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How often do you use a VPN with your iPhone?

  • All the time

    Votes: 18 12.6%
  • Sometimes

    Votes: 39 27.3%
  • When a specific need arises

    Votes: 53 37.1%
  • Never

    Votes: 33 23.1%

  • Total voters
    143
I have a vpn for my computer, but since i have a couple of free licenses, I also put it on my phone.
 
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I am surprised that so many people don't use VPN on their phones, especially in today's world.
It's likely most use their mobile data from their carrier, which is considered safe essentially, as well as known WiFi networks (which are likely secured) that they also consider safe.
 
It's likely most use their mobile data from their carrier, which is considered safe essentially, as well as known WiFi networks (which are likely secured) that they also consider safe.
You are probably right. I also think about all the people who connect to public wifi etc. without even considering the consequences.

In addition to being secure, (as best I can be) I also make a point to keep nosey 'eyes' and computer screens from tracking everything I do on the phone, even if it may be innocuous at times.
 
I am surprised that so many people don't use VPN on their phones, especially in today's world.

Of course, 'why VPN'...is the crux of the matter.

I really don't do anything secure from my phone beyond an infrequent Amazon purchase.

My computer...that's a whole different matter.
 
I use it when I am not on cellular data or my home wifi. I also use for these exceptions if I need to bust through geo-blocks, watching free content like ITV from UK. I use free Opera VPN sometimes and some free ones from UK.

Unfortunately I don't have a MAC, else I would enroll all my and family's iDevices into MDM. Right now, I simply cannot automate this: "When not on cellular data or pre-selected Wifi networks, auto connect to my home VPN and disable complete internet access if VPN is not up and running". Apple removed the Configurator for Windows, I wish they would bring it back.. so much more easier to manage all devices.
 
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Are any of you VPN users worried that you are sharing an IP address with so many other people doing whatever they want? What if you get mixed up in some serious criminal activity?

Before you go off reciting the policies they put on their webpage, do any of you actually have proof that they have absolutely no logs and that it is impossible to trace it back to your real IP? The maker of Windscribe says himself not to believe any VPN maker that claims that there is absolute anonymity. And from what we have learned from Snowden and Wikileaks, I am likely to believe that when there is a will, there is a way (by the govt).
 
I use a vpn for my 2 phones, 2 iPads and mac. The one I use allows up to 6 devices to be added. I am doing a 6 month trial of Nordvpn and so far I like it.
 
You are probably right. I also think about all the people who connect to public wifi etc. without even considering the consequences.

In addition to being secure, (as best I can be) I also make a point to keep nosey 'eyes' and computer screens from tracking everything I do on the phone, even if it may be innocuous at times.
A VPN on public Wi-Fi is horrible
Taking the already trash speeds and pairing that with a VPN?

Always have problems
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Are any of you VPN users worried that you are sharing an IP address with so many other people doing whatever they want? What if you get mixed up in some serious criminal activity?

Before you go off reciting the policies they put on their webpage, do any of you actually have proof that they have absolutely no logs and that it is impossible to trace it back to your real IP? The maker of Windscribe says himself not to believe any VPN maker that claims that there is absolute anonymity. And from what we have learned from Snowden and Wikileaks, I am likely to believe that when there is a will, there is a way (by the govt).
Yeah, read somewhere that the host can be legally liable if the user (who would be anon) can't be accountable
So the VPN host could get slapped with child porn, money laundering, trafficking, whatever other crazy people out there do

Why would any company get in insane legal trouble just because you paid them $4 a month?
 
Are any of you VPN users worried that you are sharing an IP address with so many other people doing whatever they want? What if you get mixed up in some serious criminal activity?

Before you go off reciting the policies they put on their webpage, do any of you actually have proof that they have absolutely no logs and that it is impossible to trace it back to your real IP? The maker of Windscribe says himself not to believe any VPN maker that claims that there is absolute anonymity. And from what we have learned from Snowden and Wikileaks, I am likely to believe that when there is a will, there is a way (by the govt).
That's why you need to carefully select your VPN provider. I use PIA, which specifically states they do not keep logs of their users, so if say you torrented movies and they received a request to see where it came from, they are not able to show which user that was. The VPN providers also do clever tricks like hosting certain VPN servers out of the country where US laws don't apply.

Also, many free or extremely cheap VPN providers are not secure. While your connection at the hotspot is secure, the connection at the other end of the VPN is not and can be used to gather confidential information. Lots of people seem to think that VPN = I am invulnerable.
 
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I use it for specific reasons only.

I usually avoid open WiFi, but if I need to do banking or something I will turn it on. Also if there are censors I need to get around I use it. And finally if I need to access something on my home network I use it.

I don't do torrents or whatever. I only use Usenet and my provider does not log (they also offer a free VPN, but I don't use it much). For the three things I list above I usually tunnel into my own network.
 
That's why you need to carefully select your VPN provider. I use PIA, which specifically states they do not keep logs of their users, so if say you torrented movies and they received a request to see where it came from, they are not able to show which user that was. The VPN providers also do clever tricks like hosting certain VPN servers out of the country where US laws don't apply.

Also, many free or extremely cheap VPN providers are not secure. While your connection at the hotspot is secure, the connection at the other end of the VPN is not and can be used to gather confidential information. Lots of people seem to think that VPN = I am invulnerable.
Good advice. Not all VPN's are equal (even between the paid).

I use PIA on my phone and Mac. For some reason, I have high packet loss on my fiber internet, which affects my VPN usage on the Mac. If I don't try to use VPN, my speed is a big 800+ d/ u. If I use their software, I do well to get 50mbps down. Setting up for a VPN on my Mac (Via the Network settings) and using their server allows me to get 250mbps d/ u. That speed is usable for VPN. I tested iPVanish with the same process and couldn't get above 35 mbps even with using their local VPN servers. Very frustrating. PIA app for iPhone works well.
 
That's why you need to carefully select your VPN provider. I use PIA, which specifically states they do not keep logs of their users, so if say you torrented movies and they received a request to see where it came from, they are not able to show which user that was. The VPN providers also do clever tricks like hosting certain VPN servers out of the country where US laws don't apply.

Also, many free or extremely cheap VPN providers are not secure. While your connection at the hotspot is secure, the connection at the other end of the VPN is not and can be used to gather confidential information. Lots of people seem to think that VPN = I am invulnerable.

You have not addressed the crux of the problem: you are trusting this company, simply based on what they told you. Just because they say there are no user logs, doesn't mean there are no user logs. And like I said, it is highly likely that there will be some way to find you if the govt. was so motivated. IIRC, PIA is Five Eyes.

PIA has that one court test, but even in that one test, they still found the guy, the fact that he had a PIA account, and still took him to court IIRC. In that case they did not pursue the issue further, but we have no idea what really happened.
 
You have not addressed the crux of the problem: you are trusting this company, simply based on what they told you. Just because they say there are no user logs, doesn't mean there are no user logs. And like I said, it is highly likely that there will be some way to find you if the govt. was so motivated. IIRC, PIA is Five Eyes.

PIA has that one court test, but even in that one test, they still found the guy, the fact that he had a PIA account, and still took him to court IIRC. In that case they did not pursue the issue further, but we have no idea what really happened.
I believe the hundreds of independent reviews and testimonials I read, I put a lot more faith in PIA than other VPN providers.
 
I am curious as to how many of you use a VPN service with your iPhone. If so, what motivated you to do so? Do you keep it running all the time, or do you use it for certain needs?


I use PIA- Private Internet Access on the iPhone sometimes, when I'm using public wifi at a hotel and abroad. PIA has a great free app that's easy to use and great speeds. Only problem is the app uses more processing power, so battery drain is more noticeable, almost double.
 
I don't use it for mobile data or known secure wifi but I do use it for unsecured public hotspots like stores. Very rarely use it to tunnel to another country.
 
I use vpn a lot to bust through geo-blocks. But as an ordinary user, I really want to know the working theory of vpn, is it safe? How possible will my personal information be leasked?
 
I use vpn a lot to bust through geo-blocks. But as an ordinary user, I really want to know the working theory of vpn, is it safe? How possible will my personal information be leasked?
What gets leaked depends on the quality of the service you use, the country of origin of said company, and what kind of activity you are up to, should you be using the VPN and there is a leak somewhere along the tunnel.
 
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