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Do I need a VPN for 2018?

With a growing concern for privacy on the internet – many users are asking the question, “Do I need a…

With a growing concern for privacy on the internet – many users are asking the question, “Do I need a VPN for 2018?”. In this article we aim to give you some basic knowledge of VPNs in relation to your privacy and security online.

 

What is a VPN?

VPN is an acronym for Virtual Private Network.

A VPN creates a secure network connection over a public network such as the internet.

Corporations, Government agencies and Schools use VPNs to create a secure network over the internet to allow users access to resources as if they were physically at the main office location.

As it is a Private network, users need to authenticate with a unique identity and password for extra security.

In the context of this article a VPN is a 3rd party provider that allows you access to their network to appear as if you are accessing the internet from their location.

 

So why do I need a VPN?

There are many reasons why an average user should make use of a VPN.

The most common reason is people who simply want the privacy of knowing their ISP is unable to see what they are doing online. By using a VPN for everything they do online, this user knows that no one is able to pry into their communications.

Bit torrent users are big advocates of VPN usage. Whether they are downloading legal or illegal content (such as moves/tv shows) many Bit torrent users don’t want to become part of an ISPs list just because they have a bit torrent client active.

Another reason would be if you are making extensive use of free/paid wifi locations around the world. By making use of a VPN you are ensuring that any data that you transmit is securely encrypted and can’t be accessed by unscrupulous hotspot operators.

An increasingly more common use for VPNs is spoofing your location for geo-locked content. Many Netflix users are using VPNs to access content from other countries, e.g. a UK user spoofing their location as the US to access a much larger content library.

Some VPN users do so because it allows them to evade censorship by networks, such as schools, work or even your ISPs. Using a VPN allows the user to bypass any restrictions that these networks may have with standard content filters.

 

What are the advantages/disadvantages of a VPN?

Simply put, instead of accessing the internet directly through your ISP, you access the internet through an encrypted/secure VPN tunnel.

Without a VPN, when you access any information online it goes through your ISPs servers. This allows your ISP to see anything and everything that you do online.

With a VPN, you connect to a server run by the VPN provider. This is done through an encrypted connection. By doing so the only information your ISP can see is fully encrypted. This makes it impossible for them to monitor any of your activity.

When connected to a VPN server, your web browsing/activities all appear to be done from the IP address of that VPN server. As mentioned previously, this means that your physical location is also hidden as well as any data you access.

A major disadvantage of using a VPN is that your internet speeds will slow down due to the encrypting/decrypting of all the information you access online. This does use some extra processing power but nothing too noticeable on modern technology.

Using a VPN also adds extra hops on your data’s journey through the internet, this simply means your data has to travel further and therefore slows down your connection slightly.

Probably the biggest concern for users who sign up for a VPN service is that the VPN provider can access their internet activity instead. This moves the privacy concern away from their ISP to another company. This is why users should be very careful when selecting a VPN provider as we detail further on in this article.

 

Is using a VPN legal?

The vast majority of countries have laws in place that mean users have the legal right to privacy. Therefore VPN services are very much legal in these countries.

Very few countries, such as China and Iraq, have banned usage of VPN services.  Some countries such as Iran have made it a requirement that the only legal VPNs are those registered and approved by the government, therefore making them virtually useless.

 

Free or Paid?

It is widely believed that using a free VPN is a bad idea for security. Running a VPN service is not free and therefore most free services will not be as secure as a well-reviewed paid service. A free VPN service has to pay their bills somehow and this is likely through handing off users browsing data for a price!

Just because a VPN provider offers a paid service does not automatically mean they are secure and trustworthy.

 

How do I choose a VPN for 2018?

Choosing a VPN means considering all the things a VPN service can offer. As always, doing your own research on all of these subjects is highly recommended, there is no such thing as a perfect VPN that does it all!

Below are some topics to consider when choosing a VPN for 2018.

  • Price – How much do you want to spend?
  • Speed – Many VPNs offer a free trial where you can speed test the connection.
  • Privacy – Does the VPN provider keep logs?
  • Support – Is the customer support quick to respond, do they provide good answers?
  • Software – Do they offer a VPN client for all platforms (Windows, OS X, Android, iOS)?
  • Servers – Is there a large geographical selection of servers to choose from?

 

Recommendations for a VPN for 2018

Here are some recommendations for reputable VPN providers. As mentioned above you should always do your own research with your specific needs to find the most suitable VPN!

 

PrivateInternetAccess (PIA) – https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/

  • No logs
  • Accepts Bitcoin payment for anonymity focused users
  • Kill switch and DNS leak protection

 

ExpressVPN – https://www.expressvpn.com/

  • Offers 94 geographical locations
  • 256bit encryption
  • Excellent rated support

 

NordVPN – https://nordvpn.com/

  • 61 countries
  • Excellent rated support
  • No logs policy

 

PrivateVPN – https://privatevpn.com/

  • 30-day money back guarantee
  • 6 simultaneous connections
  • Well rated mobile apps

 

That One Privacy Site (www.thatoneprivacysite.net) offers a tool that allows you to compare a massive selection of VPN providers – https://thatoneprivacysite.net/simple-vpn-comparison-chart/

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Internet Security

Oregon passes bill to establish legal control standards for digital assets

Key Takeaways Oregon passed Senate Bill 167 to update commercial laws and include digital assets in the UCC. The new law allows digital assets to be used as collateral and recognizes electronic records and signatures. Share this article Oregon has enacted Senate Bill 167, updating the state’s commercial laws to incorporate digital assets into the

Key Takeaways

  • Oregon passed Senate Bill 167 to update commercial laws and include digital assets in the UCC.
  • The new law allows digital assets to be used as collateral and recognizes electronic records and signatures.

Share this article

Oregon has enacted Senate Bill 167, updating the state’s commercial laws to incorporate digital assets into the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).

The legislation, signed by Governor Tina Kotek on May 7, introduces UCC Article 12, which creates a legal framework for digital assets including crypto assets, tokenized records, and electronic money.

The bill amends Article 9 to allow digital assets to be used as collateral in secured transactions. It also updates several UCC articles to recognize electronic records, signatures, and hybrid transactions to support digital commerce.

The new law includes transitional provisions that maintain the validity of transactions made before the act’s effective date and provides a one-year period for existing security interests to comply with the new regulations.

Before these changes, there was legal uncertainty about how digital assets fit into existing commercial laws, especially when used as collateral or transferred between parties. The UCC amendments clarify how rights in these assets can be legally controlled, perfected, and enforced.

Apart from SB 167, House Bill 2071 is another crypto-related bill introduced in Oregon.

This proposed legislation focuses on blockchain and digital asset rights. It is aimed at protecting and promoting the use of Bitcoin and other digital assets in the state by limiting regulatory barriers and clarifying the legal framework for blockchain-based activities.

Some of the highlights of the bill include a prohibition on state and local governments from restricting or impairing a person’s ability to accept digital assets as payment for lawful goods and services, as well as the right to conduct peer-to-peer transactions via blockchain or digital asset networks.

The bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet advanced to a vote in either the House or the Senate.

Unlike most US states, Oregon lawmakers have not proposed any bill to create a state Bitcoin reserve as of now.

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Internet Security

White House rejects parts of Trump advisers’ sovereign wealth fund proposal

Key Takeaways The White House has rejected parts of a sovereign wealth fund proposal created by Trump’s advisers. The details of the sovereign wealth fund are still under debate with no final decisions announced yet. Share this article The White House has opposed certain elements of a sovereign wealth fund proposal developed by Treasury Secretary

Key Takeaways

  • The White House has rejected parts of a sovereign wealth fund proposal created by Trump’s advisers.
  • The details of the sovereign wealth fund are still under debate with no final decisions announced yet.

Share this article

The White House has opposed certain elements of a sovereign wealth fund proposal developed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at President Trump’s request, according to a new report from CBS News.

The plan, reportedly delivered by early May, follows Trump’s February executive order directing the Treasury and Commerce departments to develop a framework for a US sovereign wealth fund within 90 days.

The order fueled speculation that the fund might be used to acquire Bitcoin on behalf of the US government.

However, at the time, Bessent and Lutnick said that the fund would indeed focus on warrants, equity, and other non-crypto investments. Still, David Sacks, Trump’s crypto czar, indicated that Bitcoin could be included in the fund’s portfolio.

That no longer appears to be the case after Trump signed a separate executive order establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve and a digital asset stockpile on March 6, which suggests a standalone approach to crypto holdings.

There were also rumors that the fund might be financed through tariffs and other revenue sources despite ongoing budget deficits. But Lutnick later clarified that tariffs would not be used to support the sovereign wealth fund.

According to the CBS News report, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said the Treasury and Commerce Departments have developed plans in response to Trump’s directive, but no final decisions have been made.

The administration, Desai added, continues to view the initiative as part of its broader effort to safeguard national and economic security.

Details of the fund’s structure and purpose remain under discussion, with no formal announcement expected in the near term.

Sources say Trump has not yet decided how the fund’s proceeds would be used, though he has previously floated the idea of it taking a stake in TikTok, which faces a potential US ban unless ByteDance divests.

Regarding the US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the Digital Asset Stockpile, Bessent and Lutnick are also tasked with outlining operational guidelines, custody frameworks, and acquisition strategies. These plans are expected to remain separate from the sovereign wealth fund initiative and are designed to be budget-neutral.

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Internet Security

Crypto Security Breach at Lido DAO Triggers Governance Response

TLDR Lido DAO started an emergency vote to rotate a compromised Chorus One oracle The exploit drained ETH balance and likely resulted from a hot wallet private key leak The issue is restricted to one oracle and is not system-wide Cybersecurity remains a critical issue for cryptocurrency and DeFi Over $2 billion in crypto was

TLDR Lido DAO started an emergency vote to rotate a compromised Chorus One oracle The exploit drained ETH balance and likely resulted from a hot wallet private key leak The issue is restricted to one oracle and is not system-wide Cybersecurity remains a critical issue for cryptocurrency and DeFi Over $2 billion in crypto was […]
The post Crypto Security Breach at Lido DAO Triggers Governance Response appeared first on Blockonomi…
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Internet Security

CZ Shares Security Warning After Ledger Discord Hack Exposes User Data

Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder and former CEO of Binance, shared a security warning after receiving a message regarding a hack of Ledger’s Discord admin account, where a scammer falsely claimed a security flaw and urged users to enter their recovery phrases on a phishing site. Zhao highlighted two critical lessons: the necessity of never sharing

Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder and former CEO of Binance, shared a security warning after receiving a message regarding a hack of Ledger’s Discord admin account, where a scammer falsely claimed a security flaw and urged users to enter their recovery phrases on a phishing site. Zhao highlighted two critical lessons: the necessity of never sharing [……
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