VPNs

Consider the quality and reliability of included VPN services. For example:

• GhostPath VPN: Outdated since 2018, poor user interface, slow servers, and lacks support for the WireGuard protocol.
• PrivadoVPN: Uses inaccurate GeoIP data, with nearly all server locations actually hosted in just four locations (US West, US East, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt).
• VyprVPN: Also uses inaccurate geolocation, primarily serving users from one US and one Amsterdam location for most servers.

These VPNs may not meet your needs if you’re looking for speed, modern protocols, and trustworthiness.

When using Usenet, a VPN is generally unnecessary. VPNs simply shift the trust you place in your ISP to a random VPN server. While your ISP won’t know you’re using Usenet then, your VPN provider will. Moreover, thanks to encryption, obfuscation, and SSL, no one can see what you're downloading, even if a provider keeps logs. They can only see the parts of the data you've downloaded, but not the specific files or which parts belong to which file.

If you really want to use a VPN, make sure both your VPN and Usenet provider are anonymous—there's no point in protecting your connection if your provider isn't. While crypto can be used for anonymous payments, it must be done correctly. Many VPNs are not trustworthy and should be avoided, so always choose reputable services with strong privacy practices.