VPNs are vital for online safety, but they're now in the firing line.

People have turned to them to protect their privacy, rather than splurge their data to unregulated age verification providers following the UK Online Safety Act.

But they have an important role to guard against predators online.

ORG's @JamesBaker explains why we must resist moves to age-gate this tech ⬇️

https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/dmtYyFMktAE4hhdZWYSzH9

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#VPN #ukpolitics #ukpol #cybersecurity #privacy

VPNs are vital for online safety, but they're now in the firing line.

People have turned to them to protect their privacy, rather than splurge their data to unregulated age verification providers following the UK Online Safety Act.

But they have an important role to guard against predators online.

ORG's @JamesBaker explains why we must resist moves to age-gate this tech ⬇️

https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/dmtYyFMktAE4hhdZWYSzH9

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#VPN #ukpolitics #ukpol #cybersecurity #privacy

End well, this won't: UK commissioner suggests govt stops kids from using VPNs - https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/19/uk_commissioner_suggests_govt_stop/ "Dame Rachel de Souza says under-18s are laughing off the Online Safety Act’s age blocks" they haven't got a clue... #osa #vpn

The cybersecurity wrecking ball is turning to VPNs ‼️

It's dangerous to attack a tool that can help to keep adults and children safe online.

Age-gating this tech for UK users would increase cybercrime and put under 18s at a greater risk of predators.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn438z3ejxyo

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#VPN #cybersecurity #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

End well, this won't: UK commissioner suggests govt stops kids from using VPNs - https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/19/uk_commissioner_suggests_govt_stop/ "Dame Rachel de Souza says under-18s are laughing off the Online Safety Act’s age blocks" they haven't got a clue... #osa #vpn

Alternatives to Big Tech/Big Data:

Windows, Apple, Google -> Linux (Debian, Fedora, Mint, Arch...)

Microsoft Office -> LibreOffice (Only Office would also work, but the founders are Russian, who knows...)

Google Android, Apple iOS -> Pixel with GrapheneOS, Fairphone 6 with /e/OS, Brax 3 with iode OS/Ubuntu Touch

OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, etc. -> Nextcloud, MEGA, pCloud, Proton Drive

Outlook, Gmail, etc. -> Proton Mail, Tutanota

Airdrop, Link to Windows -> Localsend, KDE Connect

WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage -> Signal, Element, Threema

Google Search -> Ecosia, Qwant, Startpage, Duckduckgo

YouTube -> Peertube, or as an anonymous YT client: Freetube and Newpipe

Instagram -> Pixelfed
Facebook, X (Twitter) -> Mastodon, possibly Bluesky

Truly secure and anonymous VPN: Mullvad!

This is just a first overview of the most important alternatives for switching. Feel free to continue if needed!

#linux #opensource #freesoftware #windows #endof10 #bigdata #bigtech #surveillance #office #microsoft #google #apple #vpn #mastodon #cloud #grapheneos #iode #ubuntutouch #brax3 #pixel#murena #fairphone #youtube #search

Thanks to @s3phy again for helping me understand another area where IPv6 is broken in Linux desktop networking configuration tools: connecting to a SSH server to create a SOCKS proxy using the NetworkManager SSH plugin. That thing only checks if the gateway address is a valid IPv4 address

I reported the issue here: https://github.com/danfruehauf/NetworkManager-ssh/issues/130

#IPv6 #networking #sysadmin#réseau#réseautique#UX#SSH #proxy#VPN#GNOME#Linux#NetworkManager

Thanks to @s3phy again for helping me understand another area where IPv6 is broken in Linux desktop networking configuration tools: connecting to a SSH server to create a SOCKS proxy using the NetworkManager SSH plugin. That thing only checks if the gateway address is a valid IPv4 address

I reported the issue here: https://github.com/danfruehauf/NetworkManager-ssh/issues/130

#IPv6 #networking #sysadmin#réseau#réseautique#UX#SSH #proxy#VPN#GNOME#Linux#NetworkManager

Age verification: what’s the harm? - https://www.girlonthenet.com/blog/age-verification-whats-the-harm/ good discussion of a very bad and stupid law, particularly the point about existing parental controls #onlinesafetyact #vpn

Age verification: what’s the harm? - https://www.girlonthenet.com/blog/age-verification-whats-the-harm/ good discussion of a very bad and stupid law, particularly the point about existing parental controls #onlinesafetyact #vpn

Today I learned that DeviantArt is blocking VPN access.

Earlier this week, Instagram was blocking it, and now isn't.

Yesterday I couldn't access my online banking without the VPN turned on.

So yeah, I'd say the Online Safety Act is going about as well as any badly thought out government scheme ever is.

#OSA#OnlineSafetyAct#VPN

Today I learned that DeviantArt is blocking VPN access.

Earlier this week, Instagram was blocking it, and now isn't.

Yesterday I couldn't access my online banking without the VPN turned on.

So yeah, I'd say the Online Safety Act is going about as well as any badly thought out government scheme ever is.

#OSA#OnlineSafetyAct#VPN

🔐 A VPN can improve your privacy, or just give you a false sense of it. The EFF’s guide is a solid reminder that choosing a VPN is less about speed or price, and more about who runs it, what they log, and whether they actually deliver the protection they claim.

TL;DR
🧠 VPNs don’t guarantee anonymity
📜 “No logs” claims often lack proof
👤 Your threat model shapes your VPN needs
🔎 Look into ownership and reputation

https://ssd.eff.org/module/choosing-vpn-thats-right-you
#cybersecurity #privacy #vpn #digitalrights #security #privacy #cloud #infosec#EFF @eff

🔐 A VPN can improve your privacy, or just give you a false sense of it. The EFF’s guide is a solid reminder that choosing a VPN is less about speed or price, and more about who runs it, what they log, and whether they actually deliver the protection they claim.

TL;DR
🧠 VPNs don’t guarantee anonymity
📜 “No logs” claims often lack proof
👤 Your threat model shapes your VPN needs
🔎 Look into ownership and reputation

https://ssd.eff.org/module/choosing-vpn-thats-right-you
#cybersecurity #privacy #vpn #digitalrights #security #privacy #cloud #infosec#EFF @eff

A reminder that according to the Ministry of defence VPNs allow users to bypass state-imposed censorship. #VPN#Censorship

A reminder that according to the Ministry of defence VPNs allow users to bypass state-imposed censorship. #VPN#Censorship

Blink and you’ll have never seen it in the first place 🫥

Age verification rules in the UK Online Safety Act are snapping parts of the Internet out of existence.

But it’s not what you think (porn)!

News on conflicts: GONE. Support for sexual health and smoking: GONE.

Watch as ORG’s @JamesBaker shows how censorship works ⬇️

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #osa #censorship #reddit #ageverification #vpn #privacy #freeexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol #freedomofexpression

En nuestra serie “Tenemos dudas…” abrimos espacio para entender conceptos clave de la autodefensa digital. Hoy: VPN. 🛜💥
#AutodefensaFeminista#CuidadoDigital#VPN#SeguridadDigital#ViolenciasMachistasDigitales#TenemosDudas