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Bjraxx

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 14, 2015
25
0
Does having a VPN (Virtual Private Network) really protect your online browsing like through safari, the default mail app, messaging and other apps like they say they do? If so could you explain how? Cause I don't believe so...and if not what else could you do or download to protect your private browsing?
 
Jesus what is it with you and security? If you really want to secure your device, throw it in a lake and stop starting new threads asking people how to protect data that you can't be sure is even being stolen. You remind me of the guy from Benchwarmers who is afraid of the sun.
 
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Jesus what is it with you and security? If you really want to secure your device, throw it in a lake and stop starting new threads asking people how to protect data that you can't be sure is even being stolen. You remind me of the guy from Benchwarmers who is afraid of the sun.


Maybe I have ALOT of private stuff on my phone that NOBODY should ever see..then I get alerts sometimes that a unknown device logged in my mail or unknown device used my FaceTime..Bluetooth randomly comes on and I feel like the neighbors know what's going on in my phone and think it's some kinda ****in joke or maybe I'm just paranoid..but seriously, can somebody just answer the question I really want to keep my iPhone.
 
Ignoring how the OP's tinfoil hat is on too tight, let's answer the question for others who may have this question at least. VPN only helps protect Internet traffic between you and to the site you are visiting. So instead of the site seeing you're surfing from city A, it appears it's that you're surfing from city B. VPN comes in handy if you need to get around regional blocks certain sites may have.

And for the tinfoiled hat wearing, technically, the VPN can see all your Internet traffic. But how many actually log this info is another story.
 
With a VPN you're shielded, like eelw says, from your computer to the endpoint of the VPN.

I don't know if there is a perfect "anonymizer" solution.

If you're connected to a VPN everything you do is seen at the other end. Checking your email account or connecting to any other service (like Dropbox or iCloud) for which you have an account pinpoints exactly where you are IP-wise.

So...in my case...Comcast or Starbucks wouldn't know what I'm doing but anyone with the power to observe the activity at the endpoint would be able to see everything.
 
Maybe I have ALOT of private stuff on my phone that NOBODY should ever see..then I get alerts sometimes that a unknown device logged in my mail or unknown device used my FaceTime..Bluetooth randomly comes on and I feel like the neighbors know what's going on in my phone and think it's some kinda ****in joke or maybe I'm just paranoid..but seriously, can somebody just answer the question I really want to keep my iPhone.
If your data is THAT sensitive, it shouldn't be on your phone. Plain and simple.
 
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There are many websites / youtube clips that explains how VPN works, a simple google search would not go a miss.

If may protect you from those using wireshark and the likes viewing packets of information (usually in ones / zeros / and letters!) that is passed via an IP address. Also used by companies to allow employees to access work servers / emails / etc, simple really!
 
People consider use of a VPN paranoid?

Using any sort of public Wifi and NOT using a VPN is just plain stupid.


And what does this have to do with jailbreaking?
 
That was
With a VPN you're shielded, like eelw says, from your computer to the endpoint of the VPN.

I don't know if there is a perfect "anonymizer" solution.

If you're connected to a VPN everything you do is seen at the other end. Checking your email account or connecting to any other service (like Dropbox or iCloud) for which you have an account pinpoints exactly where you are IP-wise.

So...in my case...Comcast or Starbucks wouldn't know what I'm doing but anyone with the power to observe the activity at the endpoint would be able to see everything.
Great explanation - Always wondered who could see what when i use my VPN for...downloading stuff
 
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