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Re: Free Windows VPN

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  Re: Free Windows VPN Andy Burnelli <spam@nospam.com> - 2022-10-27 16:56 +0100
    Re: Free Windows VPN Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> - 2022-10-28 19:12 +0100
      Re: Free Windows VPN Andy Burnelli <spam@nospam.com> - 2022-10-28 19:36 +0100
        Re: Free Windows VPN Dean Hoffman <deanhofman@clod.com> - 2022-10-28 20:40 -0500
          Re: Free Windows VPN Andy Burnelli <spam@nospam.com> - 2022-10-29 18:56 +0100
            Re: Free Windows VPN nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2022-10-29 15:23 -0400
              Re: Free Windows VPN Andy Burnelli <spam@nospam.com> - 2022-10-30 06:58 +0000
        Re: Free Windows VPN Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> - 2022-10-29 04:06 +0100
          Re: Free Windows VPN Andy Burnelli <spam@nospam.com> - 2022-10-29 18:46 +0100
      Re: Free Windows VPN nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2022-10-28 14:46 -0400
        Re: Free Windows VPN Andy Burnelli <spam@nospam.com> - 2022-10-29 19:09 +0100
      Re: Free Windows VPN Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2022-10-28 19:14 -0400
        Re: Free Windows VPN Andy Burnelli <spam@nospam.com> - 2022-10-29 02:32 +0100

#1823 — Re: Free Windows VPN

R2D2 wrote:

> A big thank you for all the tips,folks. :)

Depending on how innocent (e.g., privacy) or nefarious (e.g., torrenting)
your intended activity, consider adding a Windows network s/w killswitch.
 <https://github.com/cmdwhoami/whoami_vpn_killswitch.bat>

As with VPN client software & configuration files, everyone wants to sell
you a killswitch that you can otherwise get for free if you're clever.

In addition, most VPN services provide a customizable killswitch command.
 <https://raymondcc.r.worldssl.net/LiquidVPN-Kill-Switch-3746.zip>
 The zip archive password is "raymondcc" (without the doublequotes).
-- 
Posted out of the goodness of my heart to disseminate useful information
which in this case is to recommend a specific free software h/w killswitch.

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#1824

On 27/10/2022 16:56, Andy Burnelli wrote:
> R2D2 wrote:
> 
>> A big thank you for all the tips,folks. :)
> 
> Depending on how innocent (e.g., privacy) or nefarious (e.g., torrenting)
> your intended activity, consider adding a Windows network s/w killswitch.
> <https://github.com/cmdwhoami/whoami_vpn_killswitch.bat>
> 
> As with VPN client software & configuration files, everyone wants to sell
> you a killswitch that you can otherwise get for free if you're clever.
> 
> In addition, most VPN services provide a customizable killswitch command.
> <https://raymondcc.r.worldssl.net/LiquidVPN-Kill-Switch-3746.zip>
> The zip archive password is "raymondcc" (without the doublequotes).

I keep seeing people talking about a killswitch for VPN proxy services.

WTF do they mean?

-- 
Brian Gregory (in England).

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#1825

Brian Gregory wrote:

> I keep seeing people talking about a killswitch for VPN proxy services.
> 
> WTF do they mean?

When you connect to the VPN service, the VPN service handles all your
"Internet" traffic at the same time leaving alone your LAN traffic.

If the VPN service were to drop (for whatever reason) then normally you
revert back to the connection you had prior, which is your ISP's network.

Had you used the VPN killswitch batch file, that reversion back to your
ISP's network wouldn't occur - all you'd have is your local network.

By way of example, if you were NOT using a killswitch while torrenting the
latest Disney movie, and if the signal dropped, they'd have your IP address
and they would likely send a letter to your ISP who forwards it to you.

On the other hand, if you were using the killswitch batch file while
torrenting, and if the VPN server suddenly dropped off, all they'd know is
the VPN server IP address (which is NOT your IP address from your ISP).

Of course, the VPN service knows your ISP's IP address, so all you've added
is another step, but in practical terms, that extra step is usually enough.

For this reason, VPN services often "advertise" they store no logs and they
may "advertise" they're not subject to your country's subpoena process.
-- 
Posted out of the goodness of my heart to disseminate useful information
which in this case is to explain the typical use model for a killswitch.

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#1829

Andy Burnelli wrote:

> By way of example, if you were NOT using a killswitch while torrenting the
> latest Disney movie, and if the signal dropped, they'd have your IP address
> and they would likely send a letter to your ISP who forwards it to you.

Has anyone ever been convicted in the USA for torenting commercial movies?

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#1832

Dean Hoffman wrote:

>> By way of example, if you were NOT using a killswitch while torrenting the
>> latest Disney movie, and if the signal dropped, they'd have your IP address
>> and they would likely send a letter to your ISP who forwards it to you.
> 
> Has anyone ever been convicted in the USA for torenting commercial movies?

We've discussed this on the Apple newsgroups because they hate that they
can't torrent so they claim that all torrenting will land you in jail.

Turns out nobody has ever been successfully convicted in the USA of
torrenting mainstream movies (who bothered to contest the charges).

The Apple people said the same thing about automatic recording of phone
calls just because they don't have that functionality - and they said the
same thing about spoofing your location - because they can't do it either.

To be clear, there have been cases brought to court for torrenting movies.
But to my knowledge, none of those cases contested ever resulted in a
conviction, and there are well known obvious reasons for that fact.

People who say otherwise either (a) don't understand a single thing about
copyright law, or, (b) don't understand a single thing about torrenting, or
(c) are Apple owners who hate the fact that they can't do anything on iOS.

There was a specific set of "malibu" cases where in the end the lawyers
were disbarred because they were seeding the movies and then profiting.

But other than the Malibu cases (all of which were eventually thrown out of
court) nobody in the United States who went to court has been convicted.
-- 
Posted out of the goodness of my heart to disseminate useful information
which in this case is the court record on mainstream movie torrent cases.

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#1834

In article <tjjpgh$mdn$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Andy Burnelli
<spam@nospam.com> wrote:

> > 
> > Has anyone ever been convicted in the USA for torenting commercial movies?
> 
> We've discussed this on the Apple newsgroups because they hate that they
> can't torrent 

yes they can.

what they hate are your incessant lies and trolling.

> so they claim that all torrenting will land you in jail.

nobody ever said that.

what was said is that almost all torrenting is for pirated material,
which *is* illegal and some people *have* been indicted for it. 

vpns make it more difficult to be caught, except that some of them
actually do log which can be subpoenaed.

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#1836

nospam wrote:

>> We've discussed this on the Apple newsgroups because they hate that they
>> can't torrent 
> 
> yes they can.

<OT>
Everyone here knows you, nospam, defend iOS flaws to the death.

Hence, all I will ask you is the simple _adult_ question which is to ask
you to point to a _single_ free torrenting app in the Apple iOS App Store.

HINT: It doesn't exist.

> what they hate are your incessant lies and trolling.

Everyone is aware you defend all Apple flaws to the death, nospam.

What you forget is that I own plenty of iOS devices (probably more than you
do) along with plenty of Windows and Android devices; and I test them all.

In the case of the basic free bit torrent app functionality I listed and
the free location spoofing and free automatic call recording apps I listed,
Apple cripples iOS by not allowing those apps in the iOS Apple App Store.

Specifically, for free bit torrent apps:
 <https://proprivacy.com/guides/torrent-iphone>
 "Apple does not permit BitTorrent apps in the App Store"

>> so they claim that all torrenting will land you in jail.
> 
> nobody ever said that.

We are all well aware of how shamed you are that iOS is crippled.

You are ashamed that Apple restricts App Store functionality for iOS such
that iOS can't easily do what _every_ other common consumer platform can
easily do (even macOS has bit torrent apps so it's just iOS that doesn't).

> what was said is that almost all torrenting is for pirated material,
> which *is* illegal and some people *have* been indicted for it. 

Indicted?
Do you even know the difference between indicted & convicted?

> vpns make it more difficult to be caught, except that some of them
> actually do log which can be subpoenaed.

I'll help you out nospam, since I, myself, have looked for free bit torrent
apps for my many iOS devices.

I'm well aware with effort, you "can" torrent (sort of) in iOS.
 *How to download torrents on iPhone*
 <https://proprivacy.com/guides/torrent-iphone>
 "Apple does not permit BitTorrent apps in the App Store.
  The good news is that thanks to cloud torrent services, 
  torrenting on an iOS device is possible. Paid plans 
  typically start at around $10 per month for 100 GB of storage."

 *Step-by-Step Guide on BitPort and Torrent Downloader VPN in 2022*
���<https://www.vpnunlimited.com/help/torrents/how-to-download-torrents-on-iphone>
  "Apple simply banned all torrent apps from iTunes so one specific type
   of services seems to have been eluding iOS - torrents and bittorrents. 
   This is not a coincidence. Luckily, there is a way to do iOS torrents
   even though it is understandably less convenient than if you could 
   just download a dedicated app from the Apple iOS App Store, 
   it's certainly better than the nothing that is on the App Store."
   a. Register a BitPort account on bitport.io
   b. Paste the torrent link to the respective text box 
   c. Tap the Add New Torrent button
   d. Tap the download link once it appears
   e. Wait for the download to complete

 *How to Download Torrents on iPhone / iPad iOS 2022*
  <https://techspree.net/download-torrents-ipad-iphone-without-jailbreak/>
  "Apple has a strict policy to not allow any app that is related 
   to torrents in their AppStore. So the method described here is 
   not based on any iPhone or iPad apps. This method is based on signing 
   up for a service using a web browser only. You won't need any additional
   app to download torrents on iPad or iPhone. Your default Safari Browser
   will work too. However, due to the fact that iOS doesn't allow the
   necessary download feature on their default browser you will need 
   to download and install the "Document 6" file manager from the Appstore. 
   <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/documents-file-manager-app/id364901807>"

Step 1: First any torrent tracker website to find the torrent files that
you want to download on your iPhone. 

Step 2: Visit the Bitport WEBSITE and Sign Up with your email. Bitport is
an online torrent downloader for iPhone/iPad. You don't need any other
iPhone app. 

Step 3: Now login to your Bitport dashboard and you will see the user
interface like below:download torrents on iphone ipad2

Step 4: Now Paste the magnet link and hit the "Add New Torrent" button. 
Wait sometimes and your torrent file will be cached by the Offlcoud server
and it will be uploaded in your user dashboard.

Step 5: Now after waiting for sometime, a "Download link" will appear.
Click on it to start downloading the torrent file.

Step 6: Tap and hold the download button, and you will be given option to
copy the download link from Bitport.

Step 7: Now we will paste this download link on Documents by Readdle app.
Install this app from the Appstore link.

Step 8: Open Documents by Readdle app and click on the Compass like icon
below right side.

Step 9: Now paste the Copied link on the address bar of Documents by
Readdle app. And click on done. Download will start and the file will be
saved on Documents folder.

Step 10: After the download is finished, you can open the downloaded file
by clicking on the download icon from bottom.
</OT>
-- 
Posted out of the goodness of my heart to disseminate useful information
which in this case is to point out nospam's brazen denial of known facts.

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#1830

On 28/10/2022 19:36, Andy Burnelli wrote:
> Brian Gregory wrote:
> 
>> I keep seeing people talking about a killswitch for VPN proxy services.
>>
>> WTF do they mean?
> 
> When you connect to the VPN service, the VPN service handles all your
> "Internet" traffic at the same time leaving alone your LAN traffic.
> 
> If the VPN service were to drop (for whatever reason) then normally you
> revert back to the connection you had prior, which is your ISP's network.
> 
> Had you used the VPN killswitch batch file, that reversion back to your
> ISP's network wouldn't occur - all you'd have is your local network.
> 
> By way of example, if you were NOT using a killswitch while torrenting the
> latest Disney movie, and if the signal dropped, they'd have your IP address
> and they would likely send a letter to your ISP who forwards it to you.
> 
> On the other hand, if you were using the killswitch batch file while
> torrenting, and if the VPN server suddenly dropped off, all they'd know is
> the VPN server IP address (which is NOT your IP address from your ISP).
> 
> Of course, the VPN service knows your ISP's IP address, so all you've added
> is another step, but in practical terms, that extra step is usually enough.
> 
> For this reason, VPN services often "advertise" they store no logs and they
> may "advertise" they're not subject to your country's subpoena process.

So it's a stupid name for something that should be, and sometimes is, a 
feature of the VPN client that you can enable if you want it.

-- 
Brian Gregory (in England).

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#1831

Brian Gregory wrote:

>> For this reason, VPN services often "advertise" they store no logs and they
>> may "advertise" they're not subject to your country's subpoena process.
> 
> So it's a stupid name for something that should be, and sometimes is, a 
> feature of the VPN client that you can enable if you want it.

Dunno if it's a stupid name. It kills the WAN but keeps the LAN going.
I guess it's more like a "crippleswitch" in regard to the LAN staying on.

I assume each of us has a variety of killswitches for various purposes.
For example I keep a "killswitch.lnk" shortcut pinned to my taskbar:

 TARGET = %comspec% /c c:\path-to\killswitch.bat

 @echo off
 REM Kill all running apps - Bharat Balegere - AgniPulse.com
 REM http://agnipulse.com/2009/02/kill-all-running-apps-with-a-double-click/
 REM https://sites.google.com/site/bharatbalegere/kill.bat
 cd c:\windows\System32
 for /f "skip=3 tokens=1" %%i in ('TASKLIST /FI "USERNAME eq %userdomain%\%username%" /FI "STATUS eq running"') do (
 if not "%%i"=="svchost.exe" (
 if not "%%i"=="explorer.exe" (
 if not "%%i"=="cmd.exe" (
 if not "%%i"=="tasklist.exe" (
 echo.
 taskkill /f /im "%%i"
 echo.
 )
 )
 )
 )
 )
 REM pause
 C:\path-to-stuff-you-want-to-run-again\whatever1.exe
 C:\path-to-stuff-you-want-to-run-again\whatever2.exe
 C:\path-to-stuff-you-want-to-run-again\whatever3.exe
 exit 

To tell you the truth, I don't even know _how_ that killswitch above works.
Of course I get the overall strategic logic of what it does.
But I'm not sure of the specific tactical tasks of all those nested forifs.
-- 
Posted out of the goodness of my heart to disseminate useful information
which in this case is to distribute a useful killswitch batch file.

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#1826

In article <js2kbqFro2mU1@mid.individual.net>, Brian Gregory
<void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> wrote:

> I keep seeing people talking about a killswitch for VPN proxy services.
> 
> WTF do they mean?

a vpn killswitch will kill all network traffic in the event the vpn
connection drops, rather than revert back to your isp without a vpn,

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#1833

nospam wrote:

>> I keep seeing people talking about a killswitch for VPN proxy services.
>> 
>> WTF do they mean?
> 
> a vpn killswitch will kill all network traffic in the event the vpn
> connection drops, rather than revert back to your isp without a vpn,

To add useable detail where nospam left off above, what I use is a 
preemptive network 'toggle' switch so that I can do two useful things.

1. I can untoggle and retoggle the network at will, and, 
2. I can preemptively set the killswitch to toggle ahead of time.

That uses an on/off network toggle pinned to my Windows taskbar:
 TARGET = c:\windows\system32\schtasks.exe /run /tn "task togglenet"
 COMMENT = c:\path-to\togglenet.bat

 @echo off
 REM togglenet.bat by Zaidy036 20210207 on alt.comp.os.windows-10
 set defgw=192.168.0.1
 set "ip="
 for /f "tokens=2,3 delims={,}" %%a in ('"WMIC NICConfig where IPEnabled="True" get DefaultIPGateway /value | find "I" "') do if not defined ip set ip=%%~a
 IF "%ip%"=="%defgw%" ( %comspec% /c %windir%\system32\route.exe delete 0.0.0.0 %defgw%) ELSE ( %comspec% /c %windir%\system32\route.exe add 0.0.0.0 mask 0.0.0.0 %defgw%)
 exit
 
 REM togglenet.lnk
 REM  c:\windows\system32\schtasks.exe /run /TN "task togglenet"
 REM                                                                                                                      ~                               
 REM taskschd.msc
 REM  task togglenet
 REM  Run with highest privileges = checked
 REM  Action = Start a program
 REM  Program/script = %comspec%
 REM  Add arguments = /c start "" c:\path-to\togglenet.bat
 REM 
 REM togglenet.bat
 REM  @echo off
 REM  set defgw=192.168.0.1
 REM  set "ip="
 REM  for /f "tokens=2,3 delims={,}" %%a in ('"WMIC NICConfig where IPEnabled="True" get DefaultIPGateway /value | find "I" "') do if not defined ip set ip=%%~a
 REM  IF "%ip%"=="%defgw%" ( %comspec% /c %windir%\system32\route.exe delete 0.0.0.0 %defgw%) ELSE ( %comspec% /c %windir%\system32\route.exe add 0.0.0.0 mask 0.0.0.0 %defgw%)
 REM  exit
 REM
 REM USE MODEL:
 REM a. Hit the taskbar green/red shortcut (togglenet.lnk)
 REM b. If the network was on, it (the gateway) will be turned off.
 REM    And the shortcut icon will turn from green to red.
 REM    If the network was off, it (the gateway) will be turned on.
 REM    And the shortcut icon will turn from red back to green.
 REM    The Windows hardware icons will show the status accordingly.
 REM c. If VPN was on, nothing will happen until the VPN drops.
 REM    This is kind of neat, as it's a preemptive network toggle! :)
 REM    If the VPN _subsequently_ drops, the network (gateway) will be turned off.
 REM    The Windows hardware icons will show the status accordingly.
 REM 
 REM TASKBAR SHORTCUT:
 REM togglenet.lnk
 REM  Target = C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe /run /TN "task togglenet"
 REM 
 REM SCHEDULED TASK:                                                                                                                                                   
 REM taskschd.msc
 REM  task togglenet
 REM  Run with highest privileges = checked
 REM  Action = Start a program
 REM  Program/script = %comspec%
 REM  Add arguments = /c start "anything" c:\path-to\togglenet.bat
 REM 
 REM BATCH SCRIPT:
 REM c:\pathto\togglenet.bat
 REM  @echo off
 REM  set defgw=192.168.0.1
 REM  set "ip="
 REM  for /f "tokens=2,3 delims={,}" %%a in ('"WMIC NICConfig where IPEnabled="True" get DefaultIPGateway /value | find "I" "') do if not defined ip set ip=%%~a
 REM  IF "%ip%"=="%defgw%" ( %comspec% /c %windir%\system32\route.exe delete 0.0.0.0 %defgw%) ELSE ( %comspec% /c %windir%\system32\route.exe add 0.0.0.0 mask 0.0.0.0 %defgw%)
 REM  exit
 REM 
 REM SHORTCUT ICONS:
 REM https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/on-off
 REM https://icons8.com/icons/set/on-off
 REM https://iconarchive.com/tag/on-off
 REM 
 REM Example icon:
 REM https://cdn.icon-icons.com/icons2/1535/PNG/512/3298613-onoff-switch-switchoff-switchon_106998.png
 exit

-- 
Posted out of the goodness of my heart to disseminate useful information
which in this case is to distribute a preemptive network toggling switch.

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#1827

On 10/28/2022 2:12 PM, Brian Gregory wrote:

> I keep seeing people talking about a killswitch for VPN proxy services.
> 
> WTF do they mean?

https://www.bitdefender.com/blog/hotforsecurity/vpn-kill-switch-how-it-works-and-why-you-need-one/

Some users here, have a Canadian ISP and an American billing address,
for the purpose of watching American Netflix. They use a VPN, to try
to fool Netflix geofencing, into thinking they are true blue Americans.

If the network connection drops for a moment, the viewing application
tries to re-establish the connection, some "Canadian traffic" could
suddenly appear to be coming from an American billing address. This would
be a sign the account needed to be suspended, and "no more Netflix for you".
Netflix is on the lookout for information which gives away this
sort of mismatch. Netflix puts an effort into it, in order to
meet the Hollywood contract terms (can't show certain content
to Canadians, as "they are in a different market"). And if Netflix
said "I want to license this material for Canada", Hollywood would
say "No". Just like that.

As design intent goes then, the customer wants their facade to not
leak unintended information.

    Paul

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#1828

Paul wrote:

> the customer wants their facade to not leak unintended information.

There are multiple holes for those leaks to occur, the hardware/software
killswitch being there to prevent your personal IP address from leaking.
 c:\> curl icanhazip.com

Another less obvious but potential unintended leak of information is in the 
 https://www.dnsleaktest.com/

Yet another leak of unintended information is in browser fingerprinting
 https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/

What else would the well-informed educated volunteers on this ng suggest
to prevent further leaks of unintended information while on a VPN service?
-- 
Posted out of the goodness of my heart to disseminate useful information
which, in this case, is a variety of ways that your identity can be deemed.

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