IT Security Stack Exchange
IT Security Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [vpn]

This tag is applied to questions related to various VPN types such as PPTP or IPSec.

A VPN is often considered a remote access method to gain access to private network via a public network. VPNs use various types of encryption and tunneling protocols to ensure the safety of data traversing public networks.

1305 questions
244
votes
14 answers

My college is forcing me to install their SSL certificate. How to protect my privacy?

My college administration is forcing us to install Cyberoam Firewall SSL certificate so that they can view all the encrypted traffic to "improve our security". If I don't install the certificate than I won't be able to use their network. What are…
svetaketu
  • 2,151
  • 2
  • 9
  • 5
125
votes
7 answers

My ISP uses deep packet inspection; what can they observe?

I found out that my ISP does deep packet inspection. Can they see the contents of HTTPS connections? Wouldn't having HTTPS ensure that they can't see the contents being transferred? And can having a VPN protect me against deep packet inspection by…
cppanonhelp666
  • 1,233
  • 2
  • 8
  • 6
123
votes
12 answers

Is there a legitimate reason I should be required to use my company's computer? (BYOD prohibited)

I just got a new job at a medium-sized (~100 employees) company and one of the first things I was told is that I cannot use my own computer, because I need to be able to connect to their network, access files, etc. I didn't think that made much…
Marcus McLean
  • 1,249
  • 2
  • 8
  • 8
73
votes
3 answers

symmetric encryption session keys in SSL/TLS

This question concerns the session send and receive keys used in SSL/TLS protocol. my understanding is that this key uses symmetric encryption (DES, AES, BlowFish, etc.) I'm wondering, if public-private key pairs are superior to symmetric keys…
lurscher
  • 1,200
  • 1
  • 10
  • 14
71
votes
6 answers

Differences between using Tor browser and VPN

I can't quite figure out the differences between using the Tor browser and using a VPN (like concretely proXPN). From what I understand the idea is the same, that they both hide the IP address. The only difference that I can see is that Tor seems…
Thomas
  • 3,841
  • 4
  • 22
  • 26
68
votes
8 answers

What is the difference in security between a VPN- and a SSL-connection?

I would like to design a client-server application where the server is placed on Internet. I assume that I could set up the client-server connection using VPN (is it using IPSec?) or using a SSL connection (possibly https). What are the differences…
Jonas
  • 5,063
  • 7
  • 32
  • 35
62
votes
6 answers

If I use a VPN, who will resolve my DNS requests?

Will they be resolved by my VPN provider, or by my original ISP (if left on "automatic" settings)? Would I have to manually configure a dns server, to make sure my requests will not be resolved by my ISP (constituting a privacy risk)?
user7848
61
votes
6 answers

Anonymity on Facebook - how do they suggest people I should know?

I want to know how Facebook discovers the people who you know in real life or who know you. I tried the following to see if Facebook can still discover my acquaintances in real life and suggest them to me as a friend. I connected using a VPN (an…
Neon Flash
  • 929
  • 2
  • 11
  • 17
57
votes
9 answers

How does Google Maps know where I am, when I'm using a VPN?

How does Google Maps determine my location? I've gotten some understanding of Google Maps' geolocation methods from here: http://friendlybit.com/js/geolocation-and-google-maps/ In the newer browsers (all but IE6, IE7, or IE8) may ask you for your …
user10732
  • 673
  • 1
  • 6
  • 4
53
votes
5 answers

Is there any way for my ISP or LAN admin to learn my Gmail address as a result of me logging into Gmail's web interface through via their network?

The title says it all, really. I'm Alice, and I want to login to Gmail's web interface through my browser. Ike, the internet service provider, and Adam, the local network administrator, would like to know what my Gmail email address (username) is.…
Anon
  • 541
  • 4
  • 4
52
votes
8 answers

Can an open Wi-Fi hotspot be considered "secure" when using a VPN connection?

There are many open Wi-Fi hotspots scattered around from cafes to airports. I understand that a non-passworded Wi-Fi leaves traffic unencrypted and therefore available for hackers to read. I also know about a man-in-the-middle attack where the Wi-Fi…
User1
  • 3,041
  • 5
  • 23
  • 30
51
votes
7 answers

VPN + HTTPS = 100% anonymous?

Let's say I visit Twitter using HTTPS and a VPN First, I know that HTTPS is end-to-end encrypted, so no one except Twitter can know what data is sent, not even the VPN provider. Second, I know that when I am using a VPN no one can know who is the…
uihiuh
  • 611
  • 1
  • 5
  • 6
47
votes
8 answers

How can you be caught using Private VPN when there's no logs about who you are?

I know there are 2 services of VPN (free and paid). Normally, free VPNs need money from somewhere and sometimes they can sell your information to any agency that needs it. Now, if we are talking about a paid VPN where they use encryption and don't…
jcho360
  • 813
  • 2
  • 8
  • 12
45
votes
4 answers

How can html5 geolocalisation bypass my vpn?

About two months ago I've decided to use a VPN all the time (it's launched at startup) for various reasons, privacy being the first one. But recently I realized that if you agree to share your location when an HTML5 geolocalization pops up in…
drov
  • 451
  • 4
  • 3
42
votes
5 answers

Connect through two VPN clients

What exactly happens if I connect through two VPN clients on my laptop? For example, I connect using Cisco Any Connect, and then use another VPN client (such as HotSpot Shield or proXPN) to connect through another tunnel. Will the actual data be…
Alaa Ali
  • 523
  • 1
  • 4
  • 8
1
2 3
…
86 87