Does VPNs even work against Big Brother apps? Using one really protects our privacy? (masking our location) (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by PrivacyWayFinder@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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I am currently using Proton VPN (free tier) which is set to Always-ON and Block Connections on disable.

Today while I am going through my Gmail security option, on the devices/sessions I found my real location mentioned over there. Even when I use desktop I always connect to VPN.

On this issue I got couple of doubts:

Is this because I am using a free tier VPN? so it's not functioning properly etc...
Else google fixed my location based on my previous location history? I used my google applications without VPN for many years, I am just learning & following privacy tips recently.

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[-] Charger8232@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Is this because I am using a free tier VPN? so it’s not functioning properly etc…

Free tier VPN services often come at the cost of some privacy and security features, but ProtonVPN will still protect you against IP address leakage regardless.

Else google fixed my location based on my previous location history?

Google stores location information indefinitely, so even if you are using a VPN right now it will still have a history of your real location.

Some other ways your location can get leaked to Google:

Location access for websites
Using stock Android or ChromeOS logged into that Google account
Installing Google apps on your computer
DNS leaks (e.g. through TunnelVision or a custom DNS over your VPN)
WebRTC leakage (this is a technicality and your VPN should protect against this. The uBlock Origin extension also helps)

Hope this helps!

[-] PrivacyWayFinder@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Thank you.

this post was submitted on 26 May 2024

66 points (100.0% liked)

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