Cracking Eggheads

VyprVPN can't handle the truth.  They can't handle gigabit fiber speeds either. Look - I think they actually have a pretty good product.  For the most part I can VPN at pretty good speeds.  But a 90% haircut on throughput at home is a little hard to swallow.   Even harder to swallow is the fact that they refuse to admit that they can't handle it.  All they do is offer apologies as if that will change the numbers I'm observing. Not realistic.   I think my next step will be an AWS-based roll-your-own kind of service or maybe I'll just go back into research mode but right now I'm feeling really disappointed.  The technology is there to be secure from the home, but the providers aren't keeping up. On VPN I can download from the BBC in London faster than I can access Savage Love.  Pretty sad really. <Sigh>

So a quick update on my tutorial for securing yourself from your own ISP. Step 1 - My router arrived and is installed.  That actually went really smoothly. ASUS RT-3200 on ugly countertop Step 2 - ASUS have added the ability to connect a VPN client directly into their own ASUSWRT firmware.  Thus, I did not have to flash a custom firmware on to the router to get the VPN up and running.  (Although there were tricky settings to master - more to come on that.) Step 3 - Using the VPN has a profound effect on the performance throughput.  (Testing with wired gigabit ethernet connection.) For example - without VPN: 2 ms ping 942.94 Mbps download 942.73 Mbps upload (It's OK to be jealous.) With router-based VPN: 4ms ping 42.54 Mbps download 50.45 Mbps upload So - I'm working with the good folks at GoldenFrog to see if we can improve this before I give up.  The connection speeds with the desktop client aren't that much different...

 What are you going to do about it?  Fortunately, I saw this coming a while ago and have a plan that I'm happy to share.  This is what I think will work for my family and I hope you can take some of the lessons and apply them in your digital life.  Step 1 - You need your own VPN service.  You may be familiar with VPN as "the thing you use to connect to the office", but VPN technology has many other uses and now the most important one is to protect you from illicit observation.  You should find a VPN service that will work with all your digital devices, and fits in your budget.  There is simply no excuse to not use VPN nearly all of the time.  I chose VyprVPN  from GoldenFrog because I'm a spoiled neckbeard who wants and can afford the fastest and most versatile service.  There are many lower cost options available.   Find one that will work for you and do it today. I will be using VPN software on my phone, tablet, and lap...

Since the natural inclination of any rational person is to engage in a tad bit of escapism when confronted by a truly terrible situation (And lest I fail to be perfectly clear, I checked with my therapist, a minor fugue state is an appropriate response to the Trump administration.) - I've invented a new drink. I call it the White Ex-Pat. Ingredients: 3 oz. fresh white organic 2% milk from a local dairy . 1 oz. authentic Canadian maple syrup. ( from Costco  if you are just dreaming of being an ex-pat). UP TO 3 oz. of AMERICAN (dammit!) craft vodka.  I suggest Titos . Shake vigorusly over ice and serve up in a crystal martini glass to reinforce your liberal elitism. Guaranteed to make you dream of living in a rational country with an attractive popular leader and fulfills my arbitrary rules about not combining caffeine and alcohol.   Dedicated to Larry Gifford .