VPN's a question for the Computer Experts

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #1 01-12-2017, 04:02 PM

I have 2 things I would like to do on my computer / android tablet which I cannot do because I live in Australia and the services are banned / blocked in Australia.

1) I would like to watch live snooker which is streamed live on the Eurovision Snooker Channel. There is a link on the world snooker website to watch it live but when I click on the link it says "this service is not available in your country"

2) The other thing I have done is play on line poker at pokerstars.com. I only play for like .01c/.02c per hand so its not like I am a high roller or anything, but it was something I enjoyed. I did it for many years until recently when legislation changed and pokerstars excluded all players in Australia.

My question is a simple one. Would a 3rd party anonymous proxy server like Nord VPN solve my problems mentioned above ?

Cheers,
John B

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #2 01-12-2017, 05:19 PM

I would think so John .... you generally have an IP Address of a different country as long as you don't use a VPN that goes through an Australian Provider..... mine was in the British Isles

I had a VPN for a year, and would choose Switzerland / Norway / Germany or West USA plus there were a heap other countries to choose from.

Just log into your VPN and find which has the best speed for you.

I found the above countries at times had the best speed for me.

Col....

PCH (Paul) · #3 01-12-2017, 05:25 PM

Hi John,

Yes a VPN will do exactly that. I use one to dowload a pommie soap which is free to air there but not available here. Therefore I have to download it from you know who and they are now blocked by the nanny.

I use PIA specifically because the supposedly don't keep any records of where you've been - not even for a nanny-second! So there's no way anyone is ever gonna be able to decipher where you go.

Plus they were very reasonably priced at about $45 ish per year for up to 5 devices.

Hope that helps. Hey John if you decide to use PIA you might want to allow me to refer you. That way I get 15 or 20 bucks of my next bill, - buts its up to you - not gonna be a deal breaker

The_bluester (Paul) · #4 01-12-2017, 05:43 PM

Quite possibly yes to both questions, Getflix used to be good for getting around Netflix geoblocking and I believe they have a full VPN product as well.

LewisM · #5 01-12-2017, 05:56 PM

Been using Nord VPN for about 6 months - I get subscriptions on a 2 year basis, and it works out at about $2 a month (not sure that offer is on any more - it was limited time). Customer service if you need it is exceptional (they had so-so reviews before, but come a LONG way). Plus, they genuinely do NOT keep logs.

I do pretty much what you want all the time on VPN. Living in Canberra, I also prefer Big Brother down the road doesn't see everything I do, just out of paranoia sake!

A few countries I would NOT connect to: Norway (INSTANTLY got DNS hack attempts and DOS warnings - Col obviously differs - even on Onion, P2P and other multiple layer protocols), Holland (they reroute and reroute and reroute, so the connection ends up slower than any other), USA (just because I don't trust the USA AT ALL) and Japan (nearly always full servers).

Best I have used are Switzerland, Bulgaria, Russia, Hungary and Israel. Albania was probably the fastest (fewer users per capita lol), but dropped the most often (never had Switzerland drop once).

OzEclipse (Joe Cali) · #6 01-12-2017, 09:32 PM

I use Nord VPN as well. Used it while traveliing all around the world this past 3 months. I was able to watch/listen to media in Australia by logging in to Australia when they would not allow viewing listening from overseas. Similar to what you want to do. It also gives you better security when using open wifi networks in hotels etc.

Cost now is currently around $2.75 per month.

Joe

drylander (Peter) · #7 01-12-2017, 10:17 PM

another Nord VPN user. Very happy with the service.
Pete

OICURMT · #8 02-12-2017, 04:58 AM

I use PureVPN for overcoming geoblocking.

I stream Australian content to the US without issues. I also stream US to Australia.

Just tested the UK connection, am able to get HD connections to the BBC1, which is geoblocked in the USA.

OIC!

skysurfer · #9 02-12-2017, 05:53 AM

I have PIA as well.
$40 (US) a year and fast connection.
Even fron the free world, internet access is getting more and more monitored by both government and commercial parties (Google, Fakebook, etc.). And commercial parties commit censorship as well, such as Netflix show only the series / TV shows which are 'allowed' by the commercial resellers in the country you are.

Even within the EU there is difference, some TV shows / series shown in Germany are blocked in France. Like series originating from Queensland would be blocked in NSW or Vic.

But I wonder that PIA which resides in the USA (which is not-so-free under Trump) can still work as a VPN without logging of your data.

OICURMT · #10 02-12-2017, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skysurfer

But I wonder that PIA which resides in the USA (which is not-so-free under Trump) can still work as a VPN without logging of your data.

Regardless of what they say, all VPN's probably log data, they have to if they are going to maintain a network.

Also, almost all make fake claims as to speed, privacy, number of people using it etc... I suggest that you troll around for reviews. PureVPN (the one I use) has iffy marketing claims, but I know for a fact ('cuz I use it regulary) that the speed claims are reseaonable and that the ability to do what you want to do (including split tunneling) works well (but not flawlessly).

Recent articles on privacy...

https://www.goldenfrog.com/blog/pure...g-claims-false

Response: https://www.purevpn.com/blog/vpn-logs-explained/

Octane (Humayun) · #11 02-12-2017, 12:36 PM

Another NordVPN user here for the last few years. Can't fault the service.

And, yep, as you've asked, a VPN will solve your issues.

You can set it permanently by enabling it in your router (if it has a VPN function).

Be mindful, though, that often going through a VPN, you will not make use of the maximum bandwidth available to you -- they're often a bit slower. So, to avoid everyone in the household complaining about Internet speed, don't enable it in the router and turn it on and off as required.

I've written a little shell script which chooses a server at random (there's hundreds of *.ovpn files pointing to servers that NordVPN allows you to use), but excludes any countries which block peer-to-peer sharing content.

H

LewisM · #12 02-12-2017, 12:42 PM

I also highly recommend Proton mail for secure mail. They are Swiss and highly recommended in business too. Lots of encryption.

skysurfer · #13 02-12-2017, 08:46 PM

VPNs are not completely anonymous.
But it is more difficult to track you, just as adblockers and track blockers make it more difficult, but not impossible.
But when one really wants, e.g. in the case of a criminal offence, e.g. you are constantly harassing some woman or downloading child porn, the police will find you and even the most 'anonymous' VPNs will cooperate, and in such cases they are right.

For their reputations they rather cooperate with justice than with criminals.

rat156 · #14 09-12-2017, 10:43 PM

Without using a VPN you can also use a service called Unlocator. I use it to get at Amazon prime in the US, BBC from the UK and ABC from Aus in Holland. My VPN service (VyprVPN) did not get around the geoblocking from any of these services, but with unlocator I have had no problems. There's a free trial available for you to suck it and see.

Cheers
Stuart