Cloaking WiFi connection

[Paul in Houston TX]

Why even bother with that when https is much simpler and probably just
as secure??

It depends on what you use networks for.
HTTPS is for web browsers and https websites.
VPN is o/s level. A vpn will encrypt all traffic, including
email, files, whiteboards, web meetings, ftp / tftp, RS-232,
and many proprietary communication protocols such as
used by scada systems.
Of the 12-16 hours per day that my work computer is online,
maybe 30 minutes is web browsing.
You can also open a vpn through a https website, assuming
that you have access to do so. Its a bit slow though.

 

[cameo]

It depends on what you use networks for.
HTTPS is for web browsers and https websites.
VPN is o/s level. A vpn will encrypt all traffic, including
email, files, whiteboards, web meetings, ftp / tftp, RS-232,
and many proprietary communication protocols such as
used by scada systems.
Of the 12-16 hours per day that my work computer is online,
maybe 30 minutes is web browsing.
You can also open a vpn through a https website, assuming
that you have access to do so. Its a bit slow though.

I've got it. Thanks.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Apparently, Windows 7 has a VPN server built-in. I think
that would allow the following.

http://www.ehow.com/how_7418436_turn-home-desktop-vpn-server.html

Another problem I ran into recently is that after turning on this VPN
server, it created an unforeseen conflict with my TVersity DLNA media
streaming service. All of a sudden, the TVersity service stopped
responding to start/stop commands, and was very slow to start. As soon
as I removed the VPN setup, TVersity went back to normal. According to
the TVersity forums, another individual also had a similar problem after
installing a different VPN software, Hamachi. So if Hamachi and the
Windows 7 VPN are similar, then that might be in conflict with DLNA
media streamers. At least PPTP-based VPN would be. PPTP uses TCP port
1723, don't know if DLNA software uses the same one?

Yousuf Khan

 

[Paul]

Another problem I ran into recently is that after turning on this VPN
server, it created an unforeseen conflict with my TVersity DLNA media
streaming service. All of a sudden, the TVersity service stopped
responding to start/stop commands, and was very slow to start. As soon
as I removed the VPN setup, TVersity went back to normal. According to
the TVersity forums, another individual also had a similar problem after
installing a different VPN software, Hamachi. So if Hamachi and the
Windows 7 VPN are similar, then that might be in conflict with DLNA
media streamers. At least PPTP-based VPN would be. PPTP uses TCP port
1723, don't know if DLNA software uses the same one?

Yousuf Khan

There's a claim here, that the DLNA uses a broadcast to reach other
devices. (On some other site, it mentioned a particular port and UDP?)
So that might have something to do with it ?

http://www.techsweden.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=224879

In that example, they used IGMP to connect two subnets
together, so DLNA could be seen.

Paul

 

[AdrianH]

For Macs there is a supposedly pretty good and easy-to-use cloaking
program to make public WiFi connection secure. Is there anything like
that for Windows PCs?

Well, you can always try a VPN to establish a secure tunnel between your computer and the sites you want to access. I would suggest not to go for a free VPN since they're not that great at protecting you online. I had a terrible experience with a WiFi hotspot once coz I was using a free account.
4 days ago, I renewed my subscription to Ivacy VPN which is great for online security and also anonymizes my online activity. They have this great Cyber Monday deal that gives you 2 years of subscription for $36. It's a really great deal imo.