Uploaded October 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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, Will Sandoval, and Naomi Brockwell
To support NBTV, visit:
https://www.nbtv.media/support
(tax-deductible in the US)
Visit our shop!
https://Shop.NBTV.media
Our eBook "Beginner's Introduction To Privacy:
amzn.to/3WDSfku
Beware of scammers, I will never give you a phone number or reach out to you with investment advice. I do not give investment advice.
Watch this video on LBRY!
open.lbry.com/@NaomiBrockwell:4/What-is-a-vpn:0?r=2YwHc1Xc3DbksPyAaQ5THDAAtJJet35u
For more information about VPNs, read this in depth guide from Freedom of the Press Foundation: https://freedom.press/training/choosing-a-vpn/
Watch Josh from "All Things Secured" on LBRY!
odysee.com/@AllThingsSecured:9?r=2YwHc1Xc3DbksPyAaQ5THDAAtJJet35u
________________________________________________________________________
Here are a bunch of products I like and use. Using these links helps support the channel and future videos!
Recommended Books:
Beginner's Introduction To Privacy - Naomi Brockwell
amzn.to/3WDSfku
Permanent Record - Edward Snowden
amzn.to/305negc
What has the government done to our money - Rothbard
amzn.to/2KMzmcu
Extreme Privacy - Michael Bazzel (The best privacy book I've ever read)
amzn.to/4jrseiS
Digital version: inteltechniques.com/book7.html (non affiliate link)
No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State - Glenn Greenwald
amzn.to/2UQmJ4m
Some of my favorite products to help protect your privacy!
Brave browser: brave.com/nao076
Faraday bag (signal stopping, to protect your fob, credit card, computer, and phone)
amzn.to/3z02UiF
Data Blocker (if you're charging your phone in an unknown port, use this so that no data is transferred)
amzn.to/2SVh0J2
Camera tape (electrical tape is the best tape for covering phone and computer cameras)
amzn.to/3Xn8xBn
USB-C to ethernet adapter:
amzn.to/2lOVBoy
Privacy Screens (use your phone and computer in public? Keep your information safe!)
Computer: (Search for the size right for your computer)
MacBook Air 13" amzn.to/3VQvpZ7
HP/Dell/Acer/Asus/Lenovo 15.6" amzn.to/3KK1Oda
Lenovo Thinkpad/HP Elitebook/Dell 14" amzn.to/4enT2zq
Phone: (Search for the size for your phone, decide whether you want glass or plastic!)
Galaxy s24 - amzn.to/3VGgb8H
iPhone 15 - amzn.to/45vCd1h
Pixel 8 - amzn.to/3KFDuJF
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, Will Sandoval, and Naomi Brockwell
To support NBTV, visit:
https://www.nbtv.media/support
(tax-deductible in the US)
Visit our shop!
https://Shop.NBTV.media
Our eBook "Beginner's Introduction To Privacy:
amzn.to/3WDSfku
Beware of scammers, I will never give you a phone number or reach out to you with investment advice. I do not give investment advice.
Watch this video on LBRY!
open.lbry.com/@NaomiBrockwell:4/What-is-a-vpn:0?r=2YwHc1Xc3DbksPyAaQ5THDAAtJJet35u
For more information about VPNs, read this in depth guide from Freedom of the Press Foundation: https://freedom.press/training/choosing-a-vpn/
Watch Josh from "All Things Secured" on LBRY!
odysee.com/@AllThingsSecured:9?r=2YwHc1Xc3DbksPyAaQ5THDAAtJJet35u
________________________________________________________________________
Here are a bunch of products I like and use. Using these links helps support the channel and future videos!
Recommended Books:
Beginner's Introduction To Privacy - Naomi Brockwell
amzn.to/3WDSfku
Permanent Record - Edward Snowden
amzn.to/305negc
What has the government done to our money - Rothbard
amzn.to/2KMzmcu
Extreme Privacy - Michael Bazzel (The best privacy book I've ever read)
amzn.to/4jrseiS
Digital version: inteltechniques.com/book7.html (non affiliate link)
No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State - Glenn Greenwald
amzn.to/2UQmJ4m
Some of my favorite products to help protect your privacy!
Brave browser: brave.com/nao076
Faraday bag (signal stopping, to protect your fob, credit card, computer, and phone)
amzn.to/3z02UiF
Data Blocker (if you're charging your phone in an unknown port, use this so that no data is transferred)
amzn.to/2SVh0J2
Camera tape (electrical tape is the best tape for covering phone and computer cameras)
amzn.to/3Xn8xBn
USB-C to ethernet adapter:
amzn.to/2lOVBoy
Privacy Screens (use your phone and computer in public? Keep your information safe!)
Computer: (Search for the size right for your computer)
MacBook Air 13" amzn.to/3VQvpZ7
HP/Dell/Acer/Asus/Lenovo 15.6" amzn.to/3KK1Oda
Lenovo Thinkpad/HP Elitebook/Dell 14" amzn.to/4enT2zq
Phone: (Search for the size for your phone, decide whether you want glass or plastic!)
Galaxy s24 - amzn.to/3VGgb8H
iPhone 15 - amzn.to/45vCd1h
Pixel 8 - amzn.to/3KFDuJF
