VPN

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN uses a tunneling technology, such as SSL, to establish private links through the internet to other computers.

Typically used to avoid geoblocking, passive surveillance or government filtering, a VPN will make you appear as though you're from a different country. Joe Schmo on the internet trying to backtrace your IP will lose the trail at your VPN provider. Hackers infecting your system won't be phased, and neither will law enforcement.

Choosing a VPN

VPN providers can have vastly different ideologies and claim many different things. You may be interested to find out:

• What country's laws do they operate under?
• Do they log traffic or log access?
• Do they block certain forms of traffic (e.g. email, torrents)?
• Do they combine your traffic with other user's traffic?
• Can you pay anonymously?
• How much does it cost per month? (5-10 Euro is average)

You may also want to define your adversary.

When choosing a VPN, doing your own homework is vital. Don't just blindly accept advice. Take your time and get it right.

Each year TorrentFreak surveys many VPNs and publishes their answers: Which VPN Services Take Your Anonymity Seriously? 2015 Edition.

Ultimately, the decision is down to trust. In many ways you are transplanting the problems you have with you ISP/country to your VPN. Don't want your ISP logging your history? How do you know your VPN won't?

Testing Your VPN Install

Basic tests:

• With your VPN setup, check your IP address.
• Check for DNS Leaks (i.e. don't use your ISP's DNS server when your IP says you're on the other side of the world).

Also consider:

• What happens if your VPN drops out?
• Should your firewall change when you connect/disconnect from your VPN?

VPN Pseudoanonymity

• Don't login to the same accounts unless you want those accounts to know you're using a VPN (e.g. email, social media).
• Don't use the same browser when using your VPN. Or consider things like cookies, flash cookies and your Panopticlick stats.