is it unsafe to run an IPAD on a secure network at home without a VPN using an IPAD Air2 running Software version 15.7.9 with a Model # MH2M2LL/A__#A1567? What about out on a public network? thanks
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPad Air 2, iPadOS 15
Safe?
Perhaps some context would be worthwhile...
A VPN connection can only protect traffic between the VPN Client and the VPN Gateway. If you are running your own Gateway, while the VPN is active (and a no-split-tunnel traffic policy is applied) all traffic to your Gateway will have protection of the VPN tunnel between these two endpoints. For your home network (that you consider to be secure), a VPN will offer no useful purpose or added protection.
If instead you are connecting to a commercial VPN Service, your VPN traffic will be protected as far as your VPN Provider's Gateway - where it will be delivered to (and traverse) the internet without benefit of the VPN. As such, when connecting to an untrusted public WiFi, all of your network traffic will be protected over the least-trustworthy public WiFi connection - but receive no additional protection from where your traffic exits the VPN at the Gateway.
It is when using untrusted WiFi networks that Commercial VPN Apps may have useful utility - but you must consider that any unencrypted network traffic remains visible to the VPN Provider. Choose your Provider with care - as not all are themselves trustworthy.
Also consider that much of your network traffic is already encrypted, by default, using TLS/SSL. That said, there are some network protocols (such as DNS) that do not have benefit of encryption - and this traffic can be intercepted or maliciously manipulated. This risk can be mitigated using DoH, DoT or ODoH protocols.
DoH and DoT are natively supported by iOS/iPadOS, but are not exposed via iPad settings; to configure and use these protocols you will need to use a third-party App - such as DNSecure. ODoH is also natively supported - but is only available to iCloud+ subscribers using Apple's Private Relay function.
It may also be worthwhile to consider that a VPN Service Provider will see no more of your traffic than your Internet Service Provider (ISP) - visible traffic being limited to your unencrypted protocols. A VPN is not a fix-all security solution; when used correctly, it can provide additional protection in some circumstances - but unless you fully understand what it can and cannot achieve, it should not be relied upon in isolation.
An iPad Air2 is obviously an older model - that now only receives occasional point security updates from Apple. If using your iPad for sensitive purposes, including financial, you might wish to consider replacing the iPad with a much newer model sooner rather than later. In so doing you'll benefit from a fully supported (and regularly updated) version of iPadOS. System Software updates include new features, bug fixes and essential security updates.
Safe?
Perhaps some context would be worthwhile...
A VPN connection can only protect traffic between the VPN Client and the VPN Gateway. If you are running your own Gateway, while the VPN is active (and a no-split-tunnel traffic policy is applied) all traffic to your Gateway will have protection of the VPN tunnel between these two endpoints. For your home network (that you consider to be secure), a VPN will offer no useful purpose or added protection.
If instead you are connecting to a commercial VPN Service, your VPN traffic will be protected as far as your VPN Provider's Gateway - where it will be delivered to (and traverse) the internet without benefit of the VPN. As such, when connecting to an untrusted public WiFi, all of your network traffic will be protected over the least-trustworthy public WiFi connection - but receive no additional protection from where your traffic exits the VPN at the Gateway.
It is when using untrusted WiFi networks that Commercial VPN Apps may have useful utility - but you must consider that any unencrypted network traffic remains visible to the VPN Provider. Choose your Provider with care - as not all are themselves trustworthy.
Also consider that much of your network traffic is already encrypted, by default, using TLS/SSL. That said, there are some network protocols (such as DNS) that do not have benefit of encryption - and this traffic can be intercepted or maliciously manipulated. This risk can be mitigated using DoH, DoT or ODoH protocols.
DoH and DoT are natively supported by iOS/iPadOS, but are not exposed via iPad settings; to configure and use these protocols you will need to use a third-party App - such as DNSecure. ODoH is also natively supported - but is only available to iCloud+ subscribers using Apple's Private Relay function.
It may also be worthwhile to consider that a VPN Service Provider will see no more of your traffic than your Internet Service Provider (ISP) - visible traffic being limited to your unencrypted protocols. A VPN is not a fix-all security solution; when used correctly, it can provide additional protection in some circumstances - but unless you fully understand what it can and cannot achieve, it should not be relied upon in isolation.
An iPad Air2 is obviously an older model - that now only receives occasional point security updates from Apple. If using your iPad for sensitive purposes, including financial, you might wish to consider replacing the iPad with a much newer model sooner rather than later. In so doing you'll benefit from a fully supported (and regularly updated) version of iPadOS. System Software updates include new features, bug fixes and essential security updates.
thank you--- I don't do anything financial on this Ipad.. I appreciate all the information.
You're very welcome.
Is it unsafe to run an iPsd on a secure network at home without a VPN
