Is private Internet access (PIA) still a good privacy option, - eviltoast

I have had PIA for years on desktop and mobile with firefox and it’s been fine. Any reason I should consider switching, or is it still generally good for privacy?

I occasionally torrent. But I’d like to browse and post politically sensitive content safely. Here on Lemmy, but also other non federated places.

Thanks

  • rumba@lemmy.zipEnglish
    1·
    6 hours ago

    Good enough to keep your ISP at bay.

    Good enough to keep you from getting on a list from passive checking.

    Not good enough to stop a state agency that wants to go after you legally.

    They do support port forwarding which makes torrenting much nicer.

  • AtariDump@lemmy.world
    3·
    2 days ago

    I still have it for torrenting purposes only; it works and works well. Can’t speak to any more than that.

  • land@lemmy.ml
    313·
    3 days ago

    Be careful it’s owned by an Israeli company that also owns ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Zenmate - Kape technologies

      • foremanguy@lemmy.ml
        3·
        2 days ago

        Basically any cheap VPN is good for torrenting as we don’t need complete anonymity but more of a proxy like connection, to not receive letters from ISPs telling us our use of internet

        • rbesfe@lemmy.ca
          3·
          2 days ago

          Genuinely curious, what makes a VPN not completely anonymous? Are you talking browser cookies and fingerprinting?

          • foremanguy@lemmy.ml
            1·
            2 days ago

            In any case a VPN is not anonymous but more private than without. Only some can be used as real privacy voucher (for example Mullvad, iVPN (and maybe proton…)), other are great for torrenting but in any case for privacy, they are not really transparent upon their security + surely friend with most of the intelligence agencies

  • WarlockoftheWoods@lemy.lolEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    No. I bought it and it was pushing my internet speed down by half with all options tried, it would also gradually slow further. I switched back to express, it’s no hassle at all, ever.

  • merlin@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    There are 4 privacy respecting VPNs out there: Mullvad, Proton VPN, IVPN, Windscribe. As for my opinion I have been using Windscribe for years now and it’s been great but I have a specific use case for a VPN so I need one regardless of the privacy aspect. My point is if you want a VPN just for the hypothetical privacy gains in my opinion you’re wasting time and money.

    • rumba@lemmy.zipEnglish
      1·
      19 hours ago

      Proton said they wouldn’t give up the IP address of their mail users either until they did.

      I have no issues with the other three.