VPNs

[BobHelm]

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a way of altering your IP address so that sites you visit cannot 'record' that your actual location visited them.
Instead of connecting directly to the Internet you connect via a remote server. It is the IP address of this server that is displayed to sites you visit, rather than your own.

There are many (legitimate & not quite so innocent ) reasons why any individual might want to do that. All the remaining torrent sites, for example, suggest that you do not download any torrents without having a VPN in place because of potential legal issues. Equally, certain sites will only allow IP addresses geographically resident in the same country to visit them.

Personally I have used a paid for VPN supplier called StrongVPN for a number of years, but this is not intended to be an advert for them . There are plenty of other paid for services out there that are equally reliable. If you pay for a VPN connection then you are far more likely to get a secure & fast connection than if you do not pay.

However, many people don't want to splash out cash but do want to protect themselves.
For them there are a large number of free VPN services available. Many of these free options do not provide a very good service at all - usually because their servers are so busy that the connection speed to the Internet slows down to a crawl.

For anyone using the Chrome (or Chromium on Linux) Browser there is a very useful 'add on' called Browsec. This sits on the menu bar & allows you to switch to a free VPN server just by clicking on it. There are free servers in Holland, Singapore, UK & USA. A not extensive list, but enough for most uses. The advantage is that it is just the click of a button to turn it on, or off, without needing to restart the Browser.
Bowsec also works as an add on for FireFox, but seems to be restricted to just the Dutch server there - so not useful for iplayer, for example.

It is certainly a good free alternative available to anyone who doesn't like the idea of every bit of their browsing life being available to just about anyone that wants to view it!!

[the-monk]

BobHelm is right and FYI here are my choices.

Other VPNs you might want to consider.

1 -- OPERA ( the browser company ) offers a Free VPN with the Developper version of its browser for PC. It works similarly to Chrome VPN browser, meaning it protects you Only when communicating via the browser,

2 -- OPERA for Android is a full fledge VPN and free.... Smooth operation with several server locations. Changing server location is super easy and fast.

3 -- TUNNEL BEAR ranks among the best VPNs and gives you 500 Mb / month free..

I routinely run the above VPNs and very seldom encountered any problem.

Whenever i need to reach my bank, or any other government offices back home i always connect using a VPN.

[tutone]

Another one click, free and unlimited VPN very easy to use is Hola.

[747man]

Cyber Ghost gives you 3 Hours FREE A Day,But you can pay for an Upgrade then you get 24/7 cover,I Just renewed mine for 13.50 GBP For the next 12 Months.....Reduced from 45.00 GBP In " The Black Friday " Sale....Good Deal IMHO...

[DuiDui49]

Hi UM members !

Well i say this..tryed many..Opera free VPN is deadly slow,but that said..IP-Vanish..yes i pay around 2500/year and in my eyes one of the best on the market..I've used it now for 2 years straight,during that time they upgraded the amount of countrys/server locations from 200+--->todays 500+..Superb support.

My 2500bath worth.. Have a good day everyone.

[lassebasse]

I use a service called Hide My Ass to get around web-sites blocked in Thailand.

[Stevo]

..Opera free VPN is deadly slow,

I disagree! I find it works very well... ping tests outside the country are giving me the same speed with it turned on or off.

[DuiDui49]

God morning Mr.Strevo !

Well in all honestly i've only tryed ONCE..then i went back to IP-Vanish..So maybe we can agree to dissagree my friend

Have a good one Stevo

..Opera free VPN is deadly slow,

I disagree! I find it works very well... ping tests outside the country are giving me the same speed with it turned on or off.

[jingjai]

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a way of altering your IP address so that sites you visit cannot 'record' that your actual location visited them.
Instead of connecting directly to the Internet you connect via a remote server. It is the IP address of this server that is displayed to sites you visit, rather than your own.

For anyone using the Chrome (or Chromium on Linux) Browser there is a very useful 'add on' called Browsec. This sits on the menu bar & allows you to switch to a free VPN server just by clicking on it. There are free servers in Holland, Singapore, UK & USA. A not extensive list, but enough for most uses. The advantage is that it is just the click of a button to turn it on, or off, without needing to restart the Browser.
Bowsec also works as an add on for FireFox, but seems to be restricted to just the Dutch server there - so not useful for iplayer, for example.

Firefox's menu is 3 horizontal bars at the upper right corner. When I click on it, I can go to a "New Private Window".
Chrome's menu is 3 vertical balls at the upper right corner. When I click on it I can go to an "Incognito Tab".
Are these the browsers VPN's???

Whenever i need to reach my bank, or any other government offices back home i always connect using a VPN.

That is exactly why I am interested in a VPN...contacting a "government office". However, since I only need to contact this particular office every 7-8 years (last personnel contact: 2007), there is no need for a full- time VPN?
Which VPN offers monthly rates?
Seems like the the internet has come a long way since 2007.

[LoongLee]

Hotspot Shield free VPN ,, if available in Thailand?

[BobHelm]

Private browsing is just that.
No record (in theory ) is kept on the computer that you are using of where you have been & any cookies that a site downloaded to you are deleted when you exit.
Your actual IP address is still given out to the world though so if you attempt to go onto a site that you are geographically not permitted to be on then that site will know & refuse you access.

VPNs are servers (real or virtual) that reside in the country that you wish your IP address to appear to be from. Your real IP address contacts that server then the server contacts the site you wish to contact. Hence the site you are contacting sees the server IP address & not your real IP address.

Some VPN providers deliberately keep no records of any activity & so cannot be legally compelled by the authorities to release any personal browsing history, others do keep records.

For the situation that you outline jingjai I would be very surprised if you need to pay for a VPN.
The Browsec addon for Google Chrome sounds ideal & free for you!!

[marcudon]

Good morning BobHelm,
I use browsec since last november as you recommended and it works great!
Thanks.

[BobHelm]

Here is how to get & enable Browsec in Google Chrome.

1. Open up the Chrome Browser & click on the 3 dots in the far right hand corner of the Browser Bar, then click on More Tools, Extensions

2. Select Get More Extensions from the Window

extensions.png (3.5 KiB) Viewed 3729 times

3. This takes you to the Extension Store. Enter the word Browsec in the search window, then Install when it is found.

4. After installation, restart the Chrome Browser & you will see this new symbol in your Browser Header..

The icon in the middle of the 3

Browsec.png (2.35 KiB) Viewed 3729 times

5. To turn Browsec on or off just mouse click the icon.

turn Browsec on or off.png (40.26 KiB) Viewed 3729 times

6. You can also change the VPN server address from this screen by clicking on change..

Change location.png (38.33 KiB) Viewed 3729 times

Hope that helps..

[Liam Dale]

Bob.. what do you reckon about actual METAL box VPNs.. as opposed to online options..

[trubrit]

Following the recommendations on here for Browsec I thought I would try it, with the following result . Yesterday installed the free version , choosing a UK server. Worked so well I thought of cancelling my paid service IP Vanish, today however a completely different experience. Started by not being able to get the Daily Mail, just the Thai censor, went back to Google sign on page found that showed me as being in Iraq, a country not even in the list of free servers. Tried all the four that were on offer in the freebie version not one bypassed the Thai censor, despite turning my computer on and off several times. Checked on Okla speed test, showed a UK server, but very slow. Now when I try to sign in to several other of my favourite sites it is showing "not available, using vpn or tor browser". Am I just unlucky or is this normal. Maybe the subscribed version is better. Anyone have experience of this?

[BobHelm]

Bob.. what do you reckon about actual METAL box VPNs.. as opposed to online options..

Sorry Liam, I have only just seen your message.

I don't have any personal experience of them & have only ever used software rather than hardware.
My understanding is that what they do give you is greater assurance of security, so are possibly of greatest benefit to a business who wants to ensure that staff can communicate completely in privacy.

I have never had the problem you describe Val.

You could have tried cleaning out any Chrome cookies..

Open Chrome.
On your browser toolbar, tap More .
Tap History, and then tap Clear browsing data.
Under "Clear browsing data," select the checkboxes for Cookies and site data and Cached images and files.
Use the menu at the top to select the amount of data that you want to delete. ...
Tap Clear browsing data.

I just tried the Daily Mail via Browsec & it connected immediately...

However, in general, a good 'paid for' VPN will usually be better than a free one.
Strong, for example, limit the number of users allowed to use any one server, the free ones do not restrict users & so speed will undoubtedly suffer..

[markhascole]

In my opinion, Express was the best.
source
https://www.expressvpn.com/

[BobHelm]

Why was it the best?
How was it better than any other paid for supplier??
How is it better than a free provider??

[greatsnake]

private Internet access is probably the most trusted VPN. VPNs are illegal in Thailand.

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

[BobHelm]

VPNs are illegal in Thailand.

Can you provide a link to show that as being true?
Any information that I have seen says the exact opposite - that the use of VPNs is perfectly legal in Thailand.
Indeed the MICT minister said recently in the Bangkok Post that even the use of proxies is not illegal. His words were..

using proxies to access illegal sites are illegal, whereas using proxies to access legal sites is legal

given that it is difficult to see how the use of VPNs is illegal.