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Mac VPN Recommendations

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  Mac VPN Recommendations RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> - 2025-02-26 06:44 +0000
    Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2025-02-26 10:00 +0000
      Re: Mac VPN Recommendations RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> - 2025-02-27 00:06 +0000
        Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2025-02-27 09:48 +0000
          Re: Mac VPN Recommendations RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> - 2025-03-03 16:13 +0000
            Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Jaimie Vandenbergh <jaimie@usually.sessile.org> - 2025-03-04 17:13 +0000
              Re: Mac VPN Recommendations RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> - 2025-03-05 08:35 +0000
                Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Jaimie Vandenbergh <jaimie@usually.sessile.org> - 2025-03-05 16:14 +0000
                  Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Graham J <nobody@nowhere.co.uk> - 2025-03-05 16:54 +0000
                    Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2025-03-05 21:28 +0000
                  Re: Mac VPN Recommendations RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> - 2025-03-06 09:02 +0000
    Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2025-02-26 19:35 +0000
      Re: Mac VPN Recommendations RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> - 2025-02-27 00:06 +0000
      Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Alan B <alanrichardbarker@gmail.com.invalid> - 2025-02-27 09:42 +0000
    Re: Mac VPN Recommendations snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) - 2025-02-27 00:20 +0000
      Re: Mac VPN Recommendations RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> - 2025-08-28 07:38 +0000
        Re: Mac VPN Recommendations "David B." <BD@hotmail.co.uk> - 2025-08-28 09:01 +0100
        Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Alan B <alanrichardbarker@gmail.com.invalid> - 2025-08-28 08:17 +0000
          Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Hans S <john.doe@myemail.invalid> - 2025-08-28 16:33 +0000
            Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Alan B <alanrichardbarker@gmail.com.invalid> - 2025-08-30 08:13 +0000
          Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Mark <captain.black@gmail.com> - 2025-09-01 10:26 +0000
    Re: Mac VPN Recommendations Martin S Taylor <hogwash@mRaErMtOiVnEstaylor.TcHoImS> - 2025-03-01 11:25 +0000
    Re: Mac VPN Recommendations jbrennand <brennand@ntlworld.com> - 2025-03-01 17:43 +0000

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#180477 — Mac VPN Recommendations

My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.

I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
cheaper alternative?

Any suggestions appreciated.

-- 
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

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#180485

RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.
> 
> I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
> the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
> updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
> cheaper alternative?
> 
> Any suggestions appreciated.

What do you need a VPN *for*?

Theo

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#180520

On 26 Feb 2025 at 10:00:36 GMT, Theo wrote:

> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>> My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.
>> 
>> I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
>> the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
>> updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
>> cheaper alternative?
>> 
>> Any suggestions appreciated.
> 
> What do you need a VPN *for*?
> 

Hide my identity and/or location.


-- 
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

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#180526

RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> On 26 Feb 2025 at 10:00:36 GMT, Theo wrote:
> 
> > RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> >> My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.
> >> 
> >> I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
> >> the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
> >> updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
> >> cheaper alternative?
> >> 
> >> Any suggestions appreciated.
> > 
> > What do you need a VPN *for*?
> > 
> 
> Hide my identity and/or location.

VPNs don't really hide your identity.  Everything is encrypted via TLS these
days - all your hotel/etc can see is your DNS.  They can see you connect to
google.com, facebook.com, youtube.com which doesn't tell them very much. 
Maybe there's a tiny bit of profiling they can do if they see you are
connecting to bank.com, but not very much.

What they do do is give the VPN provider a firehose of users' traffic, from
where they can do much more detailed profiling.  eg they can see that people
are increasingly going to Temu instead of Amazon - that's monetisable
information.  And there are certainly shady VPN providers out there.

On location, the main usefulness is pretending to be in another country for
accesing geoblocked things, eg watching iPlayer when on holiday (if iPlayer
haven't blocked the VPN).  If you have devices which are phoning home your
home IP / GPS coordinates (some Androids do this) then I suppose you can use
a VPN to avoid that *as long as* the Android isn't on VPN.  And there's a
certain degree of safety in numbers (many VPN users emerge from the same
endpoint) - as long as the VPN provider can be trusted.

Do you need to pretend you're in a different (specific) country?  If so, how
fussy are you about which country?  If you need to pretend to be in, say,
Paraguay then you'd need to find a VPN provider with such an endpoint.

Theo

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#180548

On 27 Feb 2025 at 09:48:18 GMT, Theo wrote:

> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>> On 26 Feb 2025 at 10:00:36 GMT, Theo wrote:
>> 
>>> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>>>> My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.
>>>> 
>>>> I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
>>>> the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
>>>> updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
>>>> cheaper alternative?
>>>> 
>>>> Any suggestions appreciated.
>>> 
>>> What do you need a VPN *for*?
>>> 
>> 
>> Hide my identity and/or location.
> 
> VPNs don't really hide your identity.  Everything is encrypted via TLS these
> days - all your hotel/etc can see is your DNS.  They can see you connect to
> google.com, facebook.com, youtube.com which doesn't tell them very much.
> Maybe there's a tiny bit of profiling they can do if they see you are
> connecting to bank.com, but not very much.
> 

It's not so much my identity, as what I'm accessing/downloading. I'm assuming
a VPN conceals that from everyone except (potentially) the VPN.

> What they do do is give the VPN provider a firehose of users' traffic, from
> where they can do much more detailed profiling.  eg they can see that people
> are increasingly going to Temu instead of Amazon - that's monetisable
> information.  And there are certainly shady VPN providers out there.
> 

I'd hope they don't! PIA claim RAM only storage . . . anyway, I think I'm
going to have to trust that one of the major suppliers isn't going to sell my
data.

> On location, the main usefulness is pretending to be in another country for
> accesing geoblocked things, eg watching iPlayer when on holiday (if iPlayer
> haven't blocked the VPN).  If you have devices which are phoning home your
> home IP / GPS coordinates (some Androids do this) then I suppose you can use
> a VPN to avoid that *as long as* the Android isn't on VPN.  And there's a
> certain degree of safety in numbers (many VPN users emerge from the same
> endpoint) - as long as the VPN provider can be trusted.
> 
> Do you need to pretend you're in a different (specific) country?  If so, how
> fussy are you about which country?  If you need to pretend to be in, say,
> Paraguay then you'd need to find a VPN provider with such an endpoint.
> 

Yes, mimicking a location has been useful from time to time.
-- 
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

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#180556

On 3 Mar 2025 at 16:13:04 GMT, "RJH" <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:

> On 27 Feb 2025 at 09:48:18 GMT, Theo wrote:
> 
>> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>>> On 26 Feb 2025 at 10:00:36 GMT, Theo wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> What do you need a VPN *for*?
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> Hide my identity and/or location.
>> 
>> VPNs don't really hide your identity.  Everything is encrypted via TLS these
>> days - all your hotel/etc can see is your DNS.  They can see you connect to
>> google.com, facebook.com, youtube.com which doesn't tell them very much.
>> Maybe there's a tiny bit of profiling they can do if they see you are
>> connecting to bank.com, but not very much.
> 
> It's not so much my identity, as what I'm accessing/downloading.

Accessing/downloading will still be trackable at the server side.

>  I'm assuming
> a VPN conceals that from everyone except (potentially) the VPN.

Not really. Various tracker things (like all those fb/twitter/etc
clickables you see everywhere, let alone all sites with advertising)
will attempt to ID you at the client, not caring at all that your route
from client to server is disguised.

If you're resolutely blocking all that as well, then you're probably
doing okay.

> Yes, mimicking a location has been useful from time to time.

The real use of VPNs.

As an alternative I tend to bypass such region limitations by just
torrenting media. If they chose to make it unavailable they clearly
don't want my money anyway.

    Cheers - Jaimie

-- 
Communicating badly and then acting smug when
you're misunderstood is not cleverness.
        -- http://xkcd.com/169

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#180569

On 4 Mar 2025 at 17:13:08 GMT, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:

> On 3 Mar 2025 at 16:13:04 GMT, "RJH" <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 27 Feb 2025 at 09:48:18 GMT, Theo wrote:
>> 
>>> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>>>> On 26 Feb 2025 at 10:00:36 GMT, Theo wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> What do you need a VPN *for*?
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Hide my identity and/or location.
>>> 
>>> VPNs don't really hide your identity.  Everything is encrypted via TLS these
>>> days - all your hotel/etc can see is your DNS.  They can see you connect to
>>> google.com, facebook.com, youtube.com which doesn't tell them very much.
>>> Maybe there's a tiny bit of profiling they can do if they see you are
>>> connecting to bank.com, but not very much.
>> 
>> It's not so much my identity, as what I'm accessing/downloading.
> 
> Accessing/downloading will still be trackable at the server side.

Ah. Didn't know that. So the server knows my 'real' IP address and ISP even
while using a VPN? And by extension my ISP knows which server I've accessed?

I'd always thought that information was concealed - the 'private' in virtual
network. And checking Nord, they say that the ISP 'loses access to':

"The websites you visit
The specific web pages you browse and the time you spend there
Your browsing and search history
The files you download from or upload to unencrypted websites
The info you type on unencrypted websites"

That's incorrect?

> 
>>  I'm assuming
>> a VPN conceals that from everyone except (potentially) the VPN.
> 
> Not really. Various tracker things (like all those fb/twitter/etc
> clickables you see everywhere, let alone all sites with advertising)
> will attempt to ID you at the client, not caring at all that your route
> from client to server is disguised.
> 
> If you're resolutely blocking all that as well, then you're probably
> doing okay.
> 
>> Yes, mimicking a location has been useful from time to time.
> 
> The real use of VPNs.
> 

I'd suggest some people use a VPN to conceal certain activity - downloading
copyrighted video and audio files from torrent sites, say. Or at least they
were under that impression given what the VPNs tell them.

Mid-stage capitalism eh, what can you do :-)

> As an alternative I tend to bypass such region limitations by just
> torrenting media. If they chose to make it unavailable they clearly
> don't want my money anyway.
> 

Which may well be illegal?

Of course, I know my ISP knows I use a VPN. I'd always thought that's as far
as it goes, and not what went on 'inside' the VPN. Seems I've got that wrong .
. .

-- 
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

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#180582

On 5 Mar 2025 at 08:35:49 GMT, "RJH" <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:

> On 4 Mar 2025 at 17:13:08 GMT, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:
> 
>> On 3 Mar 2025 at 16:13:04 GMT, "RJH" <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> On 27 Feb 2025 at 09:48:18 GMT, Theo wrote:
>>> 
>>>> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>>>>> On 26 Feb 2025 at 10:00:36 GMT, Theo wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> What do you need a VPN *for*?
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hide my identity and/or location.
>>>> 
>>>> VPNs don't really hide your identity.  Everything is encrypted via TLS these
>>>> days - all your hotel/etc can see is your DNS.  They can see you connect to
>>>> google.com, facebook.com, youtube.com which doesn't tell them very much.
>>>> Maybe there's a tiny bit of profiling they can do if they see you are
>>>> connecting to bank.com, but not very much.
>>> 
>>> It's not so much my identity, as what I'm accessing/downloading.
>> 
>> Accessing/downloading will still be trackable at the server side.
> 
> Ah. Didn't know that. So the server knows my 'real' IP address and ISP even
> while using a VPN?

Possibly, but it's not what I mean. If you're interacting with a server,
it'll know what you've done. If you have an account there, they'll know
who did it (up to whatever limit of information you've provided them in
the account setup).

> And by extension my ISP knows which server I've accessed?

No, this is indeed prevented. Early 'domestic' use of VPNs was to
prevent other people's local wifi from being able to tell what you're
doing on them, or indeed from being bad actors redirecting you via DNS
faking and such - eg cafes, hotels.

> 
> I'd always thought that information was concealed - the 'private' in virtual
> network. And checking Nord, they say that the ISP 'loses access to':
> 
> "The websites you visit
> The specific web pages you browse and the time you spend there
> Your browsing and search history
> The files you download from or upload to unencrypted websites
> The info you type on unencrypted websites"
> 
> That's incorrect?

It's correct, but not what I was talking about as elucidated above.

>> As an alternative I tend to bypass such region limitations by just
>> torrenting media. If they chose to make it unavailable they clearly
>> don't want my money anyway.
>> 
> 
> Which may well be illegal?

Meh. It's harmless and I have no ethical qualms about it.

> Of course, I know my ISP knows I use a VPN. I'd always thought that's as far
> as it goes, and not what went on 'inside' the VPN. Seems I've got that wrong .

No, you're fine there. Unless you do stuff you'd usually do in a vpn
accidentally through the ISP directly.

At which point the far end server knows more about you too.

    Cheers - Jaimie
-- 
"Everyone generalizes from one example.  At least, I do."
 -- Steven Brust

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#180586

Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:
> On 5 Mar 2025 at 08:35:49 GMT, "RJH" <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 4 Mar 2025 at 17:13:08 GMT, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:
>>
>>> On 3 Mar 2025 at 16:13:04 GMT, "RJH" <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 27 Feb 2025 at 09:48:18 GMT, Theo wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>>>>>> On 26 Feb 2025 at 10:00:36 GMT, Theo wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What do you need a VPN *for*?

For completeness, a VPN can be configured to exist between two internet 
routers.  This can join one LAN to another, generally at geographically 
separate locations.  Handy for staff working from home to access their 
head office, and for head office to provide technical support to such 
remote staff.


-- 
Graham J

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#180588

Graham J <nobody@nowhere.co.uk> wrote:
> Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:
> > On 5 Mar 2025 at 08:35:49 GMT, "RJH" <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> > 
> >> On 4 Mar 2025 at 17:13:08 GMT, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:
> >>
> >>> On 3 Mar 2025 at 16:13:04 GMT, "RJH" <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> On 27 Feb 2025 at 09:48:18 GMT, Theo wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> >>>>>> On 26 Feb 2025 at 10:00:36 GMT, Theo wrote:
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> What do you need a VPN *for*?
> 
> For completeness, a VPN can be configured to exist between two internet 
> routers.  This can join one LAN to another, generally at geographically 
> separate locations.  Handy for staff working from home to access their 
> head office, and for head office to provide technical support to such 
> remote staff.

The OP was asking for a VPN *service*, to replace NordVPN.  That is not a
site-to-site VPN.  Nowadays 'VPN' in public consciousness tends to mean a
VPN service which is used to encrypt traffic and obfuscate your IP for
various purposes - the purposes drive what kind of service is suitable.

(Although there are site-to-site VPN services, which avoid having to run a
public VPN server.  Tailscale and Netbird are a couple of examples)

Theo

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#180590

On 5 Mar 2025 at 16:14:11 GMT, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:

> On 5 Mar 2025 at 08:35:49 GMT, "RJH" <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 4 Mar 2025 at 17:13:08 GMT, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:
>> 
>>> On 3 Mar 2025 at 16:13:04 GMT, "RJH" <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> On 27 Feb 2025 at 09:48:18 GMT, Theo wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>>>>>> On 26 Feb 2025 at 10:00:36 GMT, Theo wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> What do you need a VPN *for*?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hide my identity and/or location.
>>>>> 
>>>>> VPNs don't really hide your identity.  Everything is encrypted via TLS these
>>>>> days - all your hotel/etc can see is your DNS.  They can see you connect to
>>>>> google.com, facebook.com, youtube.com which doesn't tell them very much.
>>>>> Maybe there's a tiny bit of profiling they can do if they see you are
>>>>> connecting to bank.com, but not very much.
>>>> 
>>>> It's not so much my identity, as what I'm accessing/downloading.
>>> 
>>> Accessing/downloading will still be trackable at the server side.
>> 
>> Ah. Didn't know that. So the server knows my 'real' IP address and ISP even
>> while using a VPN?
> 
> Possibly, but it's not what I mean. If you're interacting with a server,
> it'll know what you've done. If you have an account there, they'll know
> who did it (up to whatever limit of information you've provided them in
> the account setup).
> 
Ah yes, of course, ISWYM.

>> And by extension my ISP knows which server I've accessed?
> 
> No, this is indeed prevented. Early 'domestic' use of VPNs was to
> prevent other people's local wifi from being able to tell what you're
> doing on them, or indeed from being bad actors redirecting you via DNS
> faking and such - eg cafes, hotels.
> 
>> 
>> I'd always thought that information was concealed - the 'private' in virtual
>> network. And checking Nord, they say that the ISP 'loses access to':
>> 
>> "The websites you visit
>> The specific web pages you browse and the time you spend there
>> Your browsing and search history
>> The files you download from or upload to unencrypted websites
>> The info you type on unencrypted websites"
>> 
>> That's incorrect?
> 
> It's correct, but not what I was talking about as elucidated above.
> 
>>> As an alternative I tend to bypass such region limitations by just
>>> torrenting media. If they chose to make it unavailable they clearly
>>> don't want my money anyway.
>>> 
>> 
>> Which may well be illegal?
> 
> Meh. It's harmless and I have no ethical qualms about it.
> 
>> Of course, I know my ISP knows I use a VPN. I'd always thought that's as far
>> as it goes, and not what went on 'inside' the VPN. Seems I've got that wrong .
> 
> No, you're fine there. Unless you do stuff you'd usually do in a vpn
> accidentally through the ISP directly.
> 
> At which point the far end server knows more about you too.
> 
Gotcha, thanks for the explanation.


-- 
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

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#180515

RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.
> 
> I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
> the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
> updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
> cheaper alternative?
> 
> Any suggestions appreciated.

How frequently do you use it? I'm a fan of the TunnelBear free tier for
irregular use. Annual rates seem reasonable. 

Software is very unobtrusive but the quaint bear theme might grate some. 

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#180521

On 26 Feb 2025 at 19:35:57 GMT, Chris wrote:

> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>> My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.
>> 
>> I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
>> the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
>> updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
>> cheaper alternative?
>> 
>> Any suggestions appreciated.
> 
> How frequently do you use it? I'm a fan of the TunnelBear free tier for
> irregular use. Annual rates seem reasonable.
> 
About weekly.

> Software is very unobtrusive but the quaint bear theme might grate some.

Thanks, I'l take a look.


-- 
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

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#180525

On 26 Feb 2025 at 19:35:57 GMT, "Chris" <ithinkiam@gmail.com> wrote:

> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>> My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.
>> 
>> I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
>> the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
>> updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
>> cheaper alternative?
>> 
>> Any suggestions appreciated.
> 
> How frequently do you use it? I'm a fan of the TunnelBear free tier for
> irregular use. Annual rates seem reasonable.
> 
> Software is very unobtrusive but the quaint bear theme might grate some.

I use TB too. Not the cheapest but it does the job on macOS,iOS & iPadOS.
Incidentally I only get the growl on iOS & iPadOS!

-- 
Cheers, Alan

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#180522

RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:

> My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.
> 
> I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
> the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
> updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
> cheaper alternative?
> 
> Any suggestions appreciated.
>

I find PIA does what I want.  I use their three year deal but there's 
a special offer here (I have no connection to this):

<https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/offer/best?coupon=official-site&utm_campaign=17813702542&utm_adgroup=140877867484&keyword=pia%20vpn&ms=gb&gad_source=5>

-- 
^Ï^.    Sn!pe, PTB, FIBS         My pet rock Gordon just is.

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#181767

On 27 Feb 2025 at 01:20:16 GMT, Sn!pe wrote:

> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> 
>> My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.
>> 
>> I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
>> the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
>> updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
>> cheaper alternative?
>> 
>> Any suggestions appreciated.
>> 
> 
> I find PIA does what I want.  I use their three year deal but there's
> a special offer here (I have no connection to this):
> 
> <https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/offer/best?coupon=official-site&utm_campaign=17813702542&utm_adgroup=140877867484&keyword=pia%20vpn&ms=gb&gad_source=5>

Went with PIA in the end - 6 months in and satisfied. Speed is occasionally
less than I might expect. Software very good, although the kill switch isn't
as versatile as Nord's. I think it was £65 for 3 years. Similar for a
dedicated IP address.

Thanks for the suggestions.

-- 
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

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#181768

On 28/08/2025 08:38, RJH wrote:
> On 27 Feb 2025 at 01:20:16 GMT, Sn!pe wrote:
> 
>> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>>
>>> My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.
>>>
>>> I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
>>> the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
>>> updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
>>> cheaper alternative?
>>>
>>> Any suggestions appreciated.
>>>
>>
>> I find PIA does what I want.  I use their three year deal but there's
>> a special offer here (I have no connection to this):
>>
>> <https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/offer/best?coupon=official-site&utm_campaign=17813702542&utm_adgroup=140877867484&keyword=pia%20vpn&ms=gb&gad_source=5>
> 
> Went with PIA in the end - 6 months in and satisfied. Speed is occasionally
> less than I might expect. Software very good, although the kill switch isn't
> as versatile as Nord's. I think it was £65 for 3 years. Similar for a
> dedicated IP address.
> 
> Thanks for the suggestions.

For what purpose(s) do you use a VPN, Rob?

Just curious!

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#181769

On 2025-08-28, RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> On 27 Feb 2025 at 01:20:16 GMT, Sn!pe wrote:
>
>> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.
>>> 
>>> I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
>>> the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
>>> updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
>>> cheaper alternative?
>>> 
>>> Any suggestions appreciated.
>>> 
>> 
>> I find PIA does what I want.  I use their three year deal but there's
>> a special offer here (I have no connection to this):
>> 
>> <https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/offer/best?coupon=official-site&utm_campaign=17813702542&utm_adgroup=140877867484&keyword=pia%20vpn&ms=gb&gad_source=5>
>
> Went with PIA in the end - 6 months in and satisfied. Speed is occasionally
> less than I might expect. Software very good, although the kill switch isn't
> as versatile as Nord's. I think it was £65 for 3 years. Similar for a
> dedicated IP address.

I'm about to ditch TunnelBear in favour of PIA. It will work out much 
cheaper even without the special offer. Also I was somewhat alarmed to 
realise recently that TB has been owned by McAfee since 2018 ;-)

-- 
Cheers, Alan

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#181774

On 28 Aug 2025 at 09:17:11 BST, "Alan B" <alanrichardbarker@gmail.com.invalid>
wrote:

> On 2025-08-28, RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>> On 27 Feb 2025 at 01:20:16 GMT, Sn!pe wrote:
>> 
>>> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> My Nord VPN subscription is coming up for renewal at about £30pa.
>>>> 
>>>> I'll probably stick with it because it does seem to work reliably. It's mainly
>>>> the software I don't like - trying to push 'premium' features, frequent
>>>> updates, password needed whenever the computer restarts. And maybe there's a
>>>> cheaper alternative?
>>>> 
>>>> Any suggestions appreciated.
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> I find PIA does what I want.  I use their three year deal but there's
>>> a special offer here (I have no connection to this):
>>> 
>>> <https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/offer/best?coupon=official-site&utm_campaign=17813702542&utm_adgroup=140877867484&keyword=pia%20vpn&ms=gb&gad_source=5>
>> 
>> Went with PIA in the end - 6 months in and satisfied. Speed is occasionally
>> less than I might expect. Software very good, although the kill switch isn't
>> as versatile as Nord's. I think it was £65 for 3 years. Similar for a
>> dedicated IP address.
> 
> I'm about to ditch TunnelBear in favour of PIA. It will work out much
> cheaper even without the special offer. Also I was somewhat alarmed to
> realise recently that TB has been owned by McAfee since 2018 ;-)

I've been using ExpressVPN for quite some time. Installed it on iPhone, iMac
and AppleTV box. Very pleased.

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#181784

On 2025-08-28, Hans S <john.doe@myemail.invalid> wrote:
> On 28 Aug 2025 at 09:17:11 BST, "Alan B" <alanrichardbarker@gmail.com.invalid>
> wrote:
>
>> On 2025-08-28, RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:

[snip]

>>> Went with PIA in the end - 6 months in and satisfied. Speed is occasionally
>>> less than I might expect. Software very good, although the kill switch isn't
>>> as versatile as Nord's. I think it was £65 for 3 years. Similar for a
>>> dedicated IP address.
>> 
>> I'm about to ditch TunnelBear in favour of PIA. It will work out much
>> cheaper even without the special offer. Also I was somewhat alarmed to
>> realise recently that TB has been owned by McAfee since 2018 ;-)
>
> I've been using ExpressVPN for quite some time. Installed it on iPhone, iMac
> and AppleTV box. Very pleased.

I've now purchased PIA on a 3 year+ deal. So far so good - seems to run
fine on my macOS, Windows and Linux systems.

-- 
Cheers, Alan

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