[ma2rten]

How easy is it to fully automate VPN only computer usage so that everything I do comes out of a machine at Amazon EC2 for example?

Startup idea! Make a tool that automatically tunnels your connection when you are on a public wifi. Make it open source and offer a hosted service. Also interesting if you are in a country which censors the internet. The dropbox of VPNs. For marketing you offer to write articles like this but less technical for magazines ("on Page 10 learn how easy it is for hackers to steal your facebook account and how you can protect yourself").

[bradleyland]

There are a multitude of VPN services in the market already. The generally accepted "best practice" for those with VPN service is to use it everywhere (not just on the road). When you're paying monthly, most people feel incentivized to use the service as much as possible.

I've set up VyprVPN for a couple of ultra-paranoid friends, and the whole process was very smooth and end-user friendly.

[ma2rten]

And there were plenty back-up services before dropbox.

[bradleyland]

I get what you're saying, but Dropbox is not a back-up service. The distinction is that Dropbox didn't exist before Dropbox. There are unique aspects of Dropbox that were new when Dropbox was introduced.

There is nothing new or unique in what you described, with the exception (maybe) of automatic initiation of VPN services when you're on "public" wifi. I would argue that this is a differentiation of little or no consequence, because there's no reason to not use a VPN all the time.

You basically described every personal VPN provider in the market as a start-up idea.

[tonylemesmer]

and make it work for Android.