43% of Americans use VPNs – should you?

MSN ^ | March 6, 2025 | George Phillips

[for-q-clinton]

If you want to watch porn you need a VPN. Just saying.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I bought an Asus router and installed their Merlin software and configured it to Private Internet Access VPN so all my devices are behind a VPN. Sometimes I have to turn it off for a few minutes to access a site that blocks VPN IP addresses. For $40 a year it’s worth it.

[DoodleBob]

Why do you have curtains on your windows?

https://whatismyipaddress.com/

[Myrddin]

My employer has the whole company wrapped in a VPN. I have to remotely access it to work. My contract customer has a separate VPN to wrap the development environment. Both VPNs are PKI protected for user accounts. No mention of "boomers" in the article. I'm a boomer. I've been using VPNs since they were invented.

[Steve_Seattle]

Ok, what’s a VPN?

[SkyDancer]

What’s a VPN?

[goodnesswins]

Very private network

[Steve_Seattle]

VPN

I've thought of writing a comedy skit in which two women are talking and their entire conversation is saturated with initials. The final bit:

Susie: "Well, I've got to get home and make dinner."

Melinda: "OK. What are you having?"

Susie: "A BLT."

Melinda: "TTYL."

Susie: "XOXO."

[Steve_Seattle]

Thanks.

[Myrddin]

I selected an Asus router to pair with my 1 Gbps fiber connection and CAT-6 wired house. I needed a router that allowed me to connect to my employment related VPNs.

Back in the 2005 time frame, I had some specialized Linksys routers the allowed me to set up a 3 premise VPN. My house in Idaho, the lab in Vienna, VA and the locomotive software shop in Illinois. It was cheaper than flying. All of my embedded system controller were in the Vienna lab. That included a handbrake actuator, cutlever actuator, anglecock actuator, brake piston position sensor, temperature sensors in each bearing adaptor, tri-axial accelerometers on the bolsters, high frequency accelerometers on the bearing adapters. The locomotive shop could see and manipulate all of them. As the designer of the electronics and firmware, I had full access to monitor operation and update firmware/software as necessary. Very cost effective.

My next router will happen after I retire. I want it to have WiFi-7 capability. Depending on monthly cost, I might upgrade the current 1 Gbps symmetric fiber ($79/month) to Google Fiber at 8 Gbps. Google is rolling out now. Google fiber makes an appearance in a box next to my current ISP. It's just a matter of making sense. The WiFi-7 routers have WAN side connections at 10 Gbps, but will support slower 2.5 Gbps and 1 Gbps.

[whistleduck]

I would think a translator would be needed to communicate with ordinary humans at some point.

[T.B. Yoits]

47% want to keep their online activity private

Windows 11 has built-in Fedware that captures screen images and sends it to the Feds, so it doesn't matter where your IP address claims to be.

[DoodleBob]

https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/how-to-disable-windows-recall

[Bikkuri]

Virtual Private Network

[T.B. Yoits]

Thank you for that but who believes it really works. The Feds aren’t going to give up their spyware.

[ConservativeMind]

We have Merlin on our ASUS, as well.

I only trust ASUS routers, at this time.

[ConservativeMind]

My wife and I had Linksys routers and installed DD-WRT on them. It was an excellent way to go.

For the past eight years, we’ve had only ASUS routers with Merlin.

[ansel12]

I don’t have recall on my W11 PC.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I only trust ASUS routers, at this time.

They are made in China so I have my doubts, but what else are you going to do?