Hi,

Depending on what / why you want the enhanced internet security it's definitely worth doing.  But you need to understand that configuring those VPN applications is not easy.   I haven't, myself, used any but I know a few friends that do.  (let me correct that to read I don't use it on my home / personal system.  I use SonicWall VPN software to connect into the Dell network when I'm working, such as right now.  Different circumstances and setup).

You would really want to do quite a bit of research on the VPN clients and software you are considering, and not just that VPN software but what other software you have on your system.  You need to make sure the VPN is compatible with your operating system, security software on the system, applications you may use while the VPN is active, etc.  

The friends I know that utilize VPN software for home use are quite knowledgeable about networking and IT issues.   I can't really speak to the quality of any VPN software that you use but if it's set up correctly it can help provide security but is it really that much more secure than using private browsing functions of various internet browsers?   I'm not sure.   

For me, unless you're doing a lot of banking transactions and other extremely private / valuable use of the internet I would think that simply using common internet sense would mean that the VPN wouldn't provide that much more security.   Unless you're doing something illegal I'm not sure that normal users would benefit much.

But other users may have different opinions, so we'll see what they say.

Todd

Tod,

Thanks for the reply.

I do all of my banking online: pay bills, pay credit card balances, make transfers between banks, etc. I also do online shopping for items I can't buy locally.

I have done some research on the VPN software choices (for home users) and how they are installed and set up. The software I am considering is considered by a reviewer to be relatively easy to install and set up.

Charles

Hi, Charles..

Try using Free VPN Network.

I use it for the same purpose and it's working fine, so far.

Hope it helps. :)

Carolee,

Thanks for the suggestion. After installing and setting up Free VPN Network did your email still work properly without changes? The email on my wife's and my computer was a bear to get working properly. I don't relish having to try to figure that out again.

Charles

Yes, Charles.. :)

My email works fine even in the VPN.

I'm sorry, but none of this really makes any sense.  If you are logging into your bank or credit card company via the web and the site is https, then you already have an encrypted tunnel to that entity.

A VPN connection just encrypts the entire connection between 2 devices. 

When you connect to something via https then that connection is encrypted.  But just for that application.

Where you might use a VPN is if you are traveling and want to connect to your home PC over a VPN connection.  Ok.  Then you'll need a router that supports VPN.  Or you can pass the traffic thru to some other device in your house that will host the VPN connection.

But connecting over a VPN to some place you do with business with.  That's not going to happen.  They are not going to let you into their network like that.  They'll just tell you to use the web.

Somebody up above talks about "free VPN".  That's for anonymity. You would establish a VPN from your PC to that site and all traffic would be encrypted.  But it would not be encrypted past that site.  Then you would be on the open web.  But it would mask where you are actually located.

Hope this helps.

JIM-B,

Thanks for the cogent message. Your reasoning makes very good sense.I have decided not to go with VPN.

Charles

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