Should I get VPN from App Store?

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3731jrs Author

Level 1

6 points

Should I get VPN from App Store?

Do you use a VPN service? If you do, which VPN service do you recommend? Purchase via the App Store or online?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Mar 3, 2023 8:54 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

BobTheFisherman

Level 10

81,631 points

Mar 4, 2023 7:02 AM in response to 3731jrs

A VPN client is of no value or use unless you are using it to connect to a company or other organization's private network over the VPN point-to-point secure tunnel. If this is the environment in which you are using a VPN then get a recommendation from your company or other organization as to which VPN client you should use with their VPN server.

Public VPNs such as you are describing provide no security and they provide access to all your data to the third party public VPN provider. This third party provider then can do as they wish with your data such as sell it.

My advice, FWIW, is to not use a VPN unless creating a secure point-to-point tunnel to a known private network.

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Answer 2

Allan Jones

Level 9

72,224 points

Mar 3, 2023 9:08 AM in response to 3731jrs

Welcome!

What type of Apple device are you looking to protect?

In general, server-side VPNs—those a company installs on ther corporate servers—are quite effective.

Client-side VPNs—those touted in TV commercials—are installed on your device. Many create more problems than they cure and are often redundant; most internet service providers have server-side protection so you don't need more.

There is just too much Madison Avenue hype for the client side types to give me warms fuzzies about them.

One man's opinion.

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Answer 3

3731jrs Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 3, 2023 9:32 AM in response to Allan Jones

Thank you. I had been using IPVanish for several years. My subscription to IPVanish expired. I am also using a service called JUMBO, a relatively new supplier but have not “subscribed”. JUMBO indicates that they provide network and system monitoring along with a VPN. I have not had any issues up to this point. I felt that before I subscribed to a service I would inquire with those who are more knowledgeable than I. I do like the fact that my IP address my be masked by using a VPN. I am not sure that a subscription service is necessary in the IOS ecosystem.

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Answer 4

3731jrs Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 4, 2023 2:46 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

Thank you for you replies. After some thought I offer the following for clarification.

I was under the impression that it is generally more important to have a VPN on the client side in a private residential network.

When using a client side VPN, isn’t internet traffic is encrypted, making it more difficult for hackers, ISPs, or other third parties to intercept or monitor your online activities?

In my private residential network, I believed that is was important to protect internet traffic from potential threats, such as hackers or cybercriminals. Having a VPN on the server side through your internet service provider may offer some additional security, but does not necessarily protect devices on your local network.

If you have a VPN on the client side, would it not provide an additional layer of security and encryption to your devices, regardless of whether they are connected to your home network or accessing the internet from a public Wi-Fi hotspot?

Overall, while having a VPN on the server side through your ISP may offer some additional security, would it not be generally be more important to have a VPN on the client side in a private residential network to protect your devices and online activities?

Thank you

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Answer 5

Mar 4, 2023 6:15 PM in response to 3731jrs

A client side VPN provides no security.

It is the secure point-to-point tunnel created by the VPN server and client that provides the secure tunnel.

Your private network is not accessible by the Internet and your Internet traffic is already secure if you are using secure protocols such as https, sftp, and email security.

Using a third party VPN client only, routes your Internet traffic to the third party servers where they can do with it as they wish. They then dump your data onto the Internet just as if it came directly from you. Third party VPN providers to not have any special connection to the Internet.

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Answer 6

3731jrs Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 5, 2023 7:37 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

While researching VPN’s, I came across this article ( https://digital-lab-wp.consumerreports.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/VPN-White-Paper.pdf ). Published by University of Michigan and Consumer Reports, it affirms your answers to my questions.

Thank you for your time and effort in helping me understand.

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Should I get VPN from App Store?

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