Does anyone know if having a VPN makes it harder to get in and out of websites? On or off-line?

[BComplex]

I think I should get a VPN, but I know absolutely nothing about them in actual practice. I know what they are supposed to actually do, but I don't know about the day to day use of them. I'm of the age that I didn't grow up with computers, but I'm willing to learn new stuff.

I wish DU had a Computer for Dummies forum.

[multigraincracker]

1. Same here.

[Tom6]

2. VPN

I use one when I am abroad, just for safety. I had no problem logging into any of my accounts either. Should work fine for you.

[Skittles]

4. offering advice on your first post

welcome to DU, Tom6

[BComplex]

6. Welcome to DU, Tom6!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. Welcome to DU

[True Dough]

12. Toms 1 through 5

never made the cut. Hopefully you're the Tom variant that we've been waiting for.



Welcome!

[Skittles]

3. no, doesn't make it harder

it's essentially just an extra login prior to proceeding with business as normal

[BComplex]

5. Can you explain a little more Skittles? And thanks for the answer!

Like, I don't really login. When I open up my computer in the morning, I login to open the computer, and then I just open my web browser (mostly Safari) and start opening my favorite websites, or looking for new ones with information I'm interested in. I don't login to any of my web browsers. (Firefox, Chrome)

If I've cleared my cookies before logging off the night before, I have to login to my favorites (DU, for one). Is that where I'd need to login to my VPN?

Also, do you know of a good VPN? There are a bunch of options.

[Skittles]

7. I only used one for work

hoping DUers with current experience using VPN will weigh in

[SheltieLover]

8. There is a computer help forum.

Sorry, I know nothing about vpns.

Good luck!

[BComplex]

10. Thanks SheltieLover!!! I went looking for it and found it!

I didn't know DU had such a forum! It's under the Help and Search forum categories

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

[Wuddles440]

9. While you may encounter...

some sites that will not open with the VPN connected, the degree of privacy/security that the VPN offers to users out weighs the occasional inconvenience.

[rurallib]

13. I have been using one since around Christmas

I have noticed some strange slowness on some websites, others nothing.

Email and DU have been the most noted slowness. Email sometimes just seems to back way up and I must disconnect and reconnect to clear things out. It also seems to be sensitive to high volume times.

At first with Du it would crash on me, but recently it has been pretty robust thanks in part to am sure to EarlG.

I just had an upgrade Wednesday and am noticing some slowness creeping back in on DU, but I am sure that is temporary.

Now that I have VPN I would not get rid of it. I can live with some slowness. It is really not that bad. We are just so used to speed that it is noticeable.