Risks and consequences with VPNs (like Proton/Mullvad etc)?

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paddlaren · Post by **paddlaren** » Mon Dec 08, 2025 8:40 am

Hi Fellows,

I have lived in the understanding that using a VPN (like Mullvad/Proton etc) is a good thing, even here in Sweden. I am not a journalist or extremist needing to hide, just want to be a bit private once in a while. Nor do I have any youngsters at home (police are now allowed to spy on kids just because).

The other day I decided to start a Proton VPN account and connect my devices. Most things work well but not all so I came across an article stating that VPN is normally just a wast of money and easy cache for a middleman for nothing really.

Every one is entitled to an opinion and mine is just shaken to the core and so I need to ask:

Do I actually benefit from a VPN (like Proton) or do I just give them my internet habits to use for whatever purpose they have?

I am seeking facts (if there are any), consequences and risks (and why do you consider that a risk) to avoid an opinion based flame war. I think this might be a bit sensitive for some.

Thanks,
Erik

Perfect Gentleman · Post by **Perfect Gentleman** » Mon Dec 08, 2025 9:41 am

If you need privacy you shouldn't buy VPN, you should use your own. So buy VPS/VDS somewhere, bring up VPN-server, confugure it and you clients. Then enjoy your privacy but be careful anyway.

Post by **NeddySeagoon** » Mon Dec 08, 2025 9:56 am

paddlaren,

It all comes down to who do you trust?

Cosequences are the same as not having a VPN.
It all depends on what you do.

I'm in the UK. As a result of some recent legislation, the internet has started going dark.
Sites have decided to block the UK rather than comply.

Perfect Gentleman got it right. Do your own.

paddlaren · Post by **paddlaren** » Mon Dec 08, 2025 5:38 pm

Thanks,

I don't think I will start a VPS solution for this purpose now. Don't know what that should add to what I have today as I already have means to use my home network router as VPS via OpenVPN and WireGuard from phones and devices when I'm on the road.

An additional VPS is also a extra server that is somewhat public and need to be kept safe. I can probably also get a VPN solution from my VPS provider but then again - do I trust them to the core for private stuff?

Probably I will prepare to connect back home when I am on any network I don't trust. Then I can access my library at home as well and I'd like to do that - a lot of music and movies. And I DO trust my self for those things

Realize I have to progress setting up Home-Netflix and Home-Spotify and Home-Storrytell

I will leave the thread open for a while more. Perhaps there are som other perspectives or considerations?

Erik

Post by **NeddySeagoon** » Mon Dec 08, 2025 6:53 pm

paddlaren,

There are other reasons for using a VPN besides privacy.
If you want an ad free BBC while you are overseas, you need a VPN end point in the UK.

szatox · Post by **szatox** » Tue Dec 09, 2025 2:16 am

Any VPN that knows your identity is basically just an ISP with extra steps.
Realistically, this probably only leaves TOR on the table. No idea how difficult to break it actually is, but it must be better than having the whole route in the hands of a single company that also received your credit card details (don't use credit cards, btw).

Personally, I recommend starting your private browsing with basic hygiene (like not talking about yourself, your location, your schedule, your friends, your hobbies, not posting your photos, as well as using different nicknames for different websites/purposes if you want to register at all), adblock (annoying adds, tracking pixels, fingerprinting scripts, etc), and cookie monster (for shutting down cross-site cookies).
This alone should keep most advertisers and data brokers off of your tail. A proper VPN comes after that; there is no point in using one if you're going to just dox yourself anyway.

Probably I will prepare to connect back home when I am on any network I don't trust.

You are using encrypted connections, aren't you?
The whole point of SSL is not having to trust the network you're on. Enabling DNS over https might be a good idea though.

dmpogo · Post by **dmpogo** » Tue Dec 09, 2025 3:33 am

Perfect Gentleman wrote: Then утощн your privacy but be careful anyway.

That's how secrets are compromised. Sorry, could not resist in the discussion of privacy

Perfect Gentleman · Post by **Perfect Gentleman** » Tue Dec 09, 2025 12:09 pm

dmpogo wrote:
Perfect Gentleman wrote: Then утощн your privacy but be careful anyway.
That's how secrets are compromised. Sorry, could not resist in the discussion of privacy

IMO, i never made a secret of my location.