VPN: virtual private network

[Tangler]

I would love to hear more about how they got into her bank accounts. Does she have two factor authentication for her financial accounts?

Normally, a bank will not wire money without going through extensive verification efforts. I sent a large wire to a domestic bank (much less likely to be fraudulent than international wires) and they did extensive verification before allowing the wire to go through. My bank also limits online wires to less than 250k, so a large wire has to be done in person, in the branch, again with extensive verification.

It was a major screw up. several months ago and I forgot details. I don’t know how exactly she goofed but bank also failed to double check and she was hacked etc.
Actionable Summary for me:
1. VPN
2. 2 factor authentication, always, every account
3. Check accounts frequently and monitor large transactions with security alerts for large withdrawals & transfers
4. lock credit,
5. ID theft insurance as last resort

[White.Beard.Doc]

I would love to hear more about how they got into her bank accounts. Does she have two factor authentication for her financial accounts?

Normally, a bank will not wire money without going through extensive verification efforts. I sent a large wire to a domestic bank (much less likely to be fraudulent than international wires) and they did extensive verification before allowing the wire to go through. My bank also limits online wires to less than 250k, so a large wire has to be done in person, in the branch, again with extensive verification.

[F0017S0]

Proton vs Express? Pluses/minuses?

I use Proton: easy interface, plenty of servers to choose from, including Secure Core and TOR routers. You'd be even more secure layering the Tails operating system on top of TOR or Proton VPN...

[B1GM0N3Y86]

I use a VPN so I can stream live NFL games on NFL game pass and if I am torrenting movies or TV shows. I don't log into banking or credit info while on a public wifi.

[snowcanyon]

Proton vs Express? Pluses/minuses?

[Tim]

Can someone explain to me how exactly a VPN protects you? You still are using whatever wifi to send data to the VPN (after which it gets re-routed). So wouldn't your data still be vulnerable during that first step?

“When you use a VPN, your internet traffic gets encrypted, so no one can intercept it via public Wi-Fi. Even though you're not using a secure Wi-Fi connection, the VPN will secure your connection everywhere, so you no longer need to worry”
The connection itself is encrypted when you sign in to the VPN. Even if your sign in was hacked, that would not be your session.

[AR]

Can someone explain to me how exactly a VPN protects you? You still are using whatever wifi to send data to the VPN (after which it gets re-routed). So wouldn't your data still be vulnerable during that first step?

[invenio]

Back like 10 years ago VPN Unlimited was having a promotion where it was like $50 for a lifetime plan so I bought it. I sometimes use that if I am traveling.

I also winter for a month in some other country and I can't access our work network as it restricts any foreign logons. It also detects VPN so it makes it difficult. In this case I use remote desktop software like Teamviewer which automatically encrypts the traffic. I keep my home computer on and just log in remotely so the EMR is being accessed from my home computer. It works out well as I do part time telemedicine like this when I am away. I was literally on a Mediterranean island doing virtual visits with patients, they would never know the difference between being 10 or 4000 miles away. Technology is truly amazing.

[Senator]

Is the computer you use to read cases from a company-provided one? Keep in mind they are likely tracking everything on there, whether they tell you or not. I don't know if you would even be able to install a VPN on it - sometimes you need admin privileges.

No, it's either my "personal" business computer, or my cell phone.

[xraygoggles]

I use McAfee VPN on my home desktop. I was using it on my phone for a while but it absolutely kills battery life so I stopped.

I have another question for the forum. I do telemedicine--reading images online and submitting a report. I have licenses in 10 states so I can read images obtained in those 10 states, but was told by my malpractice insurer that I can only read them when I am physically in my home state. If I had a VPN, how would they know that I am physically in my home state? Sometimes I go on vacation to another state (where I happen to have a license) and it would be nice to still read those images and not give up that income while I'm in that vacation state. I am a little torn here. It would make me feel like I'm lying to the malpractice carrier if I read in another state but at the same time, it's still me reading the images--what difference does it make if I'm in another state (where I have a license)?

Is the computer you use to read cases from a company-provided one? Keep in mind they are likely tracking everything on there, whether they tell you or not. I don't know if you would even be able to install a VPN on it - sometimes you need admin privileges.

[Senator]

Remote desktop into your home computer and then open up rads. You're reading on your home computer and IP address.

I don't know how to do that. As I said above, the more I think about it, the more it makes me feel guilty doing something I was expressly told not to do. I guess I should just enjoy vacation!

[Senator]

I am impressed with your ability to maintain ten active medical licenses…

Maintaining them is not bad at all. Obtaining licenses in some states, however, during COVID when states' medical board staff was working remotely, was a total pain.

[Senator]

There are two questions as I see it.

Regarding the ethics of where you work relative to your insurance provider’s coverage, I have to leave that to other providers with similar business models. It seems close to fraud to have been told the terms of coverage and then make a claim outside those strictures. But perhaps someone here has an idea for a better carrier or a more flexible policy.

As for how anyone would know other than your honest answer if asked, the general technical answer is that the VPN IP address points to the geographic location of the server. If the provider only has one server location, then the IP address would always show there. However, if on travel the VPN provider may have repeaters/satellite sites that your session is redirected to in other parts of the country. If so, the IP address would indicate you were out of state.

Yeah, I have decided that it isn't the right thing to do, knowing that the malpractice insurer has said specifically that I should be in my home state when reading the images.

As to the technical answer, it seems that I would have to make sure to use the VPN provider's server is located in my home state.

Finally, I have also thought--when on vacation, be on vacation and forget the ************************ image reading!

[F0017S0]

I use McAfee VPN on my home desktop. I was using it on my phone for a while but it absolutely kills battery life so I stopped.

I have another question for the forum. I do telemedicine--reading images online and submitting a report. I have licenses in 10 states so I can read images obtained in those 10 states, but was told by my malpractice insurer that I can only read them when I am physically in my home state. If I had a VPN, how would they know that I am physically in my home state? Sometimes I go on vacation to another state (where I happen to have a license) and it would be nice to still read those images and not give up that income while I'm in that vacation state. I am a little torn here. It would make me feel like I'm lying to the malpractice carrier if I read in another state but at the same time, it's still me reading the images--what difference does it make if I'm in another state (where I have a license)?

I am impressed with your ability to maintain ten active medical licenses…

[ACN]

Remote desktop into your home computer and then open up rads. You're reading on your home computer and IP address.