this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2025
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cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/35967051

Most people turn to a VPN for one reason: privacy. And with its verified badge, featured placement, and 100k+ installs, FreeVPN.One looked like a safe choice. But once it’s in your browser, it’s not working to keep you safe, it’s continuously watching you.

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[–] callouscomic@lemmy.zip 12 points 1 day ago (13 children)

VPNs are wild to me. "Hey! Pay some company to promise not to watch you so you can pretend to be private and not have some company watching you."

[–] Zetta@mander.xyz 11 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Generally speaking, if you're paying for a VPN, then you should be paying for a provider that is no log. Free VPNs, you get what you pay for, which is nothing. So you don't really get any security with that.

[–] callouscomic@lemmy.zip 2 points 21 hours ago

I've watched this go down long enough in enough industries to know better than to believe their claim of not logging.

You're being watched. Hell, your data's probably being handed over to cops without your knowledge.

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (4 children)

How do we know the "no log" VPNs don't log our activity?

Also any recommendations? I can't find one that says they don't log and refuse to cooperate with 14eyes.

[–] Zetta@mander.xyz 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

ProtonVPN is no log and so is Mullvad I think. Basically it's mostly reputation, some also pay for outside audits of their systems so they can more effectively boast.

No log vpns probably do cooperate with authorities, but the fact that they are no log means they don't provide anything. They get a warrant for logs and identification, they comply and send a letter "we have no logs, or way to trace the identity of a user".

[–] callouscomic@lemmy.zip 2 points 21 hours ago

And character is like a tree and reputation is a shadow of it, and it takes a hell of a lot less to bring it down than to grow it up.

[–] Natanael@infosec.pub 3 points 1 day ago

Best you got is recurring audits

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Many VPN companies post audits, and build up reputations. Not that I'd recommend it specificlly (since I only use it for a lifetime subscription I bought in a sale), but FastestVPN advertises the former.

...I guess it depends what you're doing, too. If you're, like, a government whistleblower, you might want to look into Mullad layered with something else instead of a more traditional commercial provider.

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