If you want to avoid Snoopers’ Charter scrutiny, look out; most VPN services are terrible
![[Image: @richard_littler/Twitter.]](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/161127-Theresa-May-is-Watching-You.jpg)
[Image: @richard_littler/Twitter.]
Only days after I write an article saying Virtual Private Networks are the best way to avoid scrutiny by the government under its newly-approved Snoopers’ Charter, someone chimes in to say that they’re rubbish.
I’d normally say that is a business opportunity for someone, but in this case it seems they would need to be based outside the UK, in order to avoid falling under the jurisdiction of the Snoopers’ Charter themselves.
I don’t have anything against foreign nationals creating a decent service and offering it to UK citizens; it’s just that it won’t directly benefit the UK’s economy.
Anyway, you’d best read the information for yourself: Most VPN Services are Terrible · GitHub. The gist is:
My TL;DR advice: Roll your own and use Algo or Streisand. For messaging & voice, use Signal. For increasing anonymity, use Tor Browser for desktop, and Onion Browser for mobile.
Does anyone else have an opinion?
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As a non tech savvy user, seems the object of spying is only second to censorship. Criticism of this government may put you on a list of undesirables etc.
Hi Mike,
Apparently lawyers are still fighting this issue, because it will interfere with lawyer/client confidentiality.
http://www.legalcheek.com/2016/07/snoopers-charter-lawyers-fight-to-protect-legal-privilege-reaches-the-house-of-lords/
Thanks for that, Joanna.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/173199
109,404 signatures
Let’s face it, most things at present, under the rule of self interest and arrogant disregard are not conducive to keeping the build on employment and entrepreneurship in these shores.
In the case of protecting oneself from the invasion of privacy the powers that be seem to find convenient then I say who gives a flying f*** if we have to resort to foreign help and support.
Until we kick our self styled tyrannicals into the long grass, we can expect no less
I agree about using foreign firms to protect against invasion of privacy – my only issue is that I prefer to encourage the UK economy, in whatever small ways are possible. Obviously that isn’t possible in this case, so – yes – go abroad if you have to.
Hey Mike, possibly the Opera browser, it has a “VPN” but it’s a proxy, really.