Proxies + VPN - good idea or overkill?

[gregstereo]

Hi,

I currently use proxies for just about everything I do. I use a mix of "free" and paid shared proxies.

I've been thinking about also signing up for a paid VPN service. But I"m trying to wrap my head around this question:

Is using proxies while connected to a VPN service two layers of protection? Or is it overly-redundant? Like wearing two condoms but one is broken....and you're hiring a hooker....

Would appreciate advice. I need a lot of IP's, so I don't really want to pay for private proxies, the costs per IP are pretty high.

peace,
gregstereo

 

[jangoz]

Every ISP is a VPN... when you pay for VPN "exclusively" you are suppose to get some more extras like connection speed to particular part of the world. Let's say you need a video conference calling to Asia every day and you need a good speed. So what is the purpose of paying for VPN in your case?

 

[gregstereo]

Ummmm....not sure what you mean by "Every ISP is a VPN"....that is technically inaccurate.

It's true that VPN connections can be used for geo-targeting, optimized performance, and other things, but that's not my interest. Got plenty of bandwidth and plenty to do while waiting for various sockets to finish up.

I'm curious about the highest level of anonymity I can acquire at a reasonable cost. And I'm trying to figure out whether proxies + a VPN make sense or not. Hence the question.

Anyone else? Anyone...anyone...Bueller?

 

[writeway]

I have used proxy with VPN (free). As far as I can make out, the proxy address prevails rather than the VPNs---at least this is what I found when I tried it out.
Another thing I found was the VPN slowed down the connection speed by at least one-fourth. Of course I was using a free VPN. Maybe the paid ones offer higher speed. However, when I check (very broadly) high speed vpns cost a packet.
Incidentally what proxy tool do you use? Firefox pluging? Ever since I upgraded to Firefox 3.6 nothing really works!

Hi,

I currently use proxies for just about everything I do. I use a mix of "free" and paid shared proxies.

I've been thinking about also signing up for a paid VPN service. But I"m trying to wrap my head around this question:

Is using proxies while connected to a VPN service two layers of protection? Or is it overly-redundant? Like wearing two condoms but one is broken....and you're hiring a hooker....

Would appreciate advice. I need a lot of IP's, so I don't really want to pay for private proxies, the costs per IP are pretty high.

peace,
gregstereo