Clarification on "hiding your downloads from anti-piracy organisations" #3178
Description
Affected page
https://www.privacyguides.org/en/basics/vpn-overview/#how-does-a-vpn-work
Description
The content is,
A VPN has many advantages, including:
Hiding your traffic from only your Internet Service Provider.
Hiding your downloads (such as torrents) from your ISP and anti-piracy organizations.
Hiding your IP from third-party websites and services, helping you blend in and preventing IP based tracking.
Allowing you to bypass geo-restrictions on certain content.
What kind of "hiding" is being sold here isn't clear (especially, for point 2), as it seems like the VPNs that do meet PG's criteria don't really promise to hide all that much, but in fact, will even terminate your access to their services, as discussed here:
It also isn't clear what value "helping you blend in" adds. It confuses more (because websites will apps and browsers can fingerprint the user way more accurately & without IP), as the immediate next point notes that it is only IP-based tracking that's thwarted (assuming the respective clients are not "leaky").
Sources
Points from; https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/secure-encryption-and-online-anonymity-are-now-at-risk-in-switzerland/26181/46
In my previous reply, I point out that PG says VPNs can protect one from “anti-piracy orgs” and “oppressive regimes”. This is misleading:
Anti-piracy orgs, such as the MPAA, rely on govt legislatures & law enforcement? How can a VPN, under govt mandates, in a jurisdiction that cooperates with other govts, protect anyone?
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Both those points are misleading. Also, as @anon6848291 says, why do folks want to hide traffic from their ISP in the first place (torrenting for example)? In most, if not all regions, the govt mandates ISPs report illicit activity. If VPNs (or their partners worldwide) now are mandated to do the same thing … what’s the point of PG only going on and on about “protects you from ISPs”? I find it misleading.
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