VPN limitations

[virtualTune]

Hey guys,

I keep seing positive reviews for the Hotspot Shield and thinking of getting it for me. However I have one question.

I am currently hooked up to the Internet through the campus network. This gets me great speeds that I could otherwise never get, but I am worried that a VPN won't help me much. I am assuming that a package is sent from my PC to the Servers of the University and then to the website. So If I was to add a VPN, the University could still monitor my PC, right?

 

- vT

[SMURG]

It could help if the university sees your outgoing packets as going to the VPN instead of to whatever site it is that's blocked, and sees whatever packets are coming back as coming from the VPN rather than from the site.

[tom564]

Hey guys,

I keep seing positive reviews for the Hotspot Shield and thinking of getting it for me. However I have one question.

I am currently hooked up to the Internet through the campus network. This gets me great speeds that I could otherwise never get, but I am worried that a VPN won't help me much. I am assuming that a package is sent from my PC to the Servers of the University and then to the website. So If I was to add a VPN, the University could still monitor my PC, right?

 

- vT

No it goes VPN client --Encrypted tunnel-->UNI---Encrypted tunnel-->VPN provider---> plain text -- > website 

 

All the uni should see is the amount of traffic and the destination of the VPN provider. 

 

FYI you may have problems with the UNI blocking ports 

[Altecice]

they would monitor traffic but it would be encrypted so they wont be able to see its detestation/contents.

 

But they might guess judging by the amount you download

[Tmh85]

The VPN would hide you identity Heres a diagram for some help

[Bonsai99]

What do you want to use the VPN for anyway? It will lower your speeds and increase latency.

[Coombzy]

most colleges and universities block the ports vpns use so try the free version of them first to see if it actually works 

[Coombzy]

What do you want to use the VPN for anyway? It will lower your speeds and increase latency.

private browsing or going on websites you do not want the admins knowing about/ downloading stuff anonymously 

[virtualTune]

I get 100 up and download, so I think I can handle it being a little slower!

Thanks for the quick answers guys. I just installed the Trial, works fine so far

 

So I just did a little Speedtest.

 

No VPN: 24ms / 103Mb down / 101 up

 

American VPN: 170ms / 18Mb down / 8 Mb up

 

UK VPN: 80ms / 45Mb down / 13Mb up

 

Since it is a Trial I am not 100% sure if my connection will be faster once I buy the Full Version or if the only limit is Time. 

 

Also, does anyone know if it affects gaming pings?

Edited November 13, 2013 by virtualTune

[Rhizo]

I would also recommend Private Internet Access - a very good VPN solution and it doesn't store any information about you or what you're browsing. It's also fast and has tons of different vpn locations. Also has a good android/ios app.