Just got myself a Firestick streaming device from Amazon when it was 20% off 2 weeks ago. Mainly to get Netflix with this. Found a lot of advises on line that I should get VPN with this. Also my Norton Security on my computer keep telling me to get their VPN suscription for safe browsing. Is this necessary ? Any of you use VPN service ? If yes, which one ? Thanks.
I use Hotspot Shield from Mexico to show I am in Canada when I chat with Shaw Direct. I will also use it once in a while with Netflix to get better selection of shows. It is free for those uses.
I have been looking at VPNs. I too have Firestick. No real need for VPN (yet!) except for switching location. So far, I am using the free version of Windscribe. It is based in Toronto. https://www.reddit.com/r/Windscribe/ It can be installed direct from app store on Firestick. I have not done that - just using it on computer so far.
Paid versions of Windscribe and others like NORDVPN are not exactly low cost if you only need to use them occasionally.
I am still contemplating if I need this for normal use. Getting more selection of videos on Netflix is not important to me, The Firestick is mainly for YouTube. I often like to check out the travelling videos there. So I can watch it from my TV instead of the computer. Movies and TV I always get them from my local library. Will take a free one month trial with Netflix and Amazon Prime first and then decide.
A99, do you find the speed ot the internet slow down when you use VPN with the Firestick ?
I am still contemplating if I need this for normal use. Getting more selection of videos on Netflix is not important to me, The Firestick is mainly for YouTube. I often like to check out the travelling videos there. So I can watch it from my TV instead of the computer. Movies and TV I always get them from my local library. Will take a free one month trial with Netflix and Amazon Prime first and then decide.
A99, do you find the speed ot the internet slow down when you use VPN with the Firestick ?
Netflix doesn't allow VPNs to bypass geoblocking (can only access through non-VPN connections).
I use it to less than fully legally acquire content that is not easily and cheaply available to me, while avoiding any copyright complaints from rightsholders through the ISP.
I recently noticed that despite using a VPN, the sites I accessed still knew I was in Canada. Checking into this, I found that one of the possible reasons was because browsers like Chrome, Firefox and others default to providing sites with your location. They 'may' ask you first if it is OK. However, you can turn this off. This article describes the problem and how to turn off geolocation:
There are other ways sites can determine your location, but for now this hopefully cured the problem I had noticed. Won't know for sure until I am out of Canada.
Regardless if you're getting a pop up regarding needing a VPN for your fire device I'd still suggest you go for one. I've been using Surfshark for a while now on my Firestick and haven't had any issue with it. I even use it on my phone. The VPN is cheap plus allows unlimited multi-logins.
I'm not sure what security benefits a VPN really has, so your ISP doesn't know what IP you're connected to, but the VPN provider knows this.
Also several VPN providers sell this data.
So you're basically giving some third party, that you don't know, the information you're trying to hide from your ISP.
Exactly. A third party domiciled in another country that doesn't keep logs and has no interest in revealing my details.
As opposed to Rogers, Bell, Shaw, etc who would turn over my records in a heartbeat.
Rogers Cable is now giving customers free access to the Hollywood Suite of movies.
It can be accessed through the guide or channel number, but is also available on the voice control on the Ignite remote control.
Example........If you want to watch western movies just say "western movies" and all the movies from Hollywood Suite will come up along with Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO and Disney.
We have all the packages so it is a handy way to see all the movies available in one place, rather than searching through all the programs.
Hollywood Suite offers tons of movies from the past eras, so there is lots of good content available.
An unprotected database belonging to the VPN service UFO VPN was exposed online for more than two weeks. Contained within the database were more than 20 million logs including user passwords stored in plain text.
betanews.com
"No Logs"
Then when the logs were posted it took 2 weeks for them to hide them.
I have no idea how they would have even gotten passwords, that's nuts.
They're also pushing some of the privacy standards. Firefox DNS-over-HTTPS | Firefox Help
FYI, that got them into trouble with some governments, because they like to be able to snoop your network traffic.
Just to revive this thread.
I've started using Brave occasionally. They have a Tor session available in the desktop version, which is an alternative not quite VPN solution to privacy.
Very easy to use.
My better half had issues watching BBC with ExpressVPN. The problems started in August and are still not resolved. Luckily the subscription has expired and she is using Sharksurf. So far so good. It's easy to use and it's very inexpensive compared to ExpressVPN. It's a new VPN services and at the current price it's worth a flyer.
PIA VPN is 2024's top-rated VPN service – with ultra-fast speeds, worldwide streaming servers, and 100% open-source software. Try PIA risk free for 30 days.
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