Good and Bad Reasons to Use a VPN

Everyone who is security conscious online has probably heard about VPNs. To those who do not know, a VPN is a way to connect two separate networks over the Internet as if they were in the same building. The connection is usually (and should be) encrypted so that third-parties cannot easily snoop on your data.

Other people use VPNs for the purposes of securing their connection / hiding their IP address when they surf online by sending all of their Internet traffic over a company’s VPN server. There are several companies that offer VPNs for a low cost to their users.

In this post, I am just going to talk about VPNs in the context of people using them to secure their connection and/or hide their IP address. I am not recommending any particular VPN service. You must make that decision for yourself.

Online privacy is important to many people. While people can (and do) use VPNs for malicious reasons, there are many people who legitimately use VPNs for privacy.

Good Reasons for VPNs

  1. VPNs can secure your connection over risky Internet links (e.g., coffee shop, hotels, airports, etc.).
  2. Access websites that only serve a particular country (e.g., someone in the UK could use a US VPN to access US-only content on a website).
  3. Prevent websites (and online advertisers) from knowing who is really accessing their content.  Please note that browser fingerprinting makes it much harder to prevent websites from knowing who you are, and a VPN will not prevent a website from fingerprinting your web browser.

Bad Reasons for VPNs

  1. VPNs cannot keep you completely anonymous. All you are doing by using a VPN is making the VPN your “new” ISP. They can potentially mess with your data that you are sending through their servers.  Also, someone could be tapping the Internet link that your VPN provider is using. This may compromise your privacy.
  2. Doing something malicious. No VPN will completely protect you if your are doing something to attract the attention of a large, well-connected organization (e.g., a government agency).
  3. Using a VPN because of “no logs” is not a good idea. I am sure there are some that really do not log, but even if they didn’t at some point, how do you know that they will not start logging without your knowledge?
  4. A VPN will not protect you from viruses. A virus (e.g., from a file download) can still infect your computer even if your are using a VPN.
  5. A VPN will not completely protect you from hackers either.

Posted in Computers, Internet and Servers, Security, VPN

What are DNS Resolvers and How Do They Work?

This short post is about how a DNS resolver works. I also quickly cover the best way to obtain a DNS resolving service.

Please note that I am not going into the specifics on how to setup a DNS resolver. There are plenty of online tutorials for you to follow if you wish to pursue that option.

What is a DNS resolver? Simply put, a DNS resolver contacts a domain name’s DNS server and asks it for information.

A DNS resolver will also do something called caching. When a DNS resolver caches, it is “remembering” the information it previously obtained from a DNS server.

A DNS resolver that caches can save a lot of time that would be wasted looking up a domain name that had just been looked up earlier.

DNS caching is like writing down information on a sticky note, so you can quickly look at it later, instead of having to ask the person for the info all over again.

Here is a simplified example of how a DNS resolver works:

1.   Alex types into his web browser example.com

2.   Alex’s web browser then contacts the DNS resolver (that his computer is set to use).

3. The DNS resolver goes to a root server and get the IP address for the TLD (e.g., com, net, org, etc.) server it needs to access.

3.   The DNS resolver then goes to ns1.example.com (the DNS name-server that the TLD server provided), and asks the name-server for the IP address of example.com

4.   The DNS resolver then relays the information it receives to Alex’s computer. In addition, the DNS resolver caches the retrieved information for later use.

5.   Alex’s web browser now knows where example.com is located (the IP address), and starts retrieving the website.


Posted in Computers, Internet and Servers, Operating Systems

What does the Bible say about Pride?

Proverbs 16:18   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

James 4:6   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Proverbs 16:5   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

Proverbs 8:13   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.

Obadiah 3   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,
You who live in the clefts of the rock,
In the loftiness of your dwelling place,
Who say in your heart,
‘Who will bring me down to earth?’

Isaiah 2:11   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The proud look of man will be abased
And the loftiness of man will be humbled,
And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.


Posted in Christian

What does the Bible say about Using Profanity?

Colossians 3:8    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

Ephesians 4:29    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Matthew 12:36-37    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

James 3:10    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Ephesians 5:4    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

James 3:6-8    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

James 1:26    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

Proverbs 21:23    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.

Luke 6:45    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Proverbs 4:24    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.

Psalm 34:13-14    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.


Posted in Christian

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