vpn: encourage encrypted DNS & linkify https #1340

2019-09-23T18:25:25Z

Mikaela commented

2019-09-23 18:25:25 +00:00

(Migrated from github.com)

Resolves: #1314

https://deploy-preview-1340--privacytools-io.netlify.com/providers/vpn/

Resolves: #1314 https://deploy-preview-1340--privacytools-io.netlify.com/providers/vpn/

netlify[bot] commented

2019-09-23 18:26:04 +00:00

(Migrated from github.com)

Deploy preview for privacytools-io ready!

Built with commit cf57d26ec8

https://deploy-preview-1340--privacytools-io.netlify.com

Deploy preview for *privacytools-io* ready! Built with commit cf57d26ec8487d7c67688e8fbb592cd6c344cb1d https://deploy-preview-1340--privacytools-io.netlify.com

Mikaela (Migrated from github.com) reviewed 2019-09-23 18:27:43 +00:00

pages/providers/vpn.html

Mikaela (Migrated from github.com) commented

2019-09-23 18:27:43 +00:00

Logic flaw. Encrypted DNS comes before HTTPS.

Mikaela commented

2019-09-23 18:43:45 +00:00

(Migrated from github.com)

I rubber duck debugged this in the new issue page.

🌐 Website Issue | VPN questions / encryption doesn't mention encrypted DNS and may be a bit misleading

#1207 not fixed by #1340.

What if I need encryption?

In most cases, your traffic is already encrypted! Over 98% of the top 3000 websites offer HTTPS, meaning your traffic is safe regardless of using a VPN. It is incredibly rare for applications that handle personal data to not support HTTPS in 2019, especially with services like Let's Encrypt offering free HTTPS certificates to any website operator.

Nope, your DNS traffic is announced and modifiable in plain text unless you run a local DNSSEC validating resolver (which will only help with DNSSEC-signed domains), so better advice would be to encrypt DNS.

However that doesn't prevent SNI from leaking where you are connecting to except in the rare cases of using FIrefox + DoH + Cloudflared domain.

Even if a site you visit doesn't support HTTPS, a VPN will not protect you, because a VPN cannot magically encrypt the traffic between the VPN's servers and the website's servers. Installing an extension like HTTPS Everywhere and making sure every site you visit uses HTTPS is far more helpful than using a VPN.

So maybe there is a missing question on whether I should use encrypted DNS with a VPN?

I rubber duck debugged this in the new issue page. * * * * * 🌐 Website Issue | VPN questions / encryption doesn't mention encrypted DNS and may be a bit misleading #1207 not fixed by #1340. > ## What if I need encryption? > > In most cases, your traffic is already encrypted! Over 98% of the top 3000 websites offer HTTPS, meaning your traffic is safe regardless of using a VPN. It is incredibly rare for applications that handle personal data to not support HTTPS in 2019, especially with services like Let's Encrypt offering free HTTPS certificates to any website operator. Nope, your DNS traffic is announced and modifiable in plain text unless you run a local DNSSEC validating resolver (which will only help with DNSSEC-signed domains), so better advice would be to encrypt DNS. However that doesn't prevent SNI from leaking where you are connecting to except in the rare cases of using FIrefox + DoH + Cloudflared domain. > Even if a site you visit doesn't support HTTPS, a VPN will not protect you, because a VPN cannot magically encrypt the traffic between the VPN's servers and the website's servers. Installing an extension like HTTPS Everywhere and making sure every site you visit uses HTTPS is far more helpful than using a VPN. So maybe there is a missing question on whether I should use encrypted DNS with a VPN?

Mikaela commented

2019-09-23 18:51:53 +00:00

(Migrated from github.com)

How about additional informationing self-contained networks to poke more holes into why someone would want a VPN? 😸

How about additional informationing self-contained networks to poke more holes into why someone would want a VPN? :smile_cat:

Mikaela (Migrated from github.com) reviewed 2019-09-23 19:45:36 +00:00

pages/providers/vpn.html

						
				@ -12,3 +12,3 @@

				    <p class="card-text text-danger">If you are looking for <strong>anonymity</strong>, you should use the Tor Browser <strong>instead</strong> of a VPN.</p>

				    <p class="card-text text-danger">If you're looking for added <strong>security</strong>, you should always ensure you're connecting to websites using HTTPS. A VPN is not a replacement for good security practices.</p>

				    <p class="card-text text-danger">If you're looking for added <strong>security</strong>, you should always ensure you're connecting to websites using <a href="/providers/dns/#icanndns">encrypted DNS</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTPS">HTTPS</a>. A VPN is not a replacement for good security practices.</p>

				    <p class="card-text text-secondary">If you're looking for additional <strong>privacy</strong> from your ISP, on a public Wi-Fi network, or while torrenting files, a VPN may be the solution for you as long as you understand <a href="#info">the risks involved</a>.</p>

Mikaela (Migrated from github.com) commented

2019-09-23 19:43:51 +00:00

This is the main fix for #1314.

pages/providers/vpn.html

Mikaela (Migrated from github.com) commented

2019-09-23 19:44:42 +00:00

I am not entirely happy with this, but I welcome better suggestions. Otherwise I would say that it's good enough.

Mikaela (Migrated from github.com) commented

2019-09-23 19:45:04 +00:00

I think it's a fair warning even if maybe misplaced.

pages/providers/vpn.html

Mikaela (Migrated from github.com) commented

2019-09-23 19:44:17 +00:00

This was missing the fact that DNS was most likely unencrypted.

pages/providers/vpn.html

Mikaela (Migrated from github.com) commented

2019-09-23 19:45:29 +00:00

Don't forget what VPNs were originally for. And keep Tor hidden services and similar in mind :)

nitrohorse (Migrated from github.com) reviewed 2019-09-24 03:45:08 +00:00

pages/providers/vpn.html

nitrohorse (Migrated from github.com) commented

2019-09-24 03:33:33 +00:00

suggestion to add a semicolon after "helpful":

      <p>The answer to this question is also the not very helpful: <strong>it depends</strong>. Your VPN provider may have their own DNS servers, but if they don't, the traffic between your VPN provider and the DNS server isn't encrypted. You need to trust the <a href="/providers/dns/#icanndns">encrypted DNS provider</a> in addition to the VPN provider and unless your client and target server support <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/09/esni-privacy-protecting-upgrade-https">encrypted SNI</a>, the VPN provider can still see which domains you are visiting.</p>

suggestion to add a semicolon after "helpful": ```suggestion <p>The answer to this question is also the not very helpful: <strong>it depends</strong>. Your VPN provider may have their own DNS servers, but if they don't, the traffic between your VPN provider and the DNS server isn't encrypted. You need to trust the <a href="/providers/dns/#icanndns">encrypted DNS provider</a> in addition to the VPN provider and unless your client and target server support <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/09/esni-privacy-protecting-upgrade-https">encrypted SNI</a>, the VPN provider can still see which domains you are visiting.</p> ```

nitrohorse (Migrated from github.com) commented

2019-09-24 03:35:39 +00:00

Suggestion: I think we don't need to hyperlink in this title since we already link to that page within the body of text.

      <h4>Should I use encrypted DNS with a VPN?</h4>

Suggestion: I think we don't need to hyperlink in this title since we already link to that page within the body of text. ```suggestion <h4>Should I use encrypted DNS with a VPN?</h4> ```

nitrohorse (Migrated from github.com) commented

2019-09-24 03:42:34 +00:00

Just a suggestion, a bit more terse:

      <p>However <strong>you shouldn't use encrypted DNS with Tor</strong>. This would direct all of your DNS requests through a single circuit, and would allow the encrypted DNS provider to deanonymize you.</p>

Just a suggestion, a bit more terse: ```suggestion <p>However <strong>you shouldn't use encrypted DNS with Tor</strong>. This would direct all of your DNS requests through a single circuit, and would allow the encrypted DNS provider to deanonymize you.</p> ```

blacklight447 (Migrated from github.com) reviewed 2019-09-24 09:27:36 +00:00

blacklight447 (Migrated from github.com) left a comment

looks great!

nitrohorse (Migrated from github.com) approved these changes 2019-09-26 17:00:47 +00:00

blacklight447 (Migrated from github.com) approved these changes 2019-09-27 11:08:08 +00:00

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Reference: privacyguides/privacytools.io#1340