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by HorizonXP 4255 days ago
Because it's difficult to setup and configure for most people?

People struggle with connecting their laptops/tablets to WiFi. Expecting them to configure a VPN on their own is a stretch.

You could start a small SaaS business that could make "lifestyle business" type money if you did this well.

4 comments

PrivateInternetAccess.com gives you an installer with all the credentials in it ready to go. It was so easy my dad could do it.

I don't think ease is a barrier anymore. I think it's just lack of education about how necessary these measures are.

PIA gets a lot of recommendations but no one ever mentions that a great number of sites prevent you from using them from the PIA addresses. I've had a lot of trouble with financial and e-commerce sites in particular (which are also the situations I really care about using a VPN).

I think it might be that PIA is frequently used for DDOS and abuse since it's so inexpensive.

Just something I wish I had known before signing up.

As a developer, I would actually have to read up to know exactly what a VPN is and what I can do with it. I have a rough idea, but as it has never been something I have worked with, I have little knowledge of them. Now how would you expect the general public to manage, without someone giving them a decent explanation of them.
Private internet access (dot com) provide a point and click interface for windows and mac os x. On linux one has to manually config but it's not that hard. I have had non-technical people use it with no issues. I am sure there are others out there.

I am not associated with them in any way.

I use that on my desktop and laptop but trying to get it to connect on my nexus 5 was a nightmare - I eventually gave up.
Both Private Internet Access[0] and VyprVPN[1] have apps on the Play store, which are completely plug-and-play.

[0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.privateint...

[1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goldenfrog...

GoldenFrog has publicly stated that they are very much in favour of logging things.
Where did you read this? I haven't check in in a while, but I remember doing research to ensure the provider I used wouldn't be logging - and I settled on PIA.
The names of those apps are totally unfriendly and off-putting.

TBH, this is a combination of being a usability issue (solvable) and marketing/branding issue (solvable, but not as easily.)

It's not difficult. I use Cloak https://www.getcloak.com you install the app and you are done.

People are just not aware of these problems, and when you tell them they often downplay them, because they seem far away and until something goes wrong they think it can't happen to them. Also, it's not easy to convince people to pay for prevention rather than to fix an existing issue.

hotspotshield.com is pretty easy and can be free if you are willing to put up with a bunch of annoying advertising