• @Turret3857@infosec.pub
    link
    fedilink
    English
    92
    edit-2
    21 days ago

    $14.99 Netflix subscription

    $11.99 Gamepass subscription

    $11.99 Spotify Premium subscription

    Want more than one networks programming? Hulu/Max/Paramount/Peacock all cost around the same

    ISP still sells your damn data to advertisers

    OR

    $5 Mullvad subscription.

    You tell me what makes more sense.

    • алсааас [she/they]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      58
      edit-2
      19 days ago

      Unfortunately I cannot recommend Mullvad for Torrenting. They blocked port forwarding, making seeding and thus contributing back to the network that much slower

      I just went for ProtonVPN since (next to iVPN I think) it’s the only other one to at least be partially OSS and still viable for daily-use

      • @Turret3857@infosec.pub
        link
        fedilink
        English
        32
        edit-2
        21 days ago

        Thats fair, and I agree with you for torrenting, its the one thing I wish they’d change. For privacy though, I feel like Mullvad is leading the pack. (Not having to provide an email, crypto and/or cash payments, DAITA)

      • @swearengen@sopuli.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        14
        edit-2
        21 days ago

        Yes shame about Mullvad. AirVPN still allows port forwarding though.

        Now days I just stick to private trackers while using a cheap European VPS setup with wireguard. Only saves me a couple of bucks a month compared to VPN service but it adds up.

    • @Pechente@feddit.org
      link
      fedilink
      2021 days ago

      Yeah and something that is useful for all kinds of situations like circumventing geo-blocking as well. So it’s always a good idea to have a VPN.

  • @proceduralnightshade@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    2620 days ago

    I may or may not have torrented so many games, software, movies and albums without any VPN. It went well for years until we got one of those letters.

  • You also need an ISP, which isn’t free either.

    If you have a non-sucking ISP, you don’t need a VPN. But a VPN is incredibly cheap, so just lump it in mentally with the cost of the internet service.

    • @samus12345@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      519 days ago

      You also need something to play the games on, a place to play them, electricity for the internet and device, etc., and none of them are free. But they’re also not exclusively used for playing a single game, unlike the single game you’re pirating instead of buying.

      • That depends on a number of things, like do you want to seed (if so, Mullvad is out), how much do you plan on downloading (if a lot, a VPS may be out), if your ISP blocks any of them, etc.

        I generally recommend Mullvad or DIY w/ a VPS (I DIY a wireguard VPN on a VPS), but just try some out and see what works best for you.

      • @phlegmy@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        620 days ago

        That’s kind of wild to me. There’s so many unique types of games, and not a single one interested you?
        That’s like not being interested in an entire media category.

        I can understand not relating to the gamer culture, but even my grandma games on her tablet.

        • @FreakinSteve@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          520 days ago

          I played all the way through Jedi Outcast and most of KOTOR…I’m not a Star Wars nerd but I really like the sound design and world architecture. I got halfway through Resident Evil 1, and partway through Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem. I could not even enter the town on Resident Evil 4. I got my ass kicked in 80s arcade games in the reg. I have a Gamecube and a Wii system in the closet, I think. As I said, I tried. I just cant sit in a space that long doing something that isnt creative. The puzzles are cool but running and shooting and frantic shit just annoys me rather than excites me. I bought the Wii for my wife because she was once a huge Mario Bros fan. She never played it because it turns out she had a very unhealthy obsession with the game, so I completely wasted my money on it although I did enjoy the bowling game for a while. So…just not into it.

          • @phlegmy@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            420 days ago

            Fair enough.
            I’m not going to argue about what does or doesn’t appeal to you personally, and I know you probably didn’t list every single game you’ve ever interacted with, but it sounds like action-heavy games aren’t your thing?

            There’s plenty of puzzle games, and games that revolve around creativity though.
            Minecraft got insanely popular partially because it allows you to express so much creativity.

            If you consider giving games another chance, I would recommend the recently released indie puzzle game ‘blue prince’. It involves a lot of creative thinking to overcome its challenges.

            • @FreakinSteve@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              520 days ago

              Yes, there have been a few others. Machinareum was artsy, relaxing, and fun. But mainly it’s an issue of time now. I dont even get to watch movies or shows I’m interested in. Self-employed, home studio musician, wife recently blinded, pet care…its a full day every fucking day

              • @phlegmy@sh.itjust.works
                link
                fedilink
                320 days ago

                Totally understandable.
                Sounds like you have plenty of more important things to focus on right now.

                It probably sounds like I’m really trying to sell you on games now, but did you know there’s games and mods built specifically for blind people?
                I’m not saying you or your wife should play them, I just thought it was an interesting coincidence, as I’ve actually developed a couple of audio games before.

                Anyway, I’ll leave you to go focus on what matters, not my rambling or videogames.

  • @Bruhh@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    15
    edit-2
    20 days ago

    Direct downloads are fine enough. No need for vpn.

    Edit: Depends on your location. US is fine with ddl

    • Lord Wiggle
      link
      fedilink
      920 days ago

      Depends on where you are. Don’t try that in Germany, you’ll get a hefty fine.

        • Lord Wiggle
          link
          fedilink
          420 days ago

          A friend who lives both in the Netherlands and Germany forgot to turn off his torrent client on his laptop. A movie finished downloading when he arrived in Germany, he got a fine of €1500. I don’t understand why anyone would use torrents. Since I told him about usenet he’s never had an issue. But it might be that he has a VPN now too, but I’m not sure about it.

    • @Mongostein@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      7
      edit-2
      20 days ago

      Right? They only get your IP from torrenting because they’re torrenting it too.

      A single download source you trust is usually fine unless you’ve got a super-narc for an ISP.

    • @Psythik@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      820 days ago

      Don’t use Proton, use Mullvad.

      That said, if you’re only paying for a VPN so you can torrent, you’re better off getting a Debrid service instead (like Real-Debrid). It’s cheaper and gets you direct downloads to any torrent you want at 1Gbps speeds.

      • Kinokoloko
        link
        fedilink
        319 days ago

        This is the way. Plus you can set up RD through Stremio/various Kodi add-ons so you can stream shows and movies directly from them. And! They even give you credits when you pay for service, that you can then redeem for more service. Pretty nifty 🙂

    • @TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      420 days ago

      for direct downloads it works, however I tried to torrent on it and it disabled and said “no p2p”. I pay for mullvad now and have no regrets

    • @Pacattack57@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      020 days ago

      Proton is not that good bro. At least not the free version. I kind of hate when people suggest it because just like other free vpns, the free version is designed to not work well. It does basic browsing very well but you are not gonna torrent with it.

  • @NotProLemmy@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    720 days ago

    Use Tor Or a pretty good free vpn like ProtonVPN. Just not a “free” one. Looking at VeePN with disgust

  • Rena
    link
    fedilink
    Español
    320 days ago

    Desde los 2000 sin VPN y me he salvado de todas

  • Phoenixz
    link
    fedilink
    319 days ago

    Piracy free?

    100TB isn’t free Fast internet connections ain’t free VPN ain’t free Hundreds of hours ain’t free

    What is free is the freedom that comes with just being able to watch whatever the hell I want to watch when I want to watch it, without ads, without “oh now we found another way to make money, we shuffle media between providers so now pay someone else too if you want to finish this show”

      • @brrt@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        1221 days ago

        Because it is. Just recently some VPN provider I already forgot the name of cancelled all lifetime subscriptions. There were multiple posts on Lemmy about it.

        • @taladar@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          1621 days ago

          It is not that difficult to understand. Selling a service that costs money each month to run for a one time price is not sustainable.

          • Rayquetzalcoatl
            link
            fedilink
            English
            521 days ago

            Oh I see, you meant from the supplier side. I thought you meant it was unsustainable from the consumer side, thanks for clarifying ✌️

          • @Gutek8134@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            420 days ago

            Now I’m wondering how costly it is to run Nebula, because they have a 300$ one time payment (equivalent of 5 years of subscription)

          • @dwindling7373@feddit.it
            link
            fedilink
            English
            321 days ago

            Not really. It depends on the pricing.

            My issue is that the service have little incentive to keep up a quality standard, unless it’s in the contract…

      • Ten years and counting for me and VPN Unlimited so far. Unsustainable? Capitalism is un-sustainable. Cheaper than paying monthly or yearly? Absolutely.

        Personally, I use the VPN to do my searches, grab magnet links, and get the torrent started, then I disconnect the VPN and switch to Cell data, as that ISP has never sent me a nasty-gram about pirating.

        Reasonably sure Nord is still turning a profit on my sub.