Is using a VPN to connect to a wallet good for privacy?

[Forsyth Jones]

Is using a VPN as a proxy in a wallet (that has the configuration for this) a good idea to get more privacy?

What about using a VPN over Tor or vice versa? Where you connect to a VPN and configure the wallet to connect to nodes via the Tor network. Has anyone tried this?

[Mia Chloe]

Is using a VPN as a proxy in a wallet (that has the configuration for this) a good idea to get more privacy?

What about using a VPN over Tor or vice versa? Where you connect to a VPN and configure the wallet to connect to nodes via the Tor network. Has anyone tried this?

Yes it's better. Most users prefer to make use of VPNs before connecting to their wallets. The job of the VPN is to mask you IP and that is supposed to make it more difficult for your IP to be easily discovered or traced. The whole VPN stuff is mainly about people who are very much concerned about their privacy and are trying as much as possible to make themselves anonymous in majority of the connections they make with the internet.

Sometimes certain people run their own bitcoin nodes just because they don't wish to connect to the nodes of other people since they would need to share some certain data like IP, transaction history and a couple of other things. However some on the other hand prefer to make use the VPN only.

[bitterguy28]

Is using a VPN as a proxy in a wallet (that has the configuration for this) a good idea to get more privacy?

certainly because not only does it mask your ip address it also helps in securing your device when connected to internet we know how that can make us vulnerable if someone is connected to the internet and would gain access to your device especially if it’s public

[Crwth]

I'm assuming you are accessing your online custodial wallets/accounts, right? I'm afraid that connecting with a suspicious location might trigger something within the service and maybe (?) freeze your account. I haven't read about this situation before, but perhaps someone could share if they know something about it.

[Mia Chloe]

certainly because not only does it mask your ip address it also helps in securing your device when connected to internet we know how that can make us vulnerable if someone is connected to the internet and would gain access to your device especially if it’s public

I think that's quite it. VPN means virtual private network meaning it allows you connect to a network that would mask you IP and connection to the internet making it possible for you to access the internet via a private network. VPN gives you a nice level of security however it's not as private and strong as certain persons think. If you require further privacy, browsing the internet via a safe browser like Tor would also add up an extra layer of security.
Also for the case of a bitcoin wallet, thanks to bitcoin having a decentralised network, you can also create and Run your own node ensure further privacy of your network especially if you don't wish to share certain data with public nodes.

[BitcoinGirl.Club]

Is using a VPN as a proxy in a wallet (that has the configuration for this) a good idea to get more privacy?

Yes it is. But try to avoid free VPN. They basically steal your data, most of them.

[ABCbits]

Is using a VPN as a proxy in a wallet (that has the configuration for this) a good idea to get more privacy?

It depends on what kind of privacy you want. VPN can hide your real IP and location, but the server still know list of address owned by you. Some user may mention running your own node and server, but it's not cheap option especially if you own coin where it's blockchain have big size.

[bitmover]

Is using a VPN as a proxy in a wallet (that has the configuration for this) a good idea to get more privacy?

It depends on what kind of privacy you want. VPN can hide your real IP and location, but the server still know list of address owned by you. Some user may mention running your own node and server, but it's not cheap option especially if you own coin where it's blockchain have big size.

Yeah, this is indeed a problem.

Even hiding your IP, they will know all those addresses are connected. Because you make a request to the node for the balance of all those addresses together...

The only way to really have privacy is to run your own full node. So you request all addresses balance, not only the ones you own the private key

[Findingnemo]

Is using a VPN as a proxy in a wallet (that has the configuration for this) a good idea to get more privacy?

What about using a VPN over Tor or vice versa? Where you connect to a VPN and configure the wallet to connect to nodes via the Tor network. Has anyone tried this?

VPN is not 100% private the platform provide the service might keep all your logs and activities.

TOR is the safest way and yes it helps to be private by not leaking out IPs connected to the network but it can be little slower than no masking but it's worth the time. You should run own node via TOR for complete privacy.

[Forsyth Jones]

I think that's quite it. VPN means virtual private network meaning it allows you connect to a network that would mask you IP and connection to the internet making it possible for you to access the internet via a private network. VPN gives you a nice level of security however it's not as private and strong as certain persons think. If you require further privacy, browsing the internet via a safe browser like Tor would also add up an extra layer of security.
Also for the case of a bitcoin wallet, thanks to bitcoin having a decentralised network, you can also create and Run your own node ensure further privacy of your network especially if you don't wish to share certain data with public nodes.

I use Tor from time to time, but some sites restrict access to Tor, so a VPN in this case becomes an interesting option.

Yes it is. But try to avoid free VPN. They basically steal your data, most of them.

You have a point, I don't use free VPNs as I know the risk is higher, the security and encryption they offer is not the same as paid VPNs.

Is using a VPN as a proxy in a wallet (that has the configuration for this) a good idea to get more privacy?

It depends on what kind of privacy you want. VPN can hide your real IP and location, but the server still know list of address owned by you. Some user may mention running your own node and server, but it's not cheap option especially if you own coin where it's blockchain have big size.

Yeah, this is indeed a problem.

Even hiding your IP, they will know all those addresses are connected. Because you make a request to the node for the balance of all those addresses together...

The only way to really have privacy is to run your own full node. So you request all addresses balance, not only the ones you own the private key

So, about this, when using elelctrum for example, which uses several public servers, when our wallet connects to these servers, several data are shared with them such as XPUB, balance in addresses, etc., only xpriv, seed, etc. data are not revealed...

VPN is not 100% private the platform provide the service might keep all your logs and activities.

TOR is the safest way and yes it helps to be private by not leaking out IPs connected to the network but it can be little slower than no masking but it's worth the time. You should run own node via TOR for complete privacy.

It's true that VPNs claim not to record user logs, but who can guarantee that?

[bitmover]

Is using a VPN as a proxy in a wallet (that has the configuration for this) a good idea to get more privacy?

It depends on what kind of privacy you want. VPN can hide your real IP and location, but the server still know list of address owned by you. Some user may mention running your own node and server, but it's not cheap option especially if you own coin where it's blockchain have big size.

Yeah, this is indeed a problem.

Even hiding your IP, they will know all those addresses are connected. Because you make a request to the node for the balance of all those addresses together...

The only way to really have privacy is to run your own full node. So you request all addresses balance, not only the ones you own the private key

So, about this, when using elelctrum for example, which uses several public servers, when our wallet connects to these servers, several data are shared with them such as XPUB, balance in addresses, etc., only xpriv, seed, etc. data are not revealed...

Your data is revealed.

You basically request the balance of your first 50 addressed and 50 change addresses from your wallet.

Servers will save that information as your wallet and connected addresses. We don't know what they will do with it. Delete, sell to chain analysis,  etc..

[ABCbits]

--snip--

So, about this, when using elelctrum for example, which uses several public servers, when our wallet connects to these servers, several data are shared with them such as XPUB, balance in addresses, etc., only xpriv, seed, etc. data are not revealed...

What being sent it list of your addresses. AFAIK it doesn't send XPUB or balance of your address. That means the server could know that those addresses belong to same wallet or owner.

VPN is not 100% private the platform provide the service might keep all your logs and activities.

TOR is the safest way and yes it helps to be private by not leaking out IPs connected to the network but it can be little slower than no masking but it's worth the time. You should run own node via TOR for complete privacy.

It's true that VPNs claim not to record user logs, but who can guarantee that?

Nobody could do that. At best, you could see history of the VPN company and see whether they caught selling user data in past or have history giving data upon government request.

[taufik123]

Is using a VPN as a proxy in a wallet (that has the configuration for this) a good idea to get more privacy?

Yes it is. But try to avoid free VPN. They basically steal your data, most of them.

A free VPN will only be a trap to retrieve the cookies of those connected to the free VPN.
The perfect trap for people who don't care about the security of their own devices and are stingy enough to buy a premium VPN.

[PrivateKayla]

Is using a VPN as a proxy in a wallet (that has the configuration for this) a good idea to get more privacy?

What about using a VPN over Tor or vice versa? Where you connect to a VPN and configure the wallet to connect to nodes via the Tor network. Has anyone tried this?

Using a VPN to access your wallet can significantly enhance your privacy and security IF you are using a reliable VPN provider. As many have mentioned, using a VPN does not give you complete anonymity. Using TOR with a VPN can give you better privacy and protection, but it can be slower and some wallets are incompatible with TOR.

[Freemind]

We must assume that all data is stored. The important thing is that this data travels encrypted over the network. Companies that offer VPN services have never seemed trustworthy to me, they wouldn't get in trouble for a fee of $5 or $10 a month in case a problem occurred, which would mean that we could have serious problems depending on the activities those wallets are used for.

VPNs offer ease of use, installation and are ready to use, but many of those VPNs (some free and some paid) have trojans installed, especially keyloggers. I've always preferred to use open source software for this sort of thing, as the community is always free to review the code and improve it wherever possible. Personally, Tor is always the best option.