Thread: Different types of security online

Hi all, so I'm new around here so please be kind. I'm very interested in the site and naturally have some confusion about a few things.
The main thing that is troubling me is security whilst browsing and downloading.
I have done some research and found a few options.
1) VPN tunneling
2) Seedboxes
3) Usenet



I haven't seen a sticky around here that explains all of these options and which one gives you the most security so could any one discuss the differences between these and then rate them from least secure to the most secure?? Any help would be really great =D

A search would tell you that all three of these have been discussed here recently, albeit not all in one post. It's unfortunate though that you didn't give much background or context to your question so that a more relevant answer to your concerns might have been made.

VPN or Virtual Private Network is a protocol to protect communication between two points. It literally is an encrypted tunnel between two network points. So if the university that I study at, the company that you work for or ISP that we use likes to eavesdrop, a VPN will keep them from seeing what is being communicated. They will still see that there is traffic and where it goes, but the content is encrypted.

A VPN can also be used as a remote proxy to obscure your geographical location. For example, some video streaming services might only serve U.S. IP addresses. If you are in another country and use a VPN service that is located in the U.S. that forwards the connection.. then it will appear that you are located in the U.S. as they only see the POP (point of presence), which is the VPN service. With respect to streaming in particular, it's a cat and mouse game where this particular use will work this week, but not next week as the technical tug of war goes back and forth. Be advised that a number of trackers will ban you if they detect that you are using a proxy or VPN precisely because it obscures your location.

Seedboxes are permitted by most trackers and have various advantages that typically include speed and preferential seeding. But they also have security and privacy benefits because they change the network endpoint. So instead of the tracker communicating with the IP address of your home PC, it is now talking to the seedbox adderess. So if some content owner wishes to pursue the mistaken belief that you downloaded something improper, it is much more cumbersome to chase, locate and "hassle" you. This is privacy through obscurity and grief will often seek out easier targets. So while a proxy or VPN may get you banned at a lot of trackers, seedboxes are well accepted.

And usenet. Usenet is not torrenting, but an alternative way to find content. In short it is accessing content that is stored on your ISP's local hard drive array. Torrents are an easier target in the sense that all of the torrent traffic is logged on a central tracker. Usenet however is decentralized and diffuse and since there isn't any central clearing house, only your ISP will know what you have downloaded. In practical terms that makes usenet downloads more anonymous. Follow the blue link if you'd like to learn more about usenet.

Thank you very muchly. And yeah you're right, I should have searched around on the forums. It won't make that mistake again, I promise =D