NotExiled

Q: Is my VPN secure?

Hello

 

I got a subscription to a VPN mainly so I can do online banking in public places.  But as I was setting it up, this message came up from the Mac network settings:

"When using PPTP, your password and any data sent or received over this connection may be read by your internet provider"

 

Should I be concerned?  Is there really a danger of my ISP getting access to my banking information?

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

iPhone 5, iOS 9.3.3

Posted on Jul 20, 2016 2:52 AM

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Q: Is my VPN secure?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Lewis jasper,

    Lewis jasper Lewis jasper Jul 20, 2016 8:26 AM in response to NotExiled
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 20, 2016 8:26 AM in response to NotExiled

    Yes you should be concerned as it is an issue of confidentiality. You should protect your banking information and you must be careful about it. For your convenience, i would suggest you to go through banking vpn service providers and choose the best vpn for yourself. I would personally recommend you to use TOTAL VPN because it gives L2TP and OPENVPN protocols (Most reliable and stable, even behind wireless routers, on non-reliable networks, and on Wi-Fi hotspots) which will provide military grade encryption to your banking information.

    Do reply me back if my information help you a bit

  • by torreypines,

    torreypines torreypines Jul 20, 2016 8:57 AM in response to Lewis jasper
    Level 1 (74 points)
    Jul 20, 2016 8:57 AM in response to Lewis jasper

    Your VPN connection is secure. While your confidential data may travel across your ISP's network, it can only be unencrypted at your target VPN website - no worries.

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Jul 20, 2016 9:03 AM in response to NotExiled
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 20, 2016 9:03 AM in response to NotExiled

    One of the security professors here, tested some VPNs. He choose SurfEasy VPN.

    I use it too since, but I think even without VPN good banks have good safe Internet banking systems.

    VPN use is to hide where you are and what your IP address is. Has not much to do with safe banking.

  • by NotExiled,

    NotExiled NotExiled Jul 21, 2016 1:52 AM in response to Lexiepex
    Level 1 (104 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 21, 2016 1:52 AM in response to Lexiepex

    So I guess there are some differing views on the subject!  One of you says I'm safe, one says I'm not and the other says I don't need a VPN for banking.  Hmmmmm. 

     

    Any other views? 

  • by John Lockwood,

    John Lockwood John Lockwood Jul 21, 2016 2:57 AM in response to NotExiled
    Level 6 (9,240 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Jul 21, 2016 2:57 AM in response to NotExiled

    Firstly regarding VPN protocols. PPTP is the oldest and least secure, it has several known vulnerabilities that allow hackers to break in to it, you should not use PPTP. L2TP is the next step up it also has some vulnerabilities but is much better than PPTP, Apple's own VPN server only supports PPTP or L2TP so if your using Apple's VPN server you do not really have a choice other than to use L2TP. Cisco IPSec is probably the next step up, if you use this with certificates as well it is still reasonably secure and adequate for most people. Beyond that there are various https based VPN systems and the very latest system is IKEv2 again optionally with security certificates.

     

    If you build and run your own VPN system or use one built-in to your router then you have control of which protocol to use and whether to add security certificates as well. If you use a commercial provider then you need to check what they are offering, as mentioned PPTP is a waste of time so dump any provider only offering that.

     

    Now while a bank website itself will (hopefully) use https to encrypt its traffic, the problem is that traffic over WiFi between your laptop and a WiFi hotspot is still vulnerable, it is very common for hackers to either be connected to the same Internet cafe hot-spot or to even set up fake hot-spots. This is where using a VPN is needed. With a VPN the traffic is then secure all the way from your computer to the VPN server at the other end and this if you use a decent VPN system i.e. not PPTP means hackers are unlikely to be able to observe your communications.

     

    You of course have to also remember to connect the VPN system. This is why for our company I have setup a 'VPN on Demand' setup which automatically connects to the VPN server so I don't have to rely on users doing this.

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Jul 21, 2016 4:05 AM in response to NotExiled
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 21, 2016 4:05 AM in response to NotExiled

    There are a lot of VPNs: they just let you surface with another IP address in another place (country). You can use it to play media that are not available in your actual place, for example.

    Important is that when the VPN does not encrypt the traffic from your computer to the site where you are going and back - including the password - you are more vulnerable than without it.

  • by torreypines,

    torreypines torreypines Jul 21, 2016 10:24 AM in response to Lexiepex
    Level 1 (74 points)
    Jul 21, 2016 10:24 AM in response to Lexiepex

    That is simply not how VPN works. You should remember your forum responsibilities to our less-informed Apple Support users and be knowledgeable enough to know what you are writing about All VPN protocols encrypt bi-directionally.

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Jul 21, 2016 10:28 AM in response to NotExiled
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 21, 2016 10:28 AM in response to NotExiled

    read here how to keep internetbanking safe, note that it is for Windows and Mac. Do not use Trusteer and Antivirus apps in Mac:

    https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2016/07/12-steps-to-safer-online-banking/

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Jul 21, 2016 10:29 AM in response to torreypines
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 21, 2016 10:29 AM in response to torreypines

    not true.

  • by MichaelReed1990,Helpful

    MichaelReed1990 MichaelReed1990 Aug 12, 2016 7:01 AM in response to Lexiepex
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Aug 12, 2016 7:01 AM in response to Lexiepex

    A VPN is just what you need to help you stay safe while online. A good service must keep all of your online activities and anonymity no matter when or where you are. I spent many time searching a convenient VPN. You must understand that it’s not as simple as it seems. I can’t recommend any service because we all have different purposes and price inquiry. But this website proposes interesting information about best VPNs for iPhone. True for you that some providers are not so anonymous as they promise. Here you can read interviews of popular VPNs providers about their privacy policy https://torrentfreak.com/anonymous-vpn-service-provider-review-2015-150228/ Hope it’ll be useful.

  • by LauraSmithMS,

    LauraSmithMS LauraSmithMS Aug 13, 2016 3:04 AM in response to NotExiled
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 13, 2016 3:04 AM in response to NotExiled

    yes your data is secure with the VPN. VPN routes your internet data send or receive via an encrypted tunnel, which means whatever data you entered via VPN is first coded in an unreadable form then transmitted through secure tunnel which ensures your data safety and can't be traced or retrieved by any snooper or cyber criminal, that is the purpose of a VPN

  • by SeptQ,

    SeptQ SeptQ Aug 13, 2016 5:27 AM in response to NotExiled
    Level 1 (31 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 13, 2016 5:27 AM in response to NotExiled

    It's safe once you enable VPN, all the data is encrypted.

  • by Nikkiraeg,

    Nikkiraeg Nikkiraeg Aug 30, 2016 11:44 PM in response to NotExiled
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 30, 2016 11:44 PM in response to NotExiled

    You haven't mentioned the name of the service you subscribed to. There are providers which can make you completely anonymous and your ISP cant read any information about you what so ever. You need to look for providers and research lil bit on your own end to pick up best VPN for iPhone. Also check which protocol they use and what they offer. Do read reviews about the provider before subscribing.

  • by NotExiled,

    NotExiled NotExiled Aug 31, 2016 1:59 AM in response to Nikkiraeg
    Level 1 (104 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 31, 2016 1:59 AM in response to Nikkiraeg

    I use "PureVPN" in case someone is familiar with it.  Does anyone know if it's a good one?