In this perilous time of fascism/authoritarianism in the US I am concerned about government tech being used in the future to limit freedom of speech and restrict access to sources of info, potentially. What online tools that can help ensure access to websites, dissenting voices, etc., if and when a government attempts to block access, are available? Would a VPN be a viable solution? If not, why not, and what would be a better solution or combo of solutions? Thanks in advance.
From your end of things (read: just a basic user), Tor is a web browser just like Chrome or Edge, but rather than routing your traffic directly to your destination, it bounces it around through many different points “nodes” which are spread around the world. In this way, it functions kind of like a VPN in that your connection can’t be attached a geographic region. Tor isn’t a VPN, though.
On whether or not having a USA-based VPN is better than a non-US one for evading (possible) US Govt. censorship, logic dictates that that’s the case. US-based providers are ultimately under the mercy of the US govt. and foreign ones are not.
Well, the main concern with VPN users isn’t so much if anyone is seeing their web traffic, but whom is. Traffic through a VPN provider’s network can be seen by the provider, but they have a strong financial incentive to keep this network private. Open traffic (no VPN) can be seen directly by your ISP who has a strong financial/legal incentive to make sure you’re doing the “right thing.”
No worries about not being a tech person. I’m certain that someone more knowledgeable than me could come ITT and blow my simplicifactions out of the water but this is how I understand/use VPNs as a normal consumer.
I really appreciate you taking the time to respond in detail! Much appreciated.