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[–] 68 points 1 year ago (45 children)

Still don't know why I'd need a vpn. My country doesn't go after individuals pirating (yet). That's the only reason, as far as I understand, to have a vpn for pirating. So until they start to take come after individuals, I'm gonna save my money.

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  • [–] [S] 73 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

    You only need a VPN in very few countries, some countries where it is needed to avoid fines/getting your internet connection cutoff from your ISP are the US, Germany and a few other countries somewhere in western Europe, also don't pirate polish films without a VPN if you live in Poland, the rest of the world doesn't care about people downloading movies online.

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  • [–] 12 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    I am in Greece pirating without a VPN, and even after the new anti-piracy law passed, I haven't received a notice (yet).

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (26 children)

    Also VPN makes you rather anonymous. The sites won't track you and sometimes the trackers on public torrent files are notorious for tracking.

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  • [–] 15 points 1 year ago (24 children)

    That is not true, the sites do still track you. VPNs don't prevent tracking, they just make sure the tracking is done through a secure tunnel.

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  • [–] 18 points 1 year ago (23 children)

    VPNs don't prevent tracking, they just make sure the tracking is done through a secure tunnel.

    The extra hop adds a significant barrier for the website in knowing the actual source IP. The fake source IP is likely used by many other users, and the user you are trying to track can easily rotate VPN IPs.

    Its one less identifier for them to use.

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  • [–] 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (22 children)

    Adtech relies on the OpenRTB 2.5/2.6 spec for tracking, you would have removed 1 identifier out of a hundred (one that isn't really used anyway given SSAI is so popular). In addition to that, cookie expiry timers are typically set to 365 days meaning you're VPN would need to enabled at all times to not invalidate multi-hop. WebStorage API based trackers tend to be indefinite.

    ORTB spec: https://www.iab.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/OpenRTB-API-Specification-Version-2-5-FINAL.pdf

    EDIT: If anyone is looking for more specifics about WHY IP addresses and multi-hop don't matter, the spec includes a mention:

    BEST PRACTICE: Proper device IP detection in mobile is not straightforward. Typically it involves starting at the left of the x-forwarded-for header, skipping private carrier networks (e.g., 10.x.x.x or 192.x.x.x), and possibly scanning for known carrier IP ranges. Exchanges are urged to research and implement this feature carefully when presenting device IP values to bidders.

    The issue is that mobile is so prevalent and mobile networks rely so extensively on CG-NAT that even with XFF headers, there's no good way to tell if you are going to get an IP address that actually matters. You could potentially put in a lot of auction time trying to figure that out and still just end up with a private address that's unusable. So, aside from the devicetype and the geo object which is used for geo targets and fencing, the device object isn't useful in tracking. Instead adtech uses the user object. This object should contain all your GDPR specifics, any EIDs, 1st party cookie IDs, etc. Even if those change, there usually exists backend mapping that allows for vendors to correlate different user IDs as being the same user ultimately.

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  • [–] 0 points 1 year ago (21 children)

    ...specifics about WHY IP addresses and multi-hop don't matter.

    ...you would have removed 1 identifier...

    So it can matter.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (7 children)

    barely, efectively meaningless

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    Yeah, multi-hop is pointless for tracking. The logic to it is crazy too. People think VPNs make them anonymous (they don't), but they also think multi-hop makes them MORE anonymous. So anonymity is kind of an absolute concept. Either you are or you are not anonymous. You can't be more anonymous than anonymous. There is no +1.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    Yeah, multi-hop is pointless for tracking.

    The logic to it is crazy too. People think VPNs make them anonymous (they don't), but they also think multi-hop makes them MORE anonymous.

    Whether multi-hop matters to tracking is far and away a different discussion than whether multi-hop "makes you anonymous".

    I too disagree with the original comment, but also believe the pendulum swung too far the other direction in your replies.

    Situations differ. Threat models differ. More hops can, from direct personal experience, make the difference in tracking. Your claim of "...multi-hop is pointless for tracking." has too broad of a scope to be correct.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    What specifically about multi-hop makes you think it improves your security? Be specific. What is your "direct personal experience"?

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (3 children)

    What specifically about multi-hop makes you think it improves your security?

    I haven't mentioned security.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago* (12 children)

    So it can matter.

    Remember to read the rest of that sentence:

    1 identifier out of a hundred (one that isn't really used anyway given SSAI is so popular).

    So, no. Not really.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (11 children)

    Remember to read the rest of that sentence:

    It doesn't change the contradiction.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (10 children)

    You almost had the rest of the sentence there:

    one that isn't really used anyway given SSAI is so popular

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (9 children)

    You almost had the rest of the sentence there:

    That doesn't change the contradiction.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (8 children)

    You're trying to argue without evidence (like I had provided). To summarize these exchange so far its:

    1. You giving some marketing crap you read from a VPN provider site on their multi-hop service.
    2. Someone pointing out that it is incorrect with evidence.
    3. You get mad and basically come back with "Nuh-uh!"

    Is there some evidence you'd like to provide or is it going to be another "nuh-uh!"?

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (7 children)
    1. You giving some marketing crap you read from a VPN provider site on their multi-hop service.

    I'm sorry, but that isn't correct.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    I'm sorry, but that isn't evidence.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (5 children)

    I'm unsure what evidence you are referring to.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (4 children)

    Threat models differ. More hops can, from direct personal experience, make the difference in tracking

    Evidence, or it isn't true.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

    Evidence, or it isn't true.

    Unrelated, but absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

    Anyways, your own statement:

    Adtech relies on the OpenRTB 2.5/2.6 spec for tracking, you would have removed 1 identifier out of a hundred (one that isn't really used anyway given SSAI is so popular).

    Removing an identifier that is used. (1/100 = matters, "isn't really used" != unused). This contradicts your other statements:

    Yeah, multi-hop is pointless for tracking.

    ...IP addresses and multi-hop don't matter...

    Broad statements that don't take into consideration the threat model of other users. Servers you connect to might not be using source IP in any way to track. You might be leaking so many other identifiers, that its completely useless to worry about multi-hop. But this is not true for everyone in every situation.

    If its worth anything to you, the Tor Project seems to think multi-hop and IP addresses matter for protecting against tracking.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

    Unrelated, but absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

    So, I'm not allowed to ask you for proof of your statement? And if its unrelated, then why did you post it? Its unrelated. Also, you're saying you have an absence of evidence, ergo you have no evidence. Having no evidence does not qualify as evidence.

    Removing an identifier that is used. (1/100 = matters, "isn't really used" != unused). This contradicts your other statements:

    Just because an identifier exists doesn't mean it is used. BidRequest.imp[i].tagid exists, but advertisers don't use it. I think you are confusing having an option with something being mandatory.

    And Tor nodes are not the same thing as VPN multi-hop. If you think that they are, wow! VPN multi-hop is you connecting to a provider's server that connects to another one of the provider's server then out. It's all the provider's network.

    And again, if you connected your Firefox browser to Tor, we could still track you. You'd get cookied or localStorage() tracked. When you disconnect from Tor, that stuff is still present in your browser. Almost like the number of hops you take or the IP address used doesn't seem to really matter, huh?

    EDIT: I just realized you think that Tor is built using multi-hop VPN. Its a real life Dunning-Kruger effect! I've never encountered this. You are going to do something really stupid and end up in prison.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    So, I'm not allowed to ask you for proof of your statement? And if its unrelated, then why did you post it? Its unrelated. Also, you're saying you have an absence of evidence, ergo you have no evidence. Having no evidence does not qualify as evidence

    Asking for evidence wasn't the issue, believing that the truth relies solely upon a discussion providing such evidence is.

    I think you are confusing having an option with something being mandatory.

    You misunderstood. Some of your own statements say it matters and is used. Mandatory wasn't mentioned nor implied.

    And Tor nodes are not the same thing as VPN multi-hop.

    I just realized you think that Tor is built using multi-hop.

    I didn't state they were the same. Tor uses "multiple hops" (you can find that string the the link I posted earlier). It is critical to the limiting of information seen by any single entity.

    And again, if you connected your Firefox browser to Tor, we could still track you. You'd get cookied or localStorage() tracked. When you disconnect from Tor, that stuff is still present in your browser. Almost like the number of hops you take or the IP address used doesn't seem to really matter, huh?

    All that state can be removed. And the server might not be tracking that. Situations vary, adversaries vary. If you cannot imagine a scenario in which hops or IP address would matter, I would suggest doing some research.

    Its a real life Dunning-Kruger effect! I've never encountered this. You are going to do something really stupid and end up in prison.

    Personal swipes mark the end of this discussion. I would suggest you to leave those out next time as It detracts focus from constructive learning.

    This will be my last reply. You can also reply if you want (but I won't see it).

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    Asking for evidence wasn't the issue, believing that the truth relies solely upon a discussion providing such evidence is.

    Again, post your evidence or didn't happen. Literally everything after that meaningless without that. The discussion is over because you can't provide that as you are wrong. End.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (10 children)

    It’s a general rule, there are exceptions. I’d think it would be obvious why a VPN is needed for some even if you don’t need it.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (9 children)

    I think it's the older way around. There are really only 3 or 4 countries where using a VPN to pirate is needed. I'm just willing to bet you live in one of those countries.

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  • [–] -1 points 1 year ago (8 children)

    You want a tray of cookies for that original line?

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (7 children)

    Oatmeal please. If you want to be anonymous on the internet, use TOR not a VPN.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (6 children)

    Torrenting over TOR. Fantastic idea. You clearly know what you're talking about.

    Use cases are important.

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 1 year ago (5 children)

    Wanna torrent anonymously and don't wanna pay for a VPN? Get into I2P

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (4 children)

    If you want to download at dial-up speeds for most of your stuff.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    It's still new so that's expected, as more and more people start using it, the speeds will get better automatically.

    There's also private trackers, you won't need a VPN if you get your torrents from them.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Does I2P utilize nodes or something that can be hosted? I’m lucky enough to live in a location with symmetrical gigabit internet, so even if I don’t use it myself I could at least donate some bandwidth. Could run next to my TOR relay.

    Private trackers are a very handy option. I’ve found their rules can often get restrictive. Although it makes sense - gotta protect the swarm.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    If you’ve got a symmetrical gigabit line, you'd be a great fit for hosting a high-bandwidth I2P node, it helps the whole network scale and makes things faster for everyone. Though I'd recommend reading more about i2p before diving in.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/i2p/wiki/index/

    https://lemmy.world/c/i2p

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