the least secure. Anonymous is in the middle, and elite is the most secure. An elite proxy even tries to hide the fact you’re using a proxy, but it’s the slowest type.

Unlike VPNs which allow you to set up one centralized app that will anonymize all your activity no matter which application you’re using; proxies require extensive configuration. You’ll need to learn the the proxy options well in each app as you’ll likely need to change servers often in search of a solution with decent speeds.

Many companies see proxies as legacy technology and have removed its support from their software to focus on VPN features.

Pros

Both free and paid proxies are available although most will want a VPN if they choose to pay.
Free proxy lists are plentiful, many of which are checked continuously to ensure the list is fresh and that the proxies are indeed online.

Cons

Free proxy servers are run by individuals, not companies that operate with at least some ethical standards.
Free proxies are used and abused by spammers and malicious users so you may find the proxy server IP is banned by the site you wish to use.
Each app is configured separately with proxies. This can be time-consuming and frustrating due to the likely need to change your proxy server often.

View a free proxy list.

The Final Verdict

Free proxies and Tor are fine for dabblers. However, if you wish to hide your identity on an ongoing basis, you’ll probably lose patience with the unreliability, slow speeds, or hoop-jumping (in the case of proxies) associated with these methods.

The top VPN services recommended here on LetMeBy are fast, trustworthy, and generally the best option for nearly everyone. The only downside is you’ll need to pay for it, but since most VPNs are so fairly priced, this isn’t much of a drawback.

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Photo: Ed Ivanushkin

VPNs Protect You but Aren’t a Substitute for Antivirus

VPNs get a lot of praise for their ability to boost one’s privacy online. Many wrongfully assume that because VPNs hide their IP address and offer a high level of encryption, they’re protected without antivirus software.

In actuality, VPNs and antivirus software serve completely different purposes.

Although using a VPN makes it nearly impossible to determine your identity through certain means, it won’t stop other methods to get hold of your private data such as phishing.

It’s estimated that one-fourth of PCs have no virus protection. That’s a camp you don’t want to be in. Unprotected machines are 5.5 times as likely to get infected.

Cybercriminals have gotten craftier and bolder than ever. On top of that, bad actors are taking more action than ever. Cyberattacks increased 125% in 2021 compared to the previous year. And there are no signs of it slowing down.

The bad guys have adapted and so will internet users. Those who use both antivirus and VPN are being proactive and are best prepared for threats now and in the future.

How Antivirus Software Protects You Online

One of the key components of antivirus software is its database. Online threats are always evolving so antivirus software downloads the latest threat database automatically before scanning your computer.

Security software either detects threats in real-time as soon as they appear or during a scheduled or manual scan of your hard drive. If malicious code is detected it’s either quarantined or deleted.

Malware is a generic term that includes many types of harmful software such as viruses, trojans, worms, and spyware. The next category everyone needs to be aware of is phishing. This is when bad actors pretend to be legitimate companies and services to extract personal data such as login details and credit card numbers.

Security software such as Norton 360 and Kaspersky Internet Security have a comprehensive approach so you’re defended from information security threats, network attacks, phishing attacks, and spam.

How VPNs Protect You Online

Data is incredibly valuable to businesses and institutions. There’s a whole industry dedicated to it, often referred to as big data. In 2022, the big data analytics market size was estimated to be worth USD 272 billion.

Private data is also valuable to shady third parties and cybercriminals which is the most immediate threat to the average internet user.

Thus, with each passing year, it’s more and more important to be mindful of how you protect your privacy online. There are plenty of improvements you can make by drilling down into the privacy settings of the online services you use. However, companies will never give you full control of your privacy. By using a VPN, you easily and effectively level up your privacy across all the apps and platforms of your choice.

VPN is short for Virtual Private Network. Essentially, you can think of a VPN as a tunnel that encrypts all data that moves between your internet connection and your device.

It replaces your true IP address with an IP associated with the location you select. This makes it nearly impossible for people and organizations to determine who you are and where you’re located by viewing your IP address.

To learn about the top 3 VPN services recommended on LetMeBy, visit this page.

Using Both Antivirus Software and a VPN is the Best Defence

Antivirus software and VPN apps complement each other perfectly. One if your best defense against malware and the other is your best defense against companies, third parties, and organizations compiling data about you based on your actions online.

VPNs have security benefits as well as it encrypts data during transit. This protects you from attackers that aim to intercept data going to your device or network. Once the data has reached your device, it’s up to antivirus software to deal with threats.

Antivirus software is essential. This is why Windows Defender is pre-installed on any current Windows machine. VPNs have seen an incredible boost in adoption in the past several years, but not every internet user needs a VPN. Everyone can benefit from using a VPN, but you need to value your online privacy to want it.

Wide-ranging security software is becoming more common. These solutions include both antivirus and VPN software.

Is Windows Defender Enough?

You might be old, but are you old enough to remember downloading McAfee on your new PC after installing Windows XP?

Windows has come a long way since then in terms of security features. Before the release of Vista, Windows users had to get third-party antivirus to protect their computers. Today, Windows Defender is preinstalled and Windows automatically downloads and applies the latest security updates.

Windows machines don’t really need third-party antivirus software since Windows Defender is perfectly capable.

The main reason to get third-party antivirus software is you find its features compelling. For example, gamers appreciate “gaming mode” which is found in software such as Kaspersky Internet Security. By enabling it, functions such as system scans and notifications won’t interrupt your gaming experience while the antivirus works in the background.

Full security suites provide the most added value. These software packages protect you from spam, unsafe websites, shady applications, webcam breaches, and more.

Conclusion

It’s easy for Windows users. Simply add a VPN to complement the antivirus software already preinstalled: Windows Defender. This gives you protection where it matters most. Still, when something is easy, we sometimes lose sight of what’s working for us in the background. Antivirus software is essential and VPNs are in no way a replacement for it.

Online privacy and protecting yourself from malware are related and more than ever there’s overlap between the two. However, for the best solution is to use both a VPN and antivirus.

How to Protect Your Privacy When Playing Online Games

From MMORPGs to battle royale shooters, it’s fun and thrilling for gamers to immerse themselves in a digital world filled with millions of other players.

Once an online game reaches the highest level of popularity it becomes like a world of its own—with its economy, massive variety of items, and culture. And while most of the dangers and challenges are merely a part of the game, there are also real threats gamers need to protect themselves from.

Online privacy is a hot topic these days. When digital experiences provided by social media, games, and apps exploded in popularity your average person wasn’t ready for the privacy ramifications of it all.

Like most tech companies, gaming companies want to collect data about their customers to improve their games, to better understand what gamers want, and of course to increase profits by selling the data or using the data themselves.

Savvy gamers are now deciding for themselves how much data collection is too much. More than ever, gaming platforms like Steam, PSN, and Xbox Live are giving people the tools to protect their privacy and specify which data they’re comfortable sharing and which data they aren’t.

So, let’s dive in. Here are the things you can do to improve your privacy in online video games.

Tweak Your Privacy Settings

When it comes to privacy settings, there’s almost always room for improvement from the default settings.

You need to drill down into menus and sometimes make decisions that prioritize either privacy or features and convenience.

Thankfully, once you tackle it, you’re in good shape for years to come until the gaming platform you use overhauls its approach to managing privacy.

To learn how to tweak your game console settings, see LetMeBy’s guide to protecting your privacy on PS5 and protecting your privacy on Xbox Series X/S.

Unlink Your Social Media

Many big game companies such as Blizzard Entertainment and Bethesda Softworks allow their users to connect their social media accounts to their gaming accounts.

It might seem like an interesting feature to explore if you post content about gaming, but linking to social media may grant the game company access to parts of your personal data such as your name, profile photo, or even what you post and in-game conversations.

It’s almost always preferable to log in with a password specific to that gaming account rather than something like Facebook as there is typically a privacy cost.

Keep Your Antivirus Active and Up-to-Date

Good virus protection is always a must on Windows, but for avid online gamers, it’s even more essential.

Some gamers disable their antivirus software to play online or don’t protect their PC at all because they believe it affects performance. Studies have found that in four out of five cases there’s no reduction in frames-per-second (FPS) when playing games with security software running. And in the rare case it has an effect, it’s not a noticeable one.

The hurdle is antivirus software can sometimes launch automated actions that interfere with your gaming experience. Some examples of this are antivirus database updates, notifications of stopped threats, or scheduled hard drive scans.

Choose antivirus solutions that allow you to delay updates and scans while you play games. Some security software such as Kaspersky [Amazon] have a game mode to ensure it doesn’t start using system resources during an intense boss fight.

Manually Block Data Collection

The services that collect data about you during a gaming session are stealthy indeed. These processes take place in the background so you don’t ever notice them.

Windows users have the power to block servers from collecting data about them. Open up your hosts file and add the IP address and hostname associated with the service you want to block.

Managing these connections manually requires research and tech skills, but you can’t always achieve the desired effect from the game or platform privacy settings. At times it’s better to take matters into your own hands.

Don’t Save Your Credit Card Info

Gaming platforms and consoles make it easy for people to save their credit card info for future purchases. Simply put, it’s more likely you’ll make purchases if you can do it in a few clicks. And companies like getting those frictionless sales.

While it’s no doubt convenient to have your credit card on file, it has risks that come along with it. If somebody gains access to your account, they could manage to collect your credit card info or even make purchases.

More and more, credit card companies are requiring confirmation that changes to your card are genuine. However, it’s still best to play it safe and enter your card info each time you shop for new games.

Use a VPN

VPNs create a secure tunnel in which all data flows between your internet connection and your gaming device.

Your real IP address is hidden and replaced with the IP associated with the VPN service. This makes it either difficult or impossible for companies and malicious users to pinpoint your location or gather data about you.

If you’re looking for a VPN, see LetMeBy’s top 3 VPN picks here. Alternatively, if you’re low on time, here are the VPNs most commonly recommended to gamers on this blog:

Avoid Using Cheats

Offering players cheats has become a common tactic used to trick unsuspecting gamers.

Here’s how it’s done.

Players looking for cheats and hacks will Google terms that bring them to an untrustworthy website. The site could use aggressive and misleading tactics to get players to click ads, complete surveys, or download malicious files.

Additionally, the cheat tool itself could use covert methods such as malware to obtain private data or it could use phishing to gain access to the gamer’s account.

Never download cheats as it not only goes against the terms of service in online games, it also puts your private data at risk. If you choose to download mods, do so from legit apps such as Steam or Epic Games and never from third-party websites.

Conclusion

Online gaming opens up incredible possibilities for players to compete and collaborate with other gamers, explore breathtaking environments, and acquire items that give their character a distinctive appearance.

It’s important to keep in mind that online games have greater risks as well.

There’s always a population of players looking for new ways to cheat and break the rules for their own gain. Online gaming has become so widespread that players are attractive targets for cybercriminals. On top of everything, many big gaming companies have become prying eyes.

Better online privacy doesn’t happen on its own. It’s something gamers need to strive for. And if you do, there’s a good chance your future self will thank you.

Brave Browser vs. Firefox: Which Is Best for Privacy?

First released in 2004, Firefox has long been an alternative for people who want to venture beyond the obvious web browser choices.

Firefox was once a popular browser, but its user base has largely moved on. In 2010, roughly 30% of internet users browsed with Firefox. Today, it’s dropped dramatically to under 3%.

Brave’s market share is much smaller than that with a mere 0.05% using it on desktop.

Right now, the vast majority are satisfied with what Apple, Google, and Microsoft have to offer.

There’s no doubt that Safari, Chrome, and Edge are capable. However, if you’re looking to level up your online privacy one of the first things to consider changing is your web browser. Mainstream browsers have many strengths and advantages, but top-tier privacy generally isn’t one of them.

Both Firefox and Brave put privacy front and center and use it to differentiate themselves from their much larger competitors.

Under the Hood

Before getting into the nitty gritty it’s helpful to know about the foundation these browsers are built on.

Brave is built on Chromium which is Google’s open-source browser. Thus, in terms of the technology that powers it, it has a lot more in common with Chrome than Firefox. Think of it like Chromium is the engine but its feature set is based on a philosophy that puts emphasis on user privacy.

Firefox is a unique platform and ecosystem developed by Mozilla. Web browsers that are developed from the ground up are a rarity. Many alternative browsers such as Opera are powered by Chromium. Also, typically browsers are built by corporations, but Firefox is made by a foundation. Mozilla is focused on principals such as keeping the internet open and accessible to all. Firefox is part of its family of products it calls “privacy-first.”

Now, let’s dig deeper into each browser’s privacy features and how they perform in the real world to determine which one is right for you.

Tracker Blocking

Brave features tracker blocking out of the box with ‘Brave Shields.’

In the browser, you can click the Brave logo to the right of the address bar to quickly view stats about blocked trackers and ads. This is a handy way to see how many trackers are on websites you frequently visit. A small number that specifies the number of trackers blocked also appears on top of the logo which is nice since it saves you a second or two.

Firefox for desktop has what it calls ‘Enhanced Tracking Protection.’

By clicking on the shield icon to the left of the address bar in Firefox you get a little report about known trackers on the websites you visit. At first glance, the presentation isn’t as slick as Brave’s. However, by clicking through to its ‘Protections Dashboard’ you’re greeted with a breakdown of all the types of trackers it blocked throughout the week.

Verdict: Tie

Brave and Firefox block trackers and cookies comprehensively. In fact, one Redditor tested them with d3ward’s website and Adblock Tester and both were given a score of 100%.

When Brave and Firefox’s websites get into the specifics of what’s blocked, they emphasize different things. For example, Brave optimizes scripts that can affect performance, and it catches third parties that use cloaking to try to bypass ad blockers.

Firefox pays special attention to social media trackers in its reports. It also blocks cryptomining which is malware nefarious websites use to employ their visitors’ computers to mine crypto for them.

Private Window

Often private window features are only for local privacy. In other words, they exclude websites you visited from your history when it’s enabled. Additionally, there aren’t other traces left over from browsing such as search bar entries, cookies, and cached files.

Brave goes a step beyond with its Private Window. Uniquely, it comes with two different variations. First, is its normal Private Window that stops sites from being added to the list in the History menu. Second, is its Private Window which uses Tor to hide your identity with incredible thoroughness. It does come at the cost of loading speed. So, it’s a tool you’ll only want to use when online anonymity is a critical factor.

Firefox has a Private Window feature that’s pretty much identical to the one found in mainstream browsers such as Chrome’s incognito mode. It performs its function of enhancing local privacy admirably. But it does nothing to boost your anonymity online versus regular browsing.

Verdict: Brave Wins

Brave’s ability to browse with Tor might go unnoticed by many, but it actually makes private browsing truly anonymous as the name implies. Tor offers its own browser as well but this is the perfect way for people to get their feet wet.

Fingerprinting

Many websites and online services use digital fingerprinting to identity devices. It gathers data about your operating system, browser, your hardware setup, screen resolution, etc. Some of these items may seem insignificant but when they’re all added together it’s a reliable way to pinpoint you.

Sites such as Cover Your Tracks and Browser Leaks will test your browser to see how big your digital footprint really is.

Brave did the best in tests since it dynamically changes fingerprint data to make it difficult or impossible to track its users. Essentially, the fingerprint data is there, but it’s useless to its recipients.

Firefox has a persistent fingerprint. Rebooting your system or relaunching your browser won’t improve matters.

Verdict: Brave Wins

VPN Features

Changing your browser is often the first step on the road towards better online privacy. Getting a VPN is the second.

VPNs sit between the internet and your device so true anonymity can be achieved. They offer the highest level of encryption so your location and actions can’t be tracked by companies and third parties.

Brave offers a paid VPN service called Brave VPN. It’s powered by Guardian and it protects five devices.

Firefox also has a VPN product called Mozilla VPN. It’s developed directly by Mozilla and like Brave’s offering, it can be installed on five devices.

Verdict: Tie

You can use any VPN service with Brave or Firefox. You merely have to install the associated VPN app to create a protected connection in any applications you use. If you’re interested in taking advantage of this feature, be sure to view the top 3 VPNs recommended by LetMeBy here.

Conclusion

Firefox and Brave are both excellent browsers that live up to their claims of putting privacy first. They are nearly neck and neck when it comes to their implementation of most privacy features. However, Brave has an edge due to its fingerprinting capabilities and integration of Tor in its Private Window.

Overall, Brave’s user experience feels a bit more modern. Firefox has kept up but its roots as a browser that’s been around since the mid-2000s are apparent in its user interface at times. Some may notice that Brave’s performance is snappy as it utilizes RAM very efficiently.

On the other side of the coin, Firefox is well-established and widely supported. It plays nice with pretty much any website.

Online Privacy Has Become “Very Creepy” Says Mozilla

If you ever felt we’ve come dangerously close to George Orwell’s dystopian vision in 1984, you’re on to something. Big Brother isn’t watching but the products we use every day and the companies behind them certainly are.

They’re best known for their web browser, Firefox, but Mozilla is also an online privacy watchdog. Since 2017 they’ve been reviewing products and assessing what data is collected and who it’s being shared with.

Their annual consumer Creep-O-Meter takes all those findings, distills them, and gives you a big-picture view of the current state of digital privacy and where we’re headed.

According to the oversized, shocked emoji on their site, things aren’t looking good. The state of digital privacy is “very creepy.”

The Good News: Online Security Has Improved

The report isn’t all doom and gloom.

More companies are using encryption and giving their customers automatic updates. So, while companies are hungry for personal data, and they’re typically sharing it to make additional revenue, the data is generally sent securely. That means it’s much harder for third parties to intercept personal data illegitimately.

It’s important to remember that companies might not always make decisions that put their customers first but they’re not the threat. Rather, consumers should be most concerned about nefarious third parties that steal private data.

The Bad: Long Privacy Policies and Products that Don’t Work Offline

If you’ve skipped privacy policies, skimmed others, and occasionally read sections of them, you’re in the majority.

Insanely long privacy policies that no human possibly has time to read are the norm. If you’re ambitious enough to go through one, the legal jargon and lack of clarity may give you just as many questions as answers.

A machine learning analysis found that since 1996 the typical privacy policy has grown to over 4,000 words.

Another growing trend is products that need an internet connection to operate, with no “offline mode.”

Devices use so many online services today that it’s tricky to give people a decent user experience without the internet. And since there isn’t much incentive for companies to offer the ability to go offline, many companies have given up on the idea.

Going offline is the simplest, most effective way to protect your private data. When apps and gadgets neither offer a way to use them offline nor manage privacy settings, customers are left with a choice: accept data practices they might not be comfortable with or stop using them entirely.

New Cars Are the Creepiest Products

Perhaps the biggest shocker of all is that 100% of car makers failed to pass Mozilla’s privacy test.

If you’re looking for car brands that are slightly less aggressive about collecting and using your personal data, you won’t find much. All the big auto manufacturers are practically moving in lockstep.

Nissan won for the highest creep factor. The Japan-based company collects data about “sexual activity, health diagnosis data, and genetic information” according to Mozilla.

And when it comes to overall privacy with the most room for improvement, Tesla took the cake. Tesla was given an “X” in every category in their report about the state of privacy in car brands.

Most Gadgets Have Mics and Cameras

Perhaps it’s just too tempting to harvest data about customers when all the tools are built right into the products. Over 90% of gadgets, apps, and cars have a mic, a camera, or both.

The products with the highest “creepiness” may surprise you. Gaming consoles, smart video doorbells, smart speakers, and GPS watches were common near the top of Mozilla’s “Privacy Not Included” list.

Video call apps such as Apple’s Facetime were some of the worst when it comes to data privacy policies.

Quick Tips to Take Control of Your Privacy

Opt-out: When you install apps, you could be given the opportunity to limit or stop data collection and sharing. If privacy settings are available, poke around and see if you can make changes that will improve your online privacy.
Check permissions and deny access as needed: Android and iOS allow you to manage which apps have access to your location, contacts, camera, etc. as well as in what circumstances they’re permitted to access them. It’s a good practice to review these permissions every now and again.
Clear private data companies have about you: Tech companies such as Google and Meta allow you to delete your personal data they store on their servers. If you continue to use their services, they’ll resume collecting data in most cases but at least you’ll start fresh.
Use a VPN: Add a layer of anonymity and encryption between your device and the internet with a virtual private network. It allows you to easily hide your IP address which is one of the key ways you are identified online. Learn about the top 3 VPN services here.
Delete apps you’re not using: It may be surprising to some, but apps you don’t even use can still collect data about you. Old apps that haven’t received security updates may contain personal information that is low-hanging fruit for data thieves.
Read the privacy policy: No, not the privacy policy, right? It might be duller reading material than the phonebook, but if you use an app or product every day it’s important to know how it handles your data.

Conclusion

The smart technology we have in our homes has added efficiency to our lives and connected us to the world, but it has its costs.

More than ever companies are using their products to collect and share the personal data of their customers. The big data industry provides lucrative opportunities to manufacturers. Tough economic times have corporations looking for alternative revenue sources.

Before you set up an “always on” device in your home such as a smart speaker or smart video doorbell, consider if the upside outweighs the downside. Products in certain categories have privacy drawbacks across the board.