#TurnOnVPN Blog
This page contains blog posts that cover tech, cybersecurity & privacy related topics.
How to use a VPN to torrent
If you’re going to torrent, you need a VPN. The very premise of torrenting has become ingrained in internet culture. Ever since the waning days of Napster back in the late 90s, media junkies from around the world have been downloading and sharing content online....
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Goodbye net neutrality: 3 ways a VPN can help you fight back
You’ve probably already heard the news: on Dec 14th, the FCC went against the best interest of the general public and effectively dismantled net neutrality laws in the U.S. Internet service providers (ISPs) will now have more freedom to tweak and alter their broadband...
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Why you should use a VPN in conjunction with Tor
With the recent net neutrality repeal, there’s been a lot of talk about VPNs and their importance. Where some analysts champion VPNs as the ultimate privacy tool, others are more skeptical. While it’s true that VPNs can help lessen the effects of the net neutrality...
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For the first time ever, more web traffic is coming from encrypted networks
In a time when people can’t even trust their personal WiFi networks anymore, Google’s latest Transparency Report offers a glimmer of hope. For the first time in history, 64% of all Chrome traffic uses HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) encryption, compared to...
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New study shows Android phones track users without their consent
Worried your phone may be recording your movements? You should be. Turns out, no matter what you do to keep your Android device safe to avoid your data being compromised, your Android phone tracks you anyway. That’s according to a new report from Quartz that studied...
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FCC plans to kill net neutrality on Dec 15 — here’s how to make your voice heard
We’ve written on the subject of net neutrality before, but recent events have cast a new light on the FCC’s dubious plans to dismantle internet freedom. Therefore, we thought it was a topic worth revisiting. On the eve of Thanksgiving, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai released a...
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Sending sensitive information online? You need a VPN
Cybersecurity. The very word conjures an excess of negative connotations. From the WannaCry ransomware attack in May to the Equifax hack just a few months ago, 2017 will likely go down as one of the worst years for data breaches. And yet, amid all the retrospective...
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What Russia’s VPN ban could mean for the future of privacy
A VPN hides your IP, anonymizes your network and lets you browse with peace of mind knowing your connection is encrypted. Naturally, some governments aren’t happy about that. After China’s semi-successful VPN crackdown in January, Russia has taken note and has begun...
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Australia’s one step closer to becoming a police state
Forget about all the deadly snakes, spiders, and uncharted Outback. One of Australia’s biggest threats today comes from the government’s staunch stance on privacy. Just law year Australia passed their extremely invasive data retention law that requires all telecom...
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Facebook built a business model on selling targeted ads. Here’s why you should care
While the implications of how social media can affect public opinion have yet to be studied in great detail, startling revelations from the 2016 U.S. presidential election are bringing to light some of the very fears privacy advocates have been warning about for...
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Facing near-unanimous disapproval, the FCC proceeds with obliterating net neutrality
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai has repeatedly come under fire for refusing to acknowledge the benefits of net neutrality. As a former lawyer for telecom giant Verizon Wireless, Pai has made it abundantly clear where he stands. Big...
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Popular VPN accused of spying on users
It’s not a good time to be a free VPN provider. Hotspot Shield, which claims more than 500 million active users, has come under fire for allegedly violating their privacy policy—which, to be honest, isn’t that strict anyway. The Center for Democracy & Technology...
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Europe seeks to outlaw encryption. Will the U.S. follow?
President Trump is stepping up his rhetoric on pressing companies to build backdoors into their devices. Following a recent cybersecurity event in Aspen, Colorado, the US government is renewing its attack on the tech sector, demanding that companies like Apple and...
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VPN use may be growing, but that doesn’t mean people are worried about their privacy
Even though the U.S. is leading the UK regarding VPN use, most Americans aren’t very concerned about privacy. At least that’s what a recent report conducted by Wombat Security Technologies seems to imply. The survey, which was conducted results among 1,000 respondents...
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Web Cleaning Soldier: Chinese spyware, but what does it do?
A new “web cleaning soldier” (WCS) app that claims to free up valuable space on your phone has appeared in Urumqi, Western China. The app sounds incredibly fishy, and we had a look at the source code to find out what it does. Upon install, the app will look for any...
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Apple’s revenue continues to drop in China after pulling VPNs from the App Store
After removing some 400 VPNs from the App Store in China, Apple is taking a hit in year-over-year revenue. Could the VPN ban be to blame? The iPhone 8 may be dropping later this month, but a growing number of Chinese consumers couldn’t care less. At least, that’s what...
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Are your streaming speeds slow? A VPN can fix that
A few weeks ago a savvy VPN user posted a thread on Reddit showing how Verizon was throttling their streaming speeds. By using a VPN to check their network through different speed test tools, they determined how their connection was being throttled up to 10 MBPS...
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Is your VPN legit? 3 ways to check if your VPN is anonymous
There’s no doubt many of the newer VPN services that have sprouted up over the past few years are shady, but how can you tell if a VPN is reputable? Is the VPN really logless? Do they really offer encrypted servers? The marketplace is rife with faux VPN services...
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Everything you need to know about running a VPN on your iPhone or Android
If you’re going to take the time to set up a VPN, then it stands to reason that you’d want to use one on all your devices—not just your computer. It’s not a stretch to assume that everything you store on your laptop or desktop you also store on your phone. Your bank...
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10 reasons why you need a VPN for your small businesses
More and more businesses report data breaches, but a survey of hacked firms by Barkly, a web security provider, found that more than half (52%) of hacked companies haven’t made changes to their IT security in 2017. VPNs offer a straightforward and reliable security...
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5 countries that ban VPNs
Virtual Private Network (VPN) use is becoming more common across the globe. Once a tool for the tech savvy to communicate in secret via an encrypted connection, VPNs are now drifting into regular households everywhere. In countries where the internet is heavily...
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If Theresa May gets elected, you’ll need a VPN
You may know that Theresa May wants to be UK Prime Minister, but you may not know that she intends to take away your right to online privacy. Theresa May’s privacy crackdown Theresa May’s Digital Charter is part of the new Conservative manifesto and proposes new...
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Trump just took away your right to a private life—Here’s how to take it back
Donald Trump’s quest to squash Obamacare may have stalled, but he has succeeded in destroying your right to a private life. On April 3, Trump trashed legislation forcing internet service providers (ISPs) to ask permission to share your personal information. With a...
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What’s a warrant canary?
Throughout the 20th century, miners used canaries to protect themselves from carbon monoxide poisoning. When the bird stopped moving, it was time to get out!. Similarly, warrant canaries are meant to protect you from private companies who might suddenly be coerced by...
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DMCA Notices: How Hollywood’s Lawyers Find You
Let's preface this by stating, unequivocally, that there are thousands of legitimate reasons to download a torrent. Have you ever downloaded a movie online? An album? Just a song? Was it through a source like iTunes, where you paid a fee for the download? How about a...
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Crazy Bombshells from WikiLeaks and How a VPN Can Help
Last March, Wikileaks launched a comprehensive archive filled with over 30,000 random Clinton emails. Most were mind-numbingly mundane---afternoon lunch plans, where to meet after work, directions to her next meeting---but if you had the time (and the patience to sift...
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China Are Notorious Internet Fiends, but Who Else Abuses Your Freedom?
Countries with bad internet policies You might be surprised to learn that China isn't the only nation who acts fast and loose with your internet freedom. #TurnOnVPN has compiled an infographic of the absolute worst internet offenders. Click the image to enlarge and...
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An Open Letter to Governments Looking to Ban VPNs
Dear misguided governments of the world, We get it. You think VPNs are bad. You think the only reason people use them is to pirate copyrighted material. You want to oversee what your citizens do online and dictate which sites they can and can’t visit. You’re not...
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Why a VPN is the Perfect Solution to Your Privacy Problems
You close your blinds; you lock your doors. But what do you do when it comes to protecting your internet security? You may have heard of VPNs or virtual private networks. They’re becoming more popular for a variety of reasons: kids use them to unblock games and...
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8 Top Tech Companies That Actually Care About Your Privacy
Privacy is a hot ticket in today’s tech industry. Unfortunately, so is your data. How can we know who’s cutting corners on security, or who’s simply selling your browsing history to the highest bidder? Non-profits like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have done much...
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