I use Proton. But I continue to run into more and more websites and services that detect my VPN and refuse my connection, or just run literally 40 captchas in a row until I just give up.
I use Proton because it has a “suite” of products under a single subscription, but that benefit is losing it’s allure as some of their products are pretty shitty from a user experience perspective, their customer support is atrocious, and they don’t seem to pay any attention to what their users actually want.
Does anyone track known VPN servers? Is there a specific provider that causes less problems? Does anyone test different VPNs for detection?
Thinking about cancelling my subscription and moving to Mullvad.
Mullvad, haven’t had any issues with it. If a site refuses my connection I just change servers until it works, even found a few that work on reddit
Reddit is one of the main problems for sure.
have you considered using alternatives front ends for some of the major social platforms?
I use libreddit/redlib to browse reddit. you can run an instance locally or connect to remote ones. this way your IP isn’t logged by reddit in the first place & no JavaScript is required to be run for the website to function properly.
there is even an extension called libredirect which can automatically swap clicked reddit (& other platforms) links to the same page on public frontends, which removes the hasstle of manually changing the URL.
Comment saved, thanks.
Yeah I used to do that before they broke all of them. Used the Stealth app every day but it stopped working a few months ago. Possibly due to VPN, don’t really know exactly how that service works.
redlib is the updated version of libreddit & it seems to have circumvented the issues reddit caused so maybe consider giving it another try.
I think stealth also broke when they removed free API access. although, you can still use the webscraping mode by changing it in the settings I believe. if u want another option maybe try out RedReader or Geddit.
Btw you can also use normal third-party clients with your custom developer API key, there’s a patched version of Apollo for iOS/iPadOS (you can download it from AltStore using their custom repository, it’s explained on the website) and ReVanced offers a patch for Infinity on Android. The patched Apollo version has a quick guide on how to get an API Key, it works with all apps that support these custom keys though:
- Sign into your Reddit account and go to the link above (reddit.com/prefs/apps)
- Click the “are you a developer? create an app…” button
- Fill in the fields
- Name: anything
- Choose “Installed App”
- Description: anything
- About url: anything
- Redirect uri: apollo://reddit-oauth
- Click “create app”
- After creating the app you’ll get a client identifier which will be a bunch of random characters.
I’ll try Redlib, thanks for the heads up.
Edit:
The official instance is hosted at https://redlib.matthew.science
It’s already broken.
Stealth continued working for a few months after they killed the API.
RedReader is just a terrible app, if I’m honest.
Will try Geddit but I doubt they will hold up to Stealth. It was so good :'(
The official instance is hosted at https://redlib.matthew.science
It’s already broken.
Their server is down, but I haven’t seen a Redlib instance get blocked by Reddit. Try another instance like safereddit.com or check out the entire list of instances: https://github.com/redlib-org/redlib-instances/blob/main/instances.md
LibRedirect should also automatically fetch the list and allow you to choose instances you like
Their server is down
Yes that sort of thing seems to happen frequently with these type of platforms. LibReddit, Piped, Invidious, Bibliogram, etc.
It’s too much hassle to constantly be trying to chase down a functioning instance.
I would avoid trying to make sure you use the “official instance” as it kind of works against the projects purpose of decentralizing web requests. pinging around instances helps with avoiding outages as well. you can find active instances here on the uptime monitor.
otherwise, stealth should work just fine if u turn on webscraping mode. I have been using it since the reddit changes with only very occasional issues, as similar to you I have some quams with alternative reddit clients.
I would avoid trying to make sure you use the “official instance” as it kind of works against the projects purpose of decentralizing web requests.
I would but I didn’t know where to find them.
you can find active instances here on the uptime monitor
Thanks
stealth should work just fine if u turn on webscraping mode
Nope
Geddit also doesn’t do anything but a constant loading indicator.
Redlib works perfectly, I think they use IPv6 address rotation to evade IP bans
Have you considered not using Reddit?
I don’t use Reddit. Just browse. As soon as Reddit is no longer a veritable cornucopia of information I’ll stop doing that.
If you don’t need to log in, I would recommend a private frontend like Redlib (fork of Libreddit) together with the LibRedirect browser extension
There are only 2 VPN providers that are worth using IMHO: Proton and Mullvad. All the other VPNs are of questionable quality or their practices make you wonder if you should use them at all (eg logging and keeping logs)
Unfortunately there are websites that try to detect vpns and block you. Fuck those websites. Don’t encourage them by giving them eyeballs or money.
What don’t you like about IVPN? Audited, open source, great reputation. I don’t even use them but seems odd to count them out.
yeah ivpn is recommended too, i think he just forget. i think they do the same thing as mullvad? like you can pay with monero and no email
ivpn mullvad and proton seem to be the golden three. I’d throw in OVPN too though
Can also recommend AirVPN.
Unfortunately there are websites that try to detect vpns and block you. Fuck those websites. Don’t encourage them by giving them eyeballs or money.
It’s mostly CDNs like Cloudflare and Akamai that are notorious for blocking VPN and Tor users. Fuck CDNs, they destroy privacy and centralize the internet.
That’s what I do. If a website blocks me because of my vpn, fuck em. I don’t waste my time. What business of theirs is it if I’m using a vpn.
Also IVPN and AirVPN
I try not to but those websites comprise most of the internet at this point. Unfortunately people also use VPNs to do nefarious shit, so it’s not always malicious (though it obviously mostly is).
Mullvad, it has ipv6 and way better linux support than proton
No port forwarding though :(
I used to use Mullvad but after they disabled port forwarding I switched over to Proton.
AirVPN has port forwarding
I used to be a Mullvad customer but switched to Proton because I use all the products on their suite. It makes financial sense to me.
Mullvad, however, has the best VPN experience ever. Faster, more stable and way less Captchas (though I’m not sure that’s good?). Plus, I love their bullshit free pricing. It’s 5 euros a month regardless if you buy 1 month or 2 years. Can’t recommend it enough, even though I’m no longer a customer.
Yep, I switched because I was moving away from the proton ecosystem lol. Their poor google-free android support for mail, and awful linux vpn support (they have a hard dependency on networkmanager, but I don’t use NM, I use iwd) plus no ipv6 pushed me away
Yep, I know exactly what you mean. Lack of ipv6 is mind blowing, to be honest.
Nice try FBI.
But seriously… if everyone knew about better options, I think they would already be blocked too :)
You make a good point.
Proton and Mullvad are the only 2 I’d trust. I suspect that they get similar results.
Proton has gotten a lot better since launch, but it’s always a moving target with these things. I really only have issues with some store sites that just don’t load with a VPN, which only tells me I don’t want to shop there.
IVPN and AirVPN are also very trustworthy and pretty popular in the privacy community
Nice try fed, won’t narrow me down that easily
Too late for this joke
I know your local IP address. 127.0.0.1 and now you will be caught.
Delete this comment you’re doxxing me bud
Unfortunately, the internet does not forget and forgive. It was your fault.
ProtonVPN free (paid is still too expensive for me) and Mullvad.
I find that Mullvad is usually blocked more.
For the past 3 or 4 years I was just on ProtonVPN free tier. For past 15 days I am using Mullvad. I really like that you can choose some custom ports for WireGuard, and also the multihop.
What is unfortunate is that I can’t generate separate credentials for OpenVPN, like with ProtonVPN. It just uses account ID.I have also tried IVPN for a week. Nicer UI, but a bit more expensive, sort of. They have variable pricing based on subscription length, and that just makes me dislike them enough to stick with Mullvad. €5/month whether it’s 1 month, 6 months, a year or longer.
I don’t remember what specifically it was, but I know I also preferred the Mullvad’s ToS over IVPN, although both are fine.I also thought of AirVPN because of port forwarding, but for privacy I’ll stick to Mullvad.
What surprised me with Mullvad was the payment processing speed. It only took 4 days from me dropping the envelope with money into mail collection box in Slovakia to me getting the time added. Considering that shipping to Sweden is “3-5 days”, they must have just processed that basically immediately.
But perhaps I was just lucky. I’ll see the next time.this is the life i deserve, not the one i have
Mullvad, IVPN, Proton, AirVPN, or Windscribe are all fine. Depending on how much stock you put into audits the first three are probably a tier above for privacy.
Not really answering your question, but there is this open source extensions that automatically solves captchas locally
when humans were asked to solve distorted text CAPTCHAs, they were able to solve them in 9 to 15 seconds…and were only able to get the answer correctly 50-84% of the time…bots taking the same texts were able to answer the same tests in less than a second, and they were able to do it more accurately — 99.8% accurately, specifically.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/bots-better-at-solving-captchas-than-humans
The fact that this even exists is hilarious. Not to mention that it’s actually a “featured” extension in the Chrome Web Store. Google is actively promoting a product that defeats their own product.
Have you used it? Does it work?
It worked well enough, but since I haven’t used it in a while I can’t say how it holds up
The irony of this lol
VPNs are not meant for privacy. The concept is clunky, as is the concept of our internet.
Tor or I2P are made for privacy, but the interactions with the clearnet have the same problems, you need a legal entity hosting the server, IPs are known and can be blocked etc.
Hosting your own VPN does not anonymize you anymore but is very unlikely to get blocked.
Been using mullvad for at least 3 years, no major problems so far.
Currently I’m not using it so much and my subscription ended 2 months ago, so I’m using the free version of proton which is good enough for the basics of using public wifi.
Windscribe…had it for a few years now and seems fine. I’ll probably look into proton or mulvad when my subscription runs out, but I’d re-up if I find another subscription deal.
Best thing i ever bought was my lifetime subscription for $40
Apparently unpopular but I use Mozilla VPN
HOW DARE YOU
Wasn’t it just rebadged mullvad?
Yes. I used it too for a year but the clients were bad
You’re fine, it’s basically just rebranded Mullvad VPN
But at that point, you can just cut out the middle man and use Mullvad directly, I think their clients are much better and offer more features. They also don’t require your email address and you can pay anonymously with crypto.
Actually, the middle man is why I picked them… I’m just trying to give Mozilla extra revenue streams besides donations from Google.
But it is good to know its at least not a bad option. Their client is decent enough, I have no problems with it, so I’m happy to continue to support them and think of it as a monthly donation
Ok that makes sense, but wtf I just realized that it’s $10/month, Mullvad is 5€ which is $5.38 and they even give you a 10% discount if you pay with crypto
It’s $5/month with an annual subscription, but then you can’t go month to month like Mullvad.
unfortunately the blocking of servers is a perpetual battle that plauges almost any publicly listed proxy (vpns, tor, etc). the only way I have found around it is using lesser known/blocked VPNs or residential proxies. both of which probably have subpar data privacy policies, if they even follow them at all.
althought it likely won’t help your captcha troubles, I would like to give a huge +1 to mullvad. have been a happy customer for years. in compsrison to proton as a company they have a much more direct/benifitial effect on the web & furthuring users privacy online in my eyes.
I’ve been using Nord VPN for years. Maybe someone can educate me on why it’s not good but I’ve had zero issues with it and it allows me to do everything I need to for a great price.
If I remember correctly, NordVPN keeps logs So, if a govt ever subpoenas their data, users can have their privacy violated.
Nord says they don’t keep logs. Who knows if they actually do or not.
“NordVPN is clarifying that it will comply with information requests from international law enforcement after publishing a blog post in 2017 saying that it wouldn’t.”
So, it seems they’ll turn on logging if asked nicely enough.
I’d be interested to hear some evidence of why it’s bad too
I’m the same, it has wonderful Linux support
