[Consolidated] VPN Provider Recommendations
Aug 25, 2011, 9:35 pm
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
But what IP address does it show?
Where does it geo-locate?
I'm assuming that it gives the same IP address every time - which doesn't really cloak your identity that well.
Please correct me if I'm ignorant here. Also - if a dd-wrt based vpn can only geo-locate you to where your home router is, then I would consider it an advantage that some of the commercial vpn services can provide geo-located IP addresses in various other countries. As I mentioned earlier, Astrill allows you to change servers/countries on the fly.
Of course, as garyschmitt points out, that also means that your IP address can be identified on a database as being owned by a commercial entity. For my purposes, that hasn't yet posed a problem.[/QUOTE]
Aug 25, 2011, 9:36 pm
#62
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Join Date: Dec 2009
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I've been using a service called Unblock-us for the past few months.
Its not quite a VPN, what you do is you change the DNS addresses to the one that the service provides you. It basically runs as a "whitelist".
I've done a small write up on the service here:
http://www.browngeek.net/unblock-us-...-proxy-service
Its not quite a VPN, what you do is you change the DNS addresses to the one that the service provides you. It basically runs as a "whitelist".
I've done a small write up on the service here:
http://www.browngeek.net/unblock-us-...-proxy-service
Aug 25, 2011, 9:46 pm
#63
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
Read my blog write up, more details there.
No its not free, something like $5 a month. It works with Netflix and a bunch of other sites like Hulu, Pandora and BBC.
I've had it set up on my router, so all my devices at home can access it. Result is I get Pandora on my Squeezebox boom and Hulu, etc on my HTPC.
It only re-directs traffic of the "whitelisted" sites. Everything else goes through normally (i.e. normal browsing).
No its not free, something like $5 a month. It works with Netflix and a bunch of other sites like Hulu, Pandora and BBC.
I've had it set up on my router, so all my devices at home can access it. Result is I get Pandora on my Squeezebox boom and Hulu, etc on my HTPC.
It only re-directs traffic of the "whitelisted" sites. Everything else goes through normally (i.e. normal browsing).
Aug 26, 2011, 10:45 am
#64
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 286
In fact, openvpn in it's fully-featured implementation is too heavy for routers, which is why dd-wrt strips it down. DD-WRT routers cannot handle some of the algorithms because they were too CPU intensive, so they were removed.
Consequently, not all VPN providers that support openvpn will authenticate to a dd-wrt router. However, that's only an issue if the router is used as a client and someone else is serving.
Aug 27, 2011, 9:22 am
#65
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
PPTP is also very lightweight, which is why it's commonly used for mobile phones and PDAs. This would seem to make PPTP ideal for Netflix, where you're streaming copious amounts of audio video data and don't care about disclosure anyway.
In fact, openvpn in it's fully-featured implementation is too heavy for routers, which is why dd-wrt strips it down. DD-WRT routers cannot handle some of the algorithms because they were too CPU intensive, so they were removed.
Consequently, not all VPN providers that support openvpn will authenticate to a dd-wrt router. However, that's only an issue if the router is used as a client and someone else is serving.
In fact, openvpn in it's fully-featured implementation is too heavy for routers, which is why dd-wrt strips it down. DD-WRT routers cannot handle some of the algorithms because they were too CPU intensive, so they were removed.
Consequently, not all VPN providers that support openvpn will authenticate to a dd-wrt router. However, that's only an issue if the router is used as a client and someone else is serving.
My main VPN is running L2TP/IPSec on a Sonicwall. The Sonicwall also supports SSL VPN. I've got a DD-WRT router running OpenVPN - I have less problems with that being blocked by ISPs than I did when I was running a straight IPSec connection.
Aug 29, 2011, 3:42 am
#66
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,223
I also use "unblock-us" and I like it because it redirects traffic for only a specific list of sites. I live in eastern europe and the unblock-us service redirects traffic only for netflix, hulu, etc to the US (or UK in the case of BBC) without redirecting traffic for many local sites which I use. And it is not expensive and and easy to implement (change your DNS server and thats it).
Aug 29, 2011, 1:17 pm
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
Configuring dd-wrt for VPN
Another FTer asked me via PM what the configuration should be for VPN on a dd-wrt router. Because we can't attach pictures to PM, I'm posting it here:
Jan 10, 2012, 2:22 pm
#68
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 4
smartDNS
I do realize this topic is fairly old, but felt like updating it.
I'm one of those who recommended Overplay.net and I still stand by what I said, but now they become even more awesome! (No, I'm not working for overplay, but I simply love the new service they rolled out)
Basically, instead of connecting to VPNs each time you want to watch Hulu, iPlayer, Netflix and other region-locked sites, you change the DNS settings in your computer to their web server. (it is very simple to do so and they have nice tutorials)
What does this do? Well, first of all, you don't have to connect to a VPN every single time, but do take into consideration that if you use smartDNS your connection isn't encrypted. Also, your speeds increase, because instead of tunneling to a VPN service,the overplay initially tricks the website into believing you are in US but the actual streaming is carried out by your connection.
Absolutely love the service, so felt obligated to let others know.
Link to overplay.net
I'm one of those who recommended Overplay.net and I still stand by what I said, but now they become even more awesome! (No, I'm not working for overplay, but I simply love the new service they rolled out)
Basically, instead of connecting to VPNs each time you want to watch Hulu, iPlayer, Netflix and other region-locked sites, you change the DNS settings in your computer to their web server. (it is very simple to do so and they have nice tutorials)
What does this do? Well, first of all, you don't have to connect to a VPN every single time, but do take into consideration that if you use smartDNS your connection isn't encrypted. Also, your speeds increase, because instead of tunneling to a VPN service,the overplay initially tricks the website into believing you are in US but the actual streaming is carried out by your connection.
Absolutely love the service, so felt obligated to let others know.
Link to overplay.net
Jan 11, 2012, 7:41 pm
#69
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
I do realize this topic is fairly old, but felt like updating it.
I'm one of those who recommended Overplay.net and I still stand by what I said, but now they become even more awesome! (No, I'm not working for overplay, but I simply love the new service they rolled out)
Basically, instead of connecting to VPNs each time you want to watch Hulu, iPlayer, Netflix and other region-locked sites, you change the DNS settings in your computer to their web server. (it is very simple to do so and they have nice tutorials)
What does this do? Well, first of all, you don't have to connect to a VPN every single time, but do take into consideration that if you use smartDNS your connection isn't encrypted. Also, your speeds increase, because instead of tunneling to a VPN service,the overplay initially tricks the website into believing you are in US but the actual streaming is carried out by your connection.
Absolutely love the service, so felt obligated to let others know.
Link to overplay.net
I'm one of those who recommended Overplay.net and I still stand by what I said, but now they become even more awesome! (No, I'm not working for overplay, but I simply love the new service they rolled out)
Basically, instead of connecting to VPNs each time you want to watch Hulu, iPlayer, Netflix and other region-locked sites, you change the DNS settings in your computer to their web server. (it is very simple to do so and they have nice tutorials)
What does this do? Well, first of all, you don't have to connect to a VPN every single time, but do take into consideration that if you use smartDNS your connection isn't encrypted. Also, your speeds increase, because instead of tunneling to a VPN service,the overplay initially tricks the website into believing you are in US but the actual streaming is carried out by your connection.
Absolutely love the service, so felt obligated to let others know.
Link to overplay.net
Mind you its a nice little add on if you already use Overplay's VPN services.
Jan 12, 2012, 6:44 am
#70
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
Update to my earlier post. I configured one of the Sonicwall units for SSLVPN before my trip to Beijing last week. It worked very well - bypassed the Great Firewall & gave me full access to everything on the 'net, including Facebook and other social media sites. Streamed YouTube just fine (with a few stops for buffering).
Speed was acceptable, but I suspect that the bandwidth of the non-encrypted internet would have been insufficient for Hulu or Netflix (meaning that the encrypted link with it's overhead would have been worse), but I never ran actual end-to-end speed tests. FTP protocol (I wanted to send photos to a server as backup) would have taken all night for 6 GB.
If one travels a lot and has access to a static IP in the States, some kind of personal VPN endpoint router is worth considering. The limiting factor will be bandwidth.
Speed was acceptable, but I suspect that the bandwidth of the non-encrypted internet would have been insufficient for Hulu or Netflix (meaning that the encrypted link with it's overhead would have been worse), but I never ran actual end-to-end speed tests. FTP protocol (I wanted to send photos to a server as backup) would have taken all night for 6 GB.
If one travels a lot and has access to a static IP in the States, some kind of personal VPN endpoint router is worth considering. The limiting factor will be bandwidth.
Jan 12, 2012, 7:53 am
#71
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
no security
I do realize this topic is fairly old, but felt like updating it.
I'm one of those who recommended Overplay.net and I still stand by what I said, but now they become even more awesome! (No, I'm not working for overplay, but I simply love the new service they rolled out)
Basically, instead of connecting to VPNs each time you want to watch Hulu, iPlayer, Netflix and other region-locked sites, you change the DNS settings in your computer to their web server. (it is very simple to do so and they have nice tutorials)
What does this do? Well, first of all, you don't have to connect to a VPN every single time, but do take into consideration that if you use smartDNS your connection isn't encrypted. Also, your speeds increase, because instead of tunneling to a VPN service,the overplay initially tricks the website into believing you are in US but the actual streaming is carried out by your connection.
Absolutely love the service, so felt obligated to let others know.
Link to overplay.net
I'm one of those who recommended Overplay.net and I still stand by what I said, but now they become even more awesome! (No, I'm not working for overplay, but I simply love the new service they rolled out)
Basically, instead of connecting to VPNs each time you want to watch Hulu, iPlayer, Netflix and other region-locked sites, you change the DNS settings in your computer to their web server. (it is very simple to do so and they have nice tutorials)
What does this do? Well, first of all, you don't have to connect to a VPN every single time, but do take into consideration that if you use smartDNS your connection isn't encrypted. Also, your speeds increase, because instead of tunneling to a VPN service,the overplay initially tricks the website into believing you are in US but the actual streaming is carried out by your connection.
Absolutely love the service, so felt obligated to let others know.
Link to overplay.net
Just be sure to note, there will be NO SECURITY with such a solution. It might work for getting around IP routing/streaming issues, but won't offer any security layer protocols-which is why many/most would use a VPN remotely or internationally.
Jan 12, 2012, 9:18 am
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,222
I don't understand SmartDNS - is it just using a different DNS server? I don't see how that would work with location-restricted content. From what I understand, Hulu/Netflix use IP geolocation so if you connect from a European IP, no matter what DNS server you use, they will see that you're not in the USA and won't let you stream.
On the other hand, a different DNS server might just work for accessing Facebook in a place like China, because I think the Great Firewall is essentially a DNS construct.
Right?
Jan 12, 2012, 11:54 am
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,222
Though, I don't really understand enough about the nitty gritty of Tor. From what I understand of this article, though, the Great Firewall looks for certain SSL certificates that the Chinese government associates with Tor. When it detects those certificates being used, it tries to make a Tor connection to that host. If it can do so, the host is a Tor node and gets blocked. Right?
