I’ve been experimenting with some free VPNs, and it looks like Riseup is legit. I’m able to torrent on it without issue and the speeds are acceptable for my connection.

How come we don’t recommend this more? Everyone is always saying “no free vpns,” but how many of you have actually tried them? I feel like I’ve been wasting money on my VPN ever since I found Riseup.

Are we just being hustled by the viral marketers and their useful idiots?

  • liliumstar@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 days ago

    The primary reason free VPNs/proxies are not recommended is due to the high amount of abuse that flows through them. As a sysop, it’s just easier to blanket ban all those IPs.

    I have ethical concerns with your use of RiseUp as well. They are trying to offer a useful service to people on a donation basis, and you are funnelling a large amount of traffic through them.

    • commander@lemmings.worldOP
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      6 days ago

      Ethical concerns? Lmao. Are you trying to argue they don’t want people using their service?

      Have you even read anything about them?

      Edit for the useful idiots (of which there are a lot of you): “At Riseup, we believe it is important for everyone to use some technology like VPN or Tor to encrypt their internet traffic. Why? Because the internet is being broken by governments, internet service providers (ISPs), and corporations. RiseupVPN will fight that”

    • commander@lemmings.worldOP
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      6 days ago

      Yeah, that’s a lie suckers believe to justify wasting money.

      Try to see things from a practical perspective instead of what will get you internet points from useful idiots.

  • Sonalder@lemmy.ml
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    6 days ago

    Riseup VPN is not a commercial VPN and works in a different way that most VPN, basically it allow you to root traffic through their foundation’s servers. You have no guarantee to have great speed at any time or based on your current geolocation. Remember that a VPN does not bring privacy or anonymity but yes for a free VPN it’s better than the majority of options.

    • commander@lemmings.worldOP
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      6 days ago

      Thanks for the informative response. I don’t have a fast internet connection and have to throttle my torrents anyways, so I’ve never reached the speed limit although I’m sure it’s there.

    • commander@lemmings.worldOP
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      6 days ago

      Yikes. Are you upset because you’re paying for something you could be getting for free?

      I see this kind of response all the time whenever I point out how people are wasting money.

  • TheFermentalist@lemm.ee
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    6 days ago

    I have used rise up for nearly a decade. VPN as well as email, and it is legit. I donate more, sporadically, than it would cost me to subscribe to equivalent alternatives, but that’s a choice. When I was poor and couldn’t afford to contribute, there was no question.

    When a server was confiscated and subsequently returned, they wrote the server off rather than risk reconnecting it and potentially installing spyware.

    There are limits: exit nodes are limited to (from memory), four or five.

    For me, it’s a 4.5 out of five, and would only improve with more exit node functionality

    • commander@lemmings.worldOP
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      6 days ago

      Thank you for the informative answer. I just came across it recently, so it’s nice to know some people have experience with it.

      I wish I had found it sooner!

      • 𝚐𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚎@h4x0r.host
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        6 days ago

        Correct, but you get what you pay for. And they’re worth the cost. I wouldn’t trust a free VPN as much as I don’t trust an ISP. Even paid VPNs shouldn’t be wholly trusted either. But, the two I mentioned are probably the most reputable for privacy, besides Tor.

        • commander@lemmings.worldOP
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          6 days ago

          Correct, but you get what you pay for.

          That’s not true from what I’m experiencing with Riseup.

          Do you have any experience with it?

          • 𝚐𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚎@h4x0r.host
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            6 days ago

            Yes they’re an OG private mail provider who then started offering VPN. I have mixed feelings about their service. It’s average imo. But yes if you’re really wanting free then either Proton or AdGuard are probably somewhat trustworthy-ish.