VPN vs Proxy

[Shane_Connor]

So, my wife and I rent a suite from her parents and her father started threatening to monitor our internet usage so he "feels safer" or some bullshit. Now, most of what I do on the internet is gaming but I really don't like people touching my stuff. Nor do I like them snooping. One of my friends suggested getting a VPN an another suggested getting a Proxy but I sadly don't know enough much about either to make an informed decision.

Basically, I wanna keep people out of my computers and phones and would love some tips on how to do this.

 

[John Connor]

How is he getting information on your computer usage? I need to know this first.

 

[Shane_Connor]

How is he getting information on your computer usage? I need to know this first.

Sadly, I don't know. He just told my wife he was setting up something to monitor our usage. He wouldn't tell her what it was even though she asked him several times

 

[John Connor]

Well, a VPN offers an encrypted connection. If he has spyware on the computer you're a little SOL. Use your own computer.

See this link on a VPN. I use VPN.AC. They have a stand along client which is pretty good. https://torrentfreak.com/which-vpn-services-take-your-anonymity-seriously-2014-edition-140315/

Legally, he can't touch your computer or phone. If he does sue his collective butt!

 

[Zor Prime]

The dad sounds nuts. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree my man.

But yea just use your own computer and if you're using his Internet connection, in some way, then use a VPN w/ encryption.

 

[lxskllr]

A proxy is simply a redirection. It may or may not be encrypted. A vpn is an encrypted connection. You want a vpn and/or Tor.

 

[John Connor]

http://blog.systechforum.net/?p=28

 

[blankslate]

Does he have the keys to the suite... and therefore physical access to your computer?

if so you could be kind of screwed...

If you're paranoid enough get a fairly old laptop that doesn't have a UEFI bios but still is recent enough to have fairly modern features.

Core 2 duo with SATA II drives would be good enough.

And a safe to keep that laptop in when you're not using it. or perhaps keep with you all the time. Then only do your banking or anything financially related on that machine.

+1 to using a VPN as well.


....

 

[John Connor]

If the computer access is a problem you could do several things. Not use a safe crap.

If it's a laptop.

1) Engage the hard drive ATA password

2) Set a BIOS password (can be defeated by those that know how. Laptops are a bit harder depending on the model)

3 ) Encrypt the computer with Truecrypt. http://blog.systechforum.net/?p=36

4) Set a Windows password (less secure)

Desktop.

1) Set a BIOS password (can be defeated by those that know how)

2) Encrypt the computer.

3) Set a Windows password (less secure)

 

[serpretetsky]

Offer to start paying for internet service and have the internet be in your name. Will that appease him?

 

[Binky]

If you google "cyberghost deal," you should find decent prices on a year subscription to cyberghost. I found a $25 deal for 5 devices (includes premium servers), and $10 for one device (standard servers, I think). I use their service and it works fine. They support mobile devices but I've never used that.

 

[Elixer]

So, my wife and I rent a suite from her parents and her father started threatening to monitor our internet usage so he "feels safer" or some bullshit. Now, most of what I do on the internet is gaming but I really don't like people touching my stuff. Nor do I like them snooping. One of my friends suggested getting a VPN an another suggested getting a Proxy but I sadly don't know enough much about either to make an informed decision.

Basically, I wanna keep people out of my computers and phones and would love some tips on how to do this.

If the ISP is being paid by him, then...you can get your own ISP service.
If he has access to your machine, wipe everything on it, reinstall the OS, and dual boot with linux and password protect grub.

There is no point in getting a vpn/proxy if he already did something to the machine.

 

[Malvika]

Proxy Server

A proxy (technically an open proxy) server is a computer that acts as an intermediary between your computer and the internet. Any traffic routed through a proxy server will appear to come from its IP address, not your computer’s. Unlike VPN servers, proxy servers do not have to devote resources to encrypting all traffic that passes through them, and therefore can accept simultaneous connections from a great many more users (typically tens of thousands)
Proxy servers usually communicate with the internet using one of 2 different protocols; HTTP or SOCKS.
HTTP Proxy Servers

The HTTP protocol is designed to interpret traffic at the HTTP level, which means that it can only handle traffic that starts with http:// or shttp://, i.e. web pages*. It is therefore only good for web surfing, but because all it is doing is handling HTTP requests, it is faster than either Socks proxies or VPN servers.

 

[John Connor]

A lot of proxies are not encrypted.