VPNs are often considered an essential part of your toolkit if you want to live a modern, privacy-conscious lifestyle... but most computer security experts will tell you that they're not tools for privacy AT ALL!
When you use a consumer VPN, the VPN company is able to see everything you’re doing. Many log and even sell all of your data. And even if they promise not to, it’s difficult to verify.

But that doesn't mean we need to avoid commercial VPNs altogether -- there can be good reasons to use one.
For example, if you're on public wifi at an airport or coffee shop, or if you want to spoof your location.

But not all VPNs are created equally, and a big piece of evaluating a VPN provider is understanding how they make their money and how responsibly they handle data.

In this video, I go over how VPNs work, when to use them, and criteria for choosing a good one.

00:00 - Intro
01:04 - How VPNs Work
01:14 - Why use a VPN?
03:10 - Criteria for a VPN
08:04 - Recommended VPNs

VPNs do have their place in your privacy toolkit - just make sure you are using them correctly!

Brought to you by NBTV members: Lee Rennie, Will Sandoval, and Naomi Brockwell

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Watch this video on LBRY!
https://open.lbry.com/@NaomiBrockwell...

For more information about VPNs, read this in depth guide from Freedom of the Press Foundation: https://freedom.press/training/choosi...

Watch Josh from "All Things Secured" on LBRY!
https://odysee.com/@AllThingsSecured:...

Here are a bunch of products I like and use. Using these links helps support the channel and future videos!

Recommended Books:

Permanent Record - Edward Snowden
https://amzn.to/305negc

No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State - Glenn Greenwald
https://amzn.to/2UQmJ4m

What has the government done to our money - Rothbard
https://amzn.to/2KMzmcu

Naomi's Privacy Bag: some of my favorite products to help protect your privacy!

Use the Brave browser! https://brave.com/nao076

USB-C to ethernet adapter:
https://amzn.to/2lOVBoy

Lightening to ethernet adapter:
https://amzn.to/2nWyNns

Faraday bag (signal stopping, to protect your fob, credit card, computer, and phone)
https://amzn.to/3DjIvCP

Data Blocker (if you're charging your phone in an unknown port, use this so that no data is transferred)
https://amzn.to/2SVh0J2

Computer privacy screen (use your computer in public? Keep your information safe! Choose the size right for your computer)
https://amzn.to/3F816Sn

Phone privacy screen (don't let people in public see your private data, choose the size for your phone)
https://amzn.to/3wNtYwb

Camera cover (for computers and phones, so no one can access your camera without you knowing)
https://amzn.to/2Mt7Hic

Privacy Tip: Turn off your wifi and bluetooth when you're not using them!!! (or don't use them at all)