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submitted 3 days ago by 1121219165@lemmy.zip to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

I keep hearing bad stuff about proton, but I don’t really get most of it. Could someone please explain all of the controversy to me. Lastly, what are the best alternatives to all of their services?

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[-] nfreak@lemmy.ml 10 points 2 days ago

This sums it up well. Their products are fine, but putting everything into one company isn't a good idea, and the political statements leave little faith.

I use their free Drive for sharing files, but I've moved to Tuta for email and just about everything else selfhosted. I'm still running out a mullvad subscription but I'll be switching that to IVPN when it expires.

[-] LewdLemon@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I’m still running out a mullvad subscription but I’ll be switching that to IVPN when it expires.

I'm in the same boat: still on Mullvad, but eager to switch due to... things. May I ask what your main reason is to consider IVPN above all others? I'm still stuck choosing between IVPN, Proton and Nym.

[-] TrollAccount69@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

If you don’t need to switch from mullvad I recommend you do not.

[-] LewdLemon@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago

If the CEO of a privacy company supports political forces that are deeply anti-liberty and anti-privacy, that does constitute a "need" to switch, don't you think?

[-] TrollAccount69@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

No.

You are not donating to a cause when you purchase goods or services. You are not liable for what someone else does with their money.

Boycotts are only effective when paired with direct action. There is no direct action in this case.

Boycotts that involve not using some necessary service are paired with replication of service through the group organizing the boycott. There is no replication of service in this case.

So you aren’t responsible for the actions of the mullvad owner and not using it isn’t an effective method of changing his behavior (there is no direct action or service replication to accompany an organized boycott, which I would also argue there isn’t since people who made the decision to switch didn’t do so in a unified way or with any demands).

But does it protect you to leave mullvad?

No.

You’re leaving the most straightforward, private and secure vpn with if not the best apps, certainly best in class apps, and a history of literally functioning as a brick wall against investigations by the authorities. No other provider has done what mullvad has done when the screws were put to them because no other provider has had that happen.

So it accomplishes nothing and makes you less safe.

[-] sompreno@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago

I don't see how a ceo's opinion matters if it does not impact the product. mullvad has the best privacy track record or any VPN I've looked into and is a better deal overall the ivpn in cost for what you get.

[-] nfreak@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 days ago

It just seemed like the most similar choice that meets my needs. I looked at some of the other options - I'd go with Proton if it weren't for the issues mentioned, I used them for a bit and the service works very well. Nym seemed interesting, but I don't believe they offer Wireguard configs? I could be wrong.

[-] LewdLemon@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago

It [IVPN] just seemed like the most similar choice

A lot of things are similar indeed, with one essential difference: the raid on Mullvad did prove their no-logs policy was no bullshit. I haven't found anything similar on IVPN.

Nym seemed interesting, but I don’t believe they offer Wireguard configs?

Good call, they don't. When is that relevant, though? When you want to connect a headless machine, such as a server?

[-] DeepChill@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago

Downloading Wireguard config files is useful for running the VPN on a router. Check out the GL.iNet Brume 3 “security gateway” device. I’m using that at home and I’m getting 900mbps on my gigabit connection when I check Speedtest.net or FAST.com using Proton’s Wireguard configs.

https://www.gl-inet.com/en-ca/products/gl-mt5000

[-] adespoton@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Wireguard is generally fast and secure. All the other transport options fail on at least one of those (OpenVPN is secure and slow, L2TP is slow and insecure, IPSec and IKEv2 are less secure and brittle).

Essentially, the one downside to Wireguard is prevalence. So if you can find somewhere trustworthy that it IS an option, why not?

That said, I do wonder why more people don’t turn to global Tailscale networks and bypass central control. Of course, you DO need some way to establish trust for your Tailscale network.

If you’re willing to pay though, why not just spin up a VPS somewhere and run Tailscale on it? You control the logging, Your exit node is on a trusted netblock, and you can connect whatever you want to it over Wireguard.

[-] milbyte11@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

If you’re willing to pay though, why not just spin up a VPS somewhere and run Tailscale on it?

It is some effort to set up, and VPS seems generally more expensive than a commercial VPN which has more nodes and other extra things. You're moving your location which is cool, but multiple people use VPN nodes which serves as a mask because you can't differentiate what traffic belongs to which user; You're also still trusting whoever you rent your VPS from that they haven't set up some sort of monitoring on a higher level before tailscale running on the machine can encrypt traffic.

this post was submitted on 09 Oct 2026
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