What are the most popular and safe VPN apps?

[cameo]

I've heard some are not much more than Trajan Horses.

[arlen holder]

On Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:25:58 -0800, cameo wrote:

> I've heard some are not much more than Trajan Horses.

Assuming this isn't a troll...
o We have many a thread on this very topic already.

Run a search for "vpn" in comp.mobile.android to find it:
o http://tinyurl.com/comp.mobile.android
o http://comp.mobile.android.narkive.com

For example:
o VPN "How to"?
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/K91Qh0bv9s4/h4aFVEv1BAAJ>

o Recommended VPN
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/uj7MBiRMzqM/CQh8rxKuBAAJ>

Assuming this isn't a troll, I'll summarize by saying you have to first
decide what you "mean" by "vpn apps".

In the "olden days" people used to "roll their own VPN" servers.
o Nowadays, laypeople simply "point to" an existing VPN server.

Assuming the latter (since your question isn't likely of the former),
there is really only one choice, IMHO, that makes any sense nowadays.

1. First you pick any public service that you feel you like
o Note that you could spend the rest of your life choosing between them.

2. That public service will "recommend" a VPN client
o You can use the services' recommended client or a similar client

For example, if you choose this VPN service:
1. <https://www.freeopenvpn.org/en/>

Then you would likely use something like this VPN client:
2. <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.blinkt.openvpn>

The response from the OP will let us know if this was a troll or not.
(in which case I would have wasted my time trying to help the OP)
But in which case, _others_ can still benefit from the tribal knowledge.

[cameo]

I don't know what made you think that my post was a troll, but thanks
for the leads anyway.

[Chris in Makati]

On Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:25:58 -0800, cameo <ca...@unreal.invalid>
wrote:

>I've heard some are not much more than Trajan Horses.

I'll be boring and just give you a simple answer to a simple question.

I use NordVPN.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nordvpn.android&hl=en

[arlen holder]

On Sat, 16 Feb 2019 16:52:57 -0800, cameo wrote:

> I don't know what made you think that my post was a troll, but thanks
> for the leads anyway.

I admit when I "first" looked at VPN, it seemed overwhelmingly confusing
(many years ago), mostly because, as it turns out, rolling your own VPN
server is completely different from simply "pointing" to a public VPN
service already set up.

But nowadays, it's _really _simple (it's just two files).
1. All you need is a "text file" (called something like filename.ovpn).
2. And the VPN client (called something like "openvpn.apk")

That's it.
o Bear in mind the process is the same on any computer.
a. All you need is a text file from any public vpn service
b. And a client that respects the "protocol" of that public vpn service

Once you're "good" at VPN, you can make _plenty_ of decisions.
o Those decisions could take the rest of your life to hone

For example, let me save you weeks of effort picking "protocols":
o Use the "openvpn" protocol

And, for example, I'll save you weeks of picking "services"
o Use the freeopenvpn service.

See how _easy_ it is! :)
o First you get it working & you "play" with it for a few weeks
o Then, after you're familiar, then you bother choosing "stuff"

For now, if anyone here is a beginner, my suggestion is this:
A. Download a free text file from https://www.freeopenvpn.org
B. Install any free openvpn client on Google Play

A quick search on Google Play finds this client, which I'd try first:
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.openvpn.openvpn>

It's apparently the "official" openvpn client:
<https://openvpn.net/vpn-server-resources/connecting-to-access-server-with-android/>

You should be up and running in less time than it took to write this:
o The client will read the openvpn file and you should be set up.

[arlen holder]

On Sun, 17 Feb 2019 11:43:53 +0000, Chris in Makati wrote:

> I'll be boring and just give you a simple answer to a simple question.
> I use NordVPN.
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nordvpn.android&hl=en

This is a very good suggestion by Chris in Makati to try NordVPN first.

I should clarify that the users can spend the rest of their lives choosing
among the various "features" of the various solutions, where the number of
"things" to compare against are too complex for a beginner.

So a beginner needs to ask for advice, which is the topic of this thread.

I didn't test this NordVPN idea, but I skimmed that site that Chris in
Makati kindly suggested <https://nordvpn.com/download/android/>.
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nordvpn.android>

I like this NordVPN idea, where it's free for the first week, so the first
caveat is that the users should hurry up and _test_ it for the first week
to "get their feet wet".

Once they're used to how utterly SIMPLY this process is, _then_ they can
spend the rest of their lives choosing among the various VPN offerings.

Another thing I like about this NordVPN is that it seems to be an "all in
one" solution since you always need just two things to set up VPN:
1. You need an openvpn "config file" (I have over six thousand of them)
2. You need an openvpn "client" (I use the standard open-source client)

To help, here are instructions specific for NordVPN setup on Android.
<https://nordvpn.com/tutorials/android/>

[nospam]

In article <q4c28j$kbq$1...@news.mixmin.net>, arlen holder

<ar...@arlen.com> wrote:

>
> I admit when I "first" looked at VPN, it seemed overwhelmingly confusing
> (many years ago), mostly because, as it turns out, rolling your own VPN
> server is completely different from simply "pointing" to a public VPN
> service already set up.

not really.

> b. And a client that respects the "protocol" of that public vpn service
>
> Once you're "good" at VPN, you can make _plenty_ of decisions.
> o Those decisions could take the rest of your life to hone

nonsense.

> For example, let me save you weeks of effort picking "protocols":
> o Use the "openvpn" protocol

not always.

> And, for example, I'll save you weeks of picking "services"
> o Use the freeopenvpn service.

bad choice.

[nospam]

In article <q4c2vv$lo0$1...@news.mixmin.net>, arlen holder

<ar...@arlen.com> wrote:

>
> > I'll be boring and just give you a simple answer to a simple question.
> > I use NordVPN.
> > https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nordvpn.android&hl=en
>
> This is a very good suggestion by Chris in Makati to try NordVPN first.

not really
<https://restoreprivacy.com/lawsuit-names-nordvpn-tesonet/>

[arlen holder]

Hi nospam,

*PLEASE PLAY YOUR SILLY APPLE MARKETING GAMES ELSEWHERE NOSPAM*

I know exactly the silly Apple Marketing Propaganda games you're playing,
even as the beginners here likely do not.

By you playing your silly Apple Marketing Propaganda games, you're only
going to _confuse_ the poor beginner - who doesn't realize the silly games
you play constantly nospam.

The difference between you and adults is very simple:
o You post with absolutely _zero_ helpful intent.
And...
o You can _only_ speak EXACTLY what Apple Marketing wants you to.

For example...
o Let's see _your_ tutorial for setting up a vpn server.
o Let's see _you_ use the Apple client for the openvpn protocol.

HINT: You've never written a single helpful tutorial in your life.
HINT: The built-in Apple clients are brain dead with respect to openvpn.

Note to beginners:
1. This nospam guy does not post with _helpful_ intent.
2. This nospam guy only spouts Apple Marketing Propaganda.
3. To understand him, is to understand Apple Marketing Propaganda.

To wit:
A. He knows that Apple has a built-in VPN client
B. But he omits that it's brain dead with respect to the openvpn protocol
C. And he claims server setup is easy; but it's off completely off topic

To understand nospam is to know these two facts about him:
a. He _never_ posts with _any_ purposefully helpful intent, and,
b. He can _only_ spew Apple Marketing Propaganda.

Therefore, he _denies_ all facts out of hand, that don't fit perfectly into
his imaginary belief system which "is" Apple Marketing Propaganda.

>> But nowadays, it's _really _simple (it's just two files).

> actually only one file, sometimes none.

You childishly post with _zero_ helpful intent, nospam.

While we all know that Apple provides a (brain dead, IMHO), client,
the fact that it's brain dead, and the fact that it's proprietary, is lost
on you nospam.

All you _can_ do is spout meaningless Apple Marketing Propaganda.

The fact that the "two files" can be bundled into one is something we all
know, nospam, where, for example, in this helpful suggestion from Chris in
Makiti, it's likely only one file "bundle":
o What are the most popular and safe VPN apps?
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/cWh9F_2Njck/58gbmU34EQAJ>

However, the _reason_ for explaining it's "two" files in openvpn is that
we're trying to be helpful to beginners who may have trouble separating the
two concepts of:
o The client, from
o The configuration

For example, for the openvpn protocol...
o The user can download _any_ desired openvpn client application
o And the user can download _any_ desired openvpn config file

Notice that you, nospam, always follow Apple Marketing Propaganda,
so I fully understand why you lean toward not only proprietary solutions,
but also to other protocols than the openvpn protocol.

*PLEASE PLAY YOUR SILLY APPLE MARKETING GAMES ELSEWHERE NOSPAM*

Specifically, a lot of beginners get hung up on the _difference_,
where, for example, VPN providers try to get you to use their proprietary
client, and where I'm trying to be helpful by suggesting that _any_ openvpn
VPN client that the user likes should work.

Hence, I am being purposefully helpful for beginners by distinguishing that
they don't need to use a proprietary openvpn client if they don't want to.

You're just trying to sow fud, which is a childish trait of yours, where
you _should_ be spending your efforts being _purposefully_ helpful.

>> 1. All you need is a "text file" (called something like filename.ovpn).
>> 2. And the VPN client (called something like "openvpn.apk")
>

> #2 is not required.

Notice to adults.

What nospam is doing, which is _all_ that nospam does, is:
a. He's purposefully playing silly games around Apple Marketing Propaganda
b. He's clearly not posting with _any_ helpful intent whatsoever
c. With the result that his posts are intended to confuse beginners.

Remember, nospam _never_ posts with purposefully helpful intent.
o His only goal appears to be to spew Apple Marketing Propaganda

The easiest way to prove nospam wrong is just using these 3 words:
o Name just one

To wit, tell us, nospam, how are you going to use the openvpn protocol
without installing an openvpen client on _any_ platform?

Tell us nospam: What openvpn client is native on any platform?
o Name just one

>> That's it.
>> o Bear in mind the process is the same on any computer.
>

> nope.

Again, nospam is playing silly Apple Marketing Propaganda games.

>> a. All you need is a text file from any public vpn service
>

> not always.

Constantly, nospam plays his silly Apple Marketing Propaganda games.

>> Once you're "good" at VPN, you can make _plenty_ of decisions.
>> o Those decisions could take the rest of your life to hone
>

> nonsense, and there's nothing to be 'good' at.

Notice that nospam _never_ posts with helpful intent.
This guy nospam simply denies everything he doesn't like out of hand.

The best way to understand nospam's posts is simply to think of nospam as
being paid by Apple Marketing to simply deny anything that is said on this
ng that doesn't fit perfectly into the Apple Marketing Propaganda.

>> For example, let me save you weeks of effort picking "protocols":
>> o Use the "openvpn" protocol
>

> openvpn is one of many choices, not always the best one, and quickly
> becoming not a very good one.

Hehhehheh,.,.. take a _guess_ as to why nopspam says that?

HINT: Apple native clients are brain dead with respect to openvpn support.

*PLEASE PLAY YOUR SILLY APPLE MARKETING GAMES ELSEWHERE NOSPAM*

[arlen holder]

On Sun, 17 Feb 2019 12:27:09 -0500, nospam wrote:

> not really
> <https://restoreprivacy.com/lawsuit-names-nordvpn-tesonet/>

Hi nospam,

*PLEASE PLAY YOUR SILLY APPLE MARKETING GAMES ELSEWHERE NOSPAM*

The purpose of this thread is to _help_ the beginner.
o You _never_ post with purposefully helpful intent.

To understand why you post your drivel, is simply to know what the current
Apple Marketing Propaganda is, and then _everything_ you post fits into
that Apple Marketing Propaganda imaginary belief system.

This thread is about helping the _beginners_ out there.
o It's not yet another way for you to spew Apple Marketing Propaganda.

As I noted already, the beginner need only "play" with VPN to get
their feet wet so that they can _begin_ to make _decisions_ about VPN.

o First you get it working & you "play" with it for a few weeks
o Then, after you're familiar, then you bother choosing "stuff"

All of us who have been using VPN for years know that there is "stuff" that
distinguishes one protocol from another, and "stuff" that distinguishes one
client from another, and "stuff" that distinguishes one service from
another.

Mike Easter, for example, long ago posted a web site which tests all this
"stuff", where, as I recall, the list was extremely long of all the
different "stuff" between the various VPN solutions.

Even though I use a _different_ VPN solution than those proposed,
the reason Chris in Makati's suggestion was helpful was that this
NordVPN solution is _simple_ for a _beginner_ to set up & use in minutes.

If you want to play the lawsuit game, I can list _plenty_ of Apple lawsuits
which claim Apple purposefully _harmed_ the consumer, for Christs' sake,
nospam - all of which would be off topic for this thread, which is clearly
about a _beginner_ asking about a beginner solution.

My suggestions are always to add value to our tribal knowledge.
o Your posts are always to spew Apple Marketing Propaganda

That's the difference between us, nospam.
o My posts are intended to be purposefully helpful
o You never post with helpful intent - you simply sew Apple FUD

To any beginners out there, my suggestion mirrors that of the helpful
poster, Chris in Makati, which is to simply choose any VPN service and test
it out.
o This will show that in less time than I wrote this, you'll be "on VPN"

That's what this thread is about.
o Once you get your feet wet, then you can bother with "stuff".

Another free VPN service I use a log (they have thousands of files!) is
o http://vpngate.net
Where you can download scores of openvpn config files at a time.
(I use "wget" daily, which nets thousands of free config files.)

Good luck to the beginners.
o Please ignore unhelpful Apple Marketing Propaganda FUD from nospam.

[nospam]

In article <q4c8j6$rr$1...@news.mixmin.net>, arlen holder

<ar...@arlen.com> wrote:

> >> I admit when I "first" looked at VPN, it seemed overwhelmingly confusing
> >> (many years ago), mostly because, as it turns out, rolling your own VPN
> >> server is completely different from simply "pointing" to a public VPN
> >> service already set up.
> >
> > not really.
> >
> >> b. And a client that respects the "protocol" of that public vpn service
> >>
> >> Once you're "good" at VPN, you can make _plenty_ of decisions.
> >> o Those decisions could take the rest of your life to hone
> >
> > nonsense.
> >
> >> For example, let me save you weeks of effort picking "protocols":
> >> o Use the "openvpn" protocol
> >
> > not always.
> >
> >> And, for example, I'll save you weeks of picking "services"
> >> o Use the freeopenvpn service.
> >
> > bad choice.
>
>

> *PLEASE PLAY YOUR SILLY APPLE MARKETING GAMES ELSEWHERE NOSPAM*

vpn has nothing to do with apple.

rest of your repetitive idiocy snipped.

[nospam]

In article <q4c9dh$27h$1...@news.mixmin.net>, arlen holder

<ar...@arlen.com> wrote:

>
> > not really
> > <https://restoreprivacy.com/lawsuit-names-nordvpn-tesonet/>
>
>

> *PLEASE PLAY YOUR SILLY APPLE MARKETING GAMES ELSEWHERE NOSPAM*

the above has nothing to do with apple.

[Mike Easter]

arlen holder wrote:
> All of us who have been using VPN for years know that there is "stuff" that
> distinguishes one protocol from another, and "stuff" that distinguishes one
> client from another, and "stuff" that distinguishes one service from
> another.
>
> Mike Easter, for example, long ago posted a web site which tests all this
> "stuff", where, as I recall, the list was extremely long of all the
> different "stuff" between the various VPN solutions.

I think you are referring to the website https://thatoneprivacysite.net/
"I intend for this site to be a resource to those who value their
privacy, specifically those looking for information on VPNs (that isn’t
disguised advertising)."

--
Mike Easter

[nospam]

In article <gctrln...@mid.individual.net>, Mike Easter

<Mi...@ster.invalid> wrote:

> I think you are referring to the website https://thatoneprivacysite.net/
> "I intend for this site to be a resource to those who value their

> privacy, specifically those looking for information on VPNs (that isnšt
> disguised advertising)."

that is a very useful resource, and one which contradicts your bogus
anti-vpn link.

[Mike Easter]

nospam wrote:

> Mike Easter wrote:
>
>> I think you are referring to the website https://thatoneprivacysite.net/
>> "I intend for this site to be a resource to those who value their

>> privacy, specifically those looking for information on VPNs (that isn¹t

>> disguised advertising)."
>
> that is a very useful resource, and one which contradicts your bogus
> anti-vpn link.
>

Here's the beginning words of a comment on the article we disagree about:

https://gist.github.com/joepie91/5a9909939e6ce7d09e29#gistcomment-1963364
"I do agree with many of the points made in this article. However, I'm
not so sure it's a good idea to reject VPN services altogether. Rather,
it seems to me like a better solution is to use VPN services **with
caution**." (and goes on for 680 wds)

One of my points is that 'sheeple' should be very leery of VPNs, instead
of just assuming that 'they should be using' a VPN.

They should be reading and using and exploring sites like TOPS above
instead of searching on 'best VPN' which search will definitely mislead
them.



--
Mike Easter

[arlen holder]

On Sun, 17 Feb 2019 11:40:38 -0800, Mike Easter wrote:

> I think you are referring to the website https://thatoneprivacysite.net/

Hi Mike,

THANK YOU for digging up that cite, as I had forgotten it, but the moment I
saw the green, red, yellow tables, I recognized it as the very helpful site
you had proposed when we last discussed how to _compare_ VPN services.
<https://thatoneprivacysite.net/vpn-section/>

That site is very useful for experts to _pick_ among the various offerings!
o Let's always keep in mind that a "beginner" is different from an "expert".
o And that rolling your own is different from pointing to a public service.

This thread is clearly for beginners to _point_ to existing VPN services.

While I consider myself _still_ a beginner, I have been using VPN for a few
years now, on all the common consumer platforms, where my advice for a
beginner (which the OP very much appears to be) would be different than my
advice for an expert.

As you're aware, every day my wget scripts pull down off the net thousands
of free openvpn configuration files, each of which gives me an IP address
from any of hundreds of countries and thousands of locations (all of which
is geolocated for me in the scripts that you helped, long ago, us write
together on the Linux newsgroups, mostly from Marek Novotny, bless his
heart).

Let's keep in mind, for this thread, we're dealing with a beginner question.

For a beginner, I'd suggest a _specific_ protocol, & specifically openvpn.
o For an expert, they can _pick_ whatever protocol fits their needs best.

For a beginner, I'd suggest a _specific_ free public service.
o An expert can _pick_ a more reliable paid service to fit their needs.

My point of view is that, with our advice, a beginner can be up and running
on VPN in less time than it took to write this up - where - after they
"play around" a bit on VPN, they'll get their feet wet on the basics.

After that, they can spend the rest of their life choosing among the huge
number of variables nicely outlined in that reference you kindly unearthed:
o Detailed VPN Comparison Chart
<https://thatoneprivacysite.net/vpn-comparison-chart/>

[Mike Easter]

arlen holder wrote:
> Let's keep in mind, for this thread, we're dealing with a beginner question.

I think the beginner should be engaged on figuring out what, if any,
privacy considerations s/he should be concerned about and who, if any,
hir adversaries might be.

In some, perhaps many, cases, the adversary (in disguise) is a VPN provider.

The beginner should NOT be saying "Everyone says I should have a VPN.
Which one is the best, and how do I do it."

--
Mike Easter

[nospam]

In article <gctulh...@mid.individual.net>, Mike Easter

<Mi...@ster.invalid> wrote:

> >> I think you are referring to the website https://thatoneprivacysite.net/
> >> "I intend for this site to be a resource to those who value their

> >> privacy, specifically those looking for information on VPNs (that isn1t

> >> disguised advertising)."
> >
> > that is a very useful resource, and one which contradicts your bogus
> > anti-vpn link.
> >
> Here's the beginning words of a comment on the article we disagree about:
>
> https://gist.github.com/joepie91/5a9909939e6ce7d09e29#gistcomment-1963364
> "I do agree with many of the points made in this article. However, I'm
> not so sure it's a good idea to reject VPN services altogether. Rather,
> it seems to me like a better solution is to use VPN services **with
> caution**." (and goes on for 680 wds)

the problem i have with the article is that it rejects all vpns because
of a few bad ones, along with numerous misleading or false claims.

not all vpns are bad. some are good, some very good. unfortunately, not
very many.

also, a proxy is *not* a replacement for a vpn. sometimes it's
appropriate and sometimes it's not.

> One of my points is that 'sheeple' should be very leery of VPNs, instead
> of just assuming that 'they should be using' a VPN.

sheeple are the ones who should be using a vpn because they're the most
at risk for being pwned.

nearly all public wifi is easily sniffed. i know of only two public
hotspots near me that uses port isolation, which makes it a little
harder to sniff (but not impossible).

what the sheeple should be leery of is *which* vpn to use.

they are unlikely to do much research (or any at all) and will likely
choose a vpn based on an ad, which is probably not a good choice.

> They should be reading and using and exploring sites like TOPS above
> instead of searching on 'best VPN' which search will definitely mislead
> them.

agreed.

the 'review sites' are nothing more than fronts for shills.

vpns that advertise the most or have the largest commissions are the
ones that are 'highly rated' (and it's not just vpns either).

the lesser known ones, some of which are very good, are never mentioned
because they don't pay for placement.

[nospam]

In article <gcu042...@mid.individual.net>, Mike Easter

<Mi...@ster.invalid> wrote:

>
> I think the beginner should be engaged on figuring out what, if any,
> privacy considerations s/he should be concerned about and who, if any,
> hir adversaries might be.

yep

> In some, perhaps many, cases, the adversary (in disguise) is a VPN provider.

true, such as facebook's vpn.

> The beginner should NOT be saying "Everyone says I should have a VPN.
> Which one is the best, and how do I do it."

nor should the 'experts' be saying don't use vpns.

[arlen holder]

On Sun, 17 Feb 2019 12:56:33 -0800, Mike Easter wrote:

> I think the beginner should be engaged on figuring out what, if any,
> privacy considerations s/he should be concerned about and who, if any,
> hir adversaries might be.
>
> In some, perhaps many, cases, the adversary (in disguise) is a VPN provider.
>
> The beginner should NOT be saying "Everyone says I should have a VPN.
> Which one is the best, and how do I do it."

Hi Mike,

The number of variables to hand an expert (in any field) is vastly greater
than the variables you hand a complete beginner.


Your statement above reeks of ignorance.

What you said is like saying you think those who want to bake bread should
ignore EVERY RECIPE OUT THERE and research, for themselves, all the details
and minutia involved in answering the scores of details such as...
o How to pick the type of dough and how much to use
o Which yeast to pick & how much to use
o How to store the yeast and dough
o When to use sugar or eggs and when not to use sugar or eggs
o What type of baking pan to use and what to use to grease it
o What type of oven to use, and what temperature & for how long
etc.

Jesus Christ Mike - do you comprehend that a beginner is not an expert?

Really?
You can't possibly comprehend even _that_ simple of a concept?

This is the _second_ post you just made which disheartens me because it
reeks of your ignorance, all the while you make claims that you don't
support.

The whole point of answering a beginner's questions is to get them started.

Remember, Mike, they can be "on VPN" in less time than it takes me to point
out your ignorance, Mike. Seriously.

Once the beginner is "on VPN", they can "play around" with VPN.

Let me give you a hint Mike, as to what your post sounds like:

MIKE: No beginner should make bread following a recipe.
MIKE: Those beginners should do the research necessary.
MIKE: They should start with analyzing the difference in flours.
MIKE: Then they should pick the right species of yeast.
MIKE: They should run research the various temperatures.
etc.

Mike Easter,
Please stop proving your ignorance.

There is a _reason_ that "recipes" exist.

HINT: An expert wouldn't need the recipe.
DOUBLEHINT: But you can't expect a beginner to do all that research.

AFTER they make a loaf of bread, or ten, _THEN_ they know a lot
more about what questions they need to ask.

Mike Easter.
Normally you don't post out of sheer and total ignorance,
so I hope that you _comprehend_ that a beginner is different from an
expert.

If you _still_ don't comprehend that a beginner is different from an
expert, then, well, I don't know how to respond to you.

The number of variables to hand an expert (in any field) is vastly greater
than the variables you hand a complete beginner.

If you still don't comprehend that, then please STOP posting drivel.
o The fact is a beginner can use a recipe that an expert doesn't need.

For you to ignorantly claim otherwise is simply worthless drivel.
o A beginner is not an expert

Why you can't comprehend something _that_ simple is what I ask of you.

[cameo]

On 2/17/2019 8:31 AM, arlen holder wrote:
> On Sat, 16 Feb 2019 16:52:57 -0800, cameo wrote:
>
>> I don't know what made you think that my post was a troll, but thanks
>> for the leads anyway.
>
> I admit when I "first" looked at VPN, it seemed overwhelmingly confusing
> (many years ago), mostly because, as it turns out, rolling your own VPN
> server is completely different from simply "pointing" to a public VPN
> service already set up.
>
> But nowadays, it's _really _simple (it's just two files).
> 1. All you need is a "text file" (called something like filename.ovpn).
> 2. And the VPN client (called something like "openvpn.apk")

This sounds like you are giving advice to a Linux user. I was looking
for some Android phone app to download from the Google Play Store which
can be configured in its Setting menu. No text files for me, please. I
had enough of that when I was using Linux and got tired of it.

[arlen holder]

On Sun, 17 Feb 2019 15:17:27 -0800, cameo wrote:

> This sounds like you are giving advice to a Linux user. I was looking
> for some Android phone app to download from the Google Play Store which
> can be configured in its Setting menu. No text files for me, please. I
> had enough of that when I was using Linux and got tired of it.

Now I know you're a troll.
o Go away cameo.

I was trying to help you but you prove all you can do is play stupid silly
idiotically childish games.

Just go away cameo.

[cameo]

Would you mind pointing out in my post what was the troll in it? Without
it your message looks like a non-sequitur.

[arlen holder]

On Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:25:58 -0800, cameo wrote:

> I've heard some are not much more than Trajan Horses.

Please test this new privacy solution for the team to let us know
with purposefully helpful advice, whether you think this is useful
to the "general user".
o I will run tests on iOS & Android (but this product is new to me)
o Note that this product appears to be aimed at the GENERAL USER

Experts like Mike Easter are asked to provide useful helpful advice for
basic users, which this mobile-device system VPN is apparently aimed for.

The installation appears to be designed to be trivially simple
(compared to the normal setup of VPN which takes more thinking).

As always. rest assured of the following two assumed logical implications:
o VPN can be set up in a minute but could take a lifetime to choose the best.
o A best VPN doesn't exist - you choose the best for YOUR threat model

Having said the caveats to ward off the classic VPN keyword trolling,
here is the software & references that I read this morning to learn more.

CloudFlare: Introducing Warp: Fixing Mobile Internet Performance and Security
o *A VPN for People Who Don't Know What V.P.N. Stands For*
o The basic version of Warp is included as an option with the 1.1.1.1 App for free.
o 1. We don't write user-identifiable log data to disk;
o 2. We will never sell your browsing data or use it in any way to target you with advertising data;
o 3. Don't need to provide any personal information; not your name, phone number, or email address; in order to use the 1.1.1.1 App with Warp; and
o 4. We will regularly hire outside auditors to ensure we're living up to these promises.
o We understand freemium and we are excited to extend our experience with it into the consumer space.
<https://blog.cloudflare.com/1111-warp-better-vpn/>

Software Download:
*iOS*:
o 1.1.1.1: Faster Internet, Faster, more private Internet, by Cloudflare
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/1-1-1-1-faster-internet/id1423538627?mt=8>

*Android*:
o 1.1.1.1: Faster & Safer Internet, by Cloudflare, Inc
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cloudflare.onedotonedotonedotone>

News Stories:

*Verge*: Cloudflare is adding a free VPN to its 1.1.1.1 app
o More speed and security
<https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/1/18290615/cloudflare-1-1-1-1-vpn-dns-resolver-security-privacy>

*9to5Mac:* Cloudflare announces Warp: a new free VPN service for iOS
o Following their tradition of introducing new services on April 1st,
Cloudflare is today announcing Warp: a new mobile VPN that promises to
protect the users・ internet traffic while improving speed at the same time.
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/04/01/cloudflare-warp-free-vpn-service-ios/>

*EnGadget*: Cloudflare's privacy-focused DNS app adds a free VPN
o Warp is a VPN for your mobile device.
<https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/01/cloudflares-privacy-focused-dns-app-adds-a-free-vpn/>

*Wired*: CLOUDFLARE SAYS ITS NEW VPN SERVICE WON・T SLOW YOU DOWN
o VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORKS (VPNs) can help protect your internet traffic
from prying eyes.
<https://www.wired.com/story/cloudflare-says-new-vpn-service-wont-slow-you-down/>

*TomsHardware*: Cloudflare Announces Free VPN Service for Faster, More Private Internet
o Cloudflare today announced the launch of the free Warp VPN service that
it claimed will not only keep your data private, but also make your
internet connections faster.
<https://www.tomshardware.com/news/cloud-warp-free-vpn-service,38966.html>

*AppleInsider*: Cloudflare debuts free 'Warp' VPN for iPhone and iPad
o Content delivery network provider Cloudflare plans to make its 1.1.1.1
free DNS service more useful to iPhone and iPad users, with the "Warp"
addition to the mobile app providing users with a free VPN that is claimed
to make going online faster, reliable, and more secure.
<https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/04/01/cloudflare-debuts-free-warp-vpn-for-iphone-and-ipad>

*TechSpot*: Cloudflare's new 'Warp' VPN promises faster, more private mobile browsing
o There's plenty of solid virtual private networks (VPN) out there for
people who value their privacy, but the best ones usually aren't free. That
could change now, though - Cloudflare has unveiled "Warp," its own
proprietary VPN service.
<https://www.techspot.com/news/79461-cloudflare-new-warp-vpn-promises-faster-more-private.html>

o *TechRadar*: Cloudflare launches new VPN with emphasis on speed
o The company's VPN service will use Google's QUIC protocol for faster
speeds and less lag
<https://www.techradar.com/news/cloudflare-launches-new-vpn-with-emphasis-on-speed>

*GHacks*: Cloudflare announces Warp VPN service
o Cloudflare revealed the company's first VPN product today called Warp
which it plans to launch as part of the company's 1.1.1.1 application soon.
<https://www.ghacks.net/2019/04/01/cloudflare-announces-warp-vpn-service/>

As always, please add PURPOSEFULLY HELPFUL advice, particularly because
this VPN solution appears to be aimed at the clueless general user, who
needs PURPOSEFULLY HELPFUL useful advice.