The Dangers of using VPN

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Revision as of 21:05, 29 May 2019 by Eskimo (talk | contribs) (Reference list added with links to sources)

VPN (Virtual Private Networks) are privately run encrypted proxy services that protect privacy by masking the IP address of their users replacing the original IP address with a different one that can be located anywhere in the World.

Besides hiding your IP from server logs in the websites you visit, a VPN service protects you from your Internet Service Provider spying on you, in countries like the United Kingdom where the law requires Internet Service Providers to keep a record of what URLs a user has visited [1], they will be unable to see anything if you are behind an encrypted VPN tunnel. A VPN service will also bypass censorship, if your Internet Service Provider is filtering websites, like they do in Russia, by using a VPN, the filter is rendered useless.

IP logging

Almost every VPN provider claims to either keep no logs, or to keep logs for only a very short time. This is what the VPN operators say, but there is no way to determine the truthfulness of their claims. Should they not be telling the truth, then any BoyLover using such a VPN may be exposing himself to serious risks.

There is no method to determine what provider is telling the truth and which one isn´t, you must rely on open source information to pick the best VPN provider, try to pick a company with a record of not handing over logs to law enforcement [2], this confirms that it is truly impossible for them to facilitate something they haven´t got.

VPN as "honeypots"

Some of the adversaries of BoyLove (for example, entities within governments such as the NSA in the U.S.) have virtually unlimited funds at their disposal, and can operate in complete secrecy. As VPN are often used for illegal purposes, these entities have an interest in those who are using VPN, and it is entirely reasonable to assume that some VPN have been deliberately set up to monitor illegal activity.

Exposing one's real-life identity by making payments for VPN services

Some VPN providers allow payments to be made totally anonymously, while others may not. If a BoyLover pays for VPN services by any means that is not anonymous, then his identity (and the history of his use of the VPN services) will become known to the VPN company. Any government entity with the power to serve a warrant on the company by alleging illegal activity can then:

  • know the real-life identity of the BoyLover,
  • order that his usage of the VPN be monitored

See also

References