Bit of an uphill fight with captchas everywhere. Do people here conduct all online activity over VPN whenever possible? Only for the sensitive stuff? Or perhaps the inverse because the bank already knows you? Maybe when travelling or getting around region blocking? Something else?

The one provided by my work aside, I realized that I don’t have any consistent rules around using VPN. Except sometimes, you know, when downloading ISO’s for my favorite distos.

  • ohshit604@lemmy.halstead.host
    1·
    1 hour ago

    CyberGhost currently has alway an excellent review in IT publications and independent benchmarks

    In that very same article…

    It’s Not Just Mid VPNs

    Kape doesn’t just own multiple VPN companies, they also own several media outlets and other ‘cybersecurity’ software. Let’s start by looking at one of their most egregiously misleading ‘cybersecurity’ software offerings: ReImage.

    ReImage is/(was?) marketed as a PC scan and repair tool. It’s actually something called scareware and it’s specifically designed to ping you with alarming messages about your computer containing multiple vulnerabilities, and prompting you to purchase a license to have their software perform the critical fixes necessary. I say ‘was’ marketed because when you go to their website, it doesn’t work. I was only able to look at their website through the web archive tool. Their crunchbase page gives the appearance that they’re still in operation, and you can still download their software off third-party websites. I wouldn’t though.

    Kape Owns VPN Review Sites Too

    You know what’s better than gobbling up market share of the VPN space? Gobbling up the websites that review them too, and creating your own vertical integration.

    So not only does Kape own some of the biggest VPNs in terms of market share, but they also have complete control over the affiliate ecosystem that shills their subpar products onto unwitting consumers. Oh and that’s not all, they also own a middle-man company that specializes “in monetizing high-quality traffic by connecting them with the brands they need.” In other words, they own the VPNs, the VPN affiliate marketing platforms, and the VPN review websites. They’ve created an entire ecosystem that they control, all explicitly designed to go after your data and your wallet.

    Here are some of the Kape Controlled entities that you may or may not have heard of before:

    • Webselence
      • Affiliate monetization platform.
    • VPN Mentor
      • VPN “review” site peppered with affiliate links from Kape VPNs and other owned software like Intego antivirus.
    • Safety Detectives
      • Another VPN “review” website, loaded up with affiliate links from Kape-owned businesses.

    Whether or not you trust a company with the initial intention of distributing malware is on you, and by using their Proxy you’re still pushing your traffic to their servers albeit in a less-secure manner, and to believe they don’t retain your data is merely laughable as they’re obliged by the Five Eyes Alliance due to their headquarters being in London and are required to retain personal information you provide them.

    I don’t use Windscribe myself because they’re a Canadian company and obliged by FVEY, but at least they’re independent from Kape Technologies.