Mullvad VPN update

[davidy]

I just installed the 2022.1 version of the deb file and it now has multihop for the wireguard protocol for even more security which is good but introduces more latency. It also includes a malware blocker. After enabling both I noticed opensnitch was trying to connect to a 'metadata.google....' site, so I unchecked the malware blocker. Essentially if you use the blocker you will be connecting to google, for some odd reason. Not sure I trust mullvad too much.

Regardless, even if it's just a list google provides, "google" and "private" are 2 words that simply don't mix. I've since unchecked the other 2 for ads and trackers as well.

[rosie]

Thank you very much for the heads up @davidy. Agree it's always best to avoid google connections etc. Fingers crossed Mullvad stay clean enough to continue with.

[davidy]

It's unfortunate how many have been brainwashed into lemming mode. One of the email services I use just sent me an un-repliable email, from themselves, that basically stated "spread the word and hate on 'russia'". Literal SPAM, but really just mindless BS propaganda on how I need to think or behave towards other human beings, en masse. I will no longer be using Tutanota moron email services. Mullvad is next.

[rosie]

I agree. It's so rude that these people automatically decide to treat customers as if they're stupid, uninformed and don't care about things. I got that email too. If ever there was a time for email and vpn providers who treat customers as decent and intelligent people it's now; same for browsers, etc, otherwise they'll just be dropped by so many they'll fade away. Thankfully tutanota isn't my main email, but will look elsewhere too. No personal stuff like that from posteo at this point, and I don't sign up for newsletters etc anyway, if they have that. Been with them for a year and it's been fine; no spam folder occasionally causes a tiny bit of stress, but I like how they aren't in your face about anything, + cheap and reliable. Not sure what to do about Mullvad ... paid up for 6 more months, but would need to research other VPNs. That shouldn't be too onerous, as it's getting really easy nowadays to spot who treats people well and who doesn't.

[LearningMX]

I agree. It's so rude that these people automatically decide to treat customers as if they're stupid, uninformed and don't care about things. I got that email too. If ever there was a time for email and vpn providers who treat customers as decent and intelligent people it's now; same for browsers, etc, otherwise they'll just be dropped by so many they'll fade away. Thankfully tutanota isn't my main email, but will look elsewhere too. No personal stuff like that from posteo at this point, and I don't sign up for newsletters etc anyway, if they have that. Been with them for a year and it's been fine; no spam folder occasionally causes a tiny bit of stress, but I like how they aren't in your face about anything, + cheap and reliable. Not sure what to do about Mullvad ... paid up for 6 more months, but would need to research other VPNs. That shouldn't be too onerous, as it's getting really easy nowadays to spot who treats people well and who doesn't.

I'm curious to hear what vpn services you find that satisfy your needs. I've switched from mullvad to protonvpn before because the latter opensourced their client, but it kept freezing itself and my machine and I came back to Mullvad, their wireguard support is simply topnotch ..

[rosie]

I'll certainly update the thread @LearningMX but it may be a while, as I've got 6 months left on Mullvad. Mullvad does work well, and I find it much better than Expressvpn. Hopefully they revert having google connections within options, but, if not, it makes sense to see what else is around. Protonvpn doesn't sound like it was a good experience! Good that Mullvad works well for you, and at least the adblockers can be left switched off. Will bookmark this thread and remember to update it with whatever I find.

[davidy]

Proton apparently (swiss based) is now working hand in hand with the law to 'catch criminals'. Basically you can't trust them whatsoever. Especially their email. I just looked at quite a few and decided I would be moving to iVPN. It can use wiregaurd, is 100% opensource and vetted, and it's based out of gibraltar. Plus it's ethos is freedom=privacy. It supports torrenting and of course has all the gui clients necessary even for routers like my asus-merlin.

Express is a British based company and is not to be trusted. If you trust the BBC and the british govt you should definitely be using express. I know for a fact they log from experience.

Mullvad is part of the 14 eyes. Forget 5 eyes. The attempt to connect to a google server to 'block malware', and the fact it is based in Switzerland which is ruled by the banking cartel alone is enough for me to say bye bye. The collusion between governments is quite like an octopus now. At the beginning of the scamdemic 2 years ago my favorite radio station out of Lahaina Maui was blocked "'cause the virus", and still is. A gddmn streaming url I handed to either vlc or transistor for droid! The USPS won't mail anything to Australia as of right now. In short, in their attempt to control free speech, rallies of any kind, truth movements, etc., etc., they have even gone so far as to start fencing off the internet. Mail and delivery services, and anything else they could stop as well all just to prevent people from being able to gather and cry foul.

I wanted to use TorVPN but it's US based so for that reason alone I cannot trust it. It's kinda like when you go to court anywhere in the US. Once you walk through the front door you have just given up all your rights, period. You may not remember but Obama was giving local judges federal powers. This is in essence negating state powers and is in my opinion treason.

You can do a search for the best vpn and there are guys who do just that on youtube and elsewhere. One guy highly recommended a decentralized one called Orchid. Orchid supports BLM and so is at the very bottom of my list and will always be. In fact I will be stomping it into the ground before I were to use that one. IVPN is $100/yr (7 clients) right now but they get a perfect score for useability and privacy which is the ONLY reason to use a vpn to begin with. In fact I just added their repo and installed their gui on my laptop. Now I just need to come up with the c note.

[rosie]

Great research @davidy and iVPN sounds good. A relief that they are referencing both the ukranian and russian anti-war civilians being affected, regarding anything political, and on reddit, plus they seem to have all bases covered vpn-wise. I was glad to leave Expressvpn behind, and left Protonmail a while before that ... although a different area, left Megasync too years back; had deleted data, but logged in for some reason months later, and all my data was there ... an email asking why the data was there and how to fully delete it got no response. No cloud anything since then!

Certainly don't want any of the 'eyes', and google connections aren't acceptable. Yes, Switzerland/USA unfortunately aren't trustworthy, and other places follow suit too. None seem to realise that blocking normal harmless activities just confirms to the public that not going along with what is demanded is right.

Thanks for posting about iVPN, and I bet you're glad to be rid of Mullvad! Off to read some more and, as long as the gui has all the necessary settings, will most likely sign up too.

[richb]

Moderator. This topic has veered into political subjects and therefore is Locked.