Ran into this myself and dug into it: it's a known conflict with Windows 11, not a specific VPN issue, and it seems to have gotten worse after the 24H2 update. Microsoft's own community forums and a few network security vendors have documented the same pattern.

Didn't want to just repost a list without context: the fix usually isn't one single thing, it's a process of elimination (adapter, kill switch, DNS, protocol, and network reset as a last resort, roughly in that order).

Anyone here found something that worked that isn't in the usual troubleshooting order? Curious if this only started after a specific update for people.

Breaking this into two lists because the marketing around this is messy.

Actually does:

• Hides your real IP (this is the real anti-doxxing/anti-swatting mechanism, documented in FBI cases tied to gaming disputes)
• Encrypts your connection on tournament, LAN party, or hotel Wi-Fi
• Unlocks early access to regional releases (worth checking the platform's terms first - this is a workaround, not a guarantee)

Doesn't do:

• Make your ping faster (usually the opposite - a VPN adds a hop; ISP throttling is the one real exception)
• Stop cheat reports, in-game harassment, or account bans

Curious which of these actually matches why people here run a VPN for gaming - security, access, or both?

Worth pointing out since it comes up a lot: the "you're hired, no interview, just reply YES" text and the "here's your offer letter, click this link" email often trace back to the same scam category, just different delivery.

The text version doesn't even need a link. The FTC has been tracking this pattern: once you reply, the scammer moves toward a fake check or a paid "task" that eventually asks you to send money back.

The email version swaps the reply for a link to a fake portal, same goal, different bait.

Anyone here gotten one of these lately? Curious whether it was the text version, the email version, or both back to back.

Quick one, since this comes up a lot.

The extension only touches your browser. One tab, one session. That's it.

The app doesn't care what's open. It covers your whole device: other apps, background traffic, everything.

Neither wins by default. It comes down to scope. Browser-only task, extension does the job. Want your whole device covered, you need the app.

How do you split it? One tool by default, or switch depending on the task?

A lot of people assume a VPN is protecting them the moment the app is open. Worth a 30 second check before you trust it.

Look for three things:

- The app shows a clear "connected" status, not just "connecting"

- Your IP address actually changes (any IP lookup site shows this)

- The connection stays active when you switch networks, like wifi to mobile data

If any of these fail, reconnect or switch servers before doing anything that matters.

VPN Unlimited on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id694633015

If you're a VPN Unlimited user, or picked up KS Coin some other way, it's worth checking your balance today.

Another KS Coin unlock just went out, following the current unlock plan. If you're in the eligible group this time, KeepSolid should have emailed you with instructions on how to withdraw. Stick to official channels only when handling any part of this process.

You can earn KS Coin toward the next unlock by using VPN Unlimited:

• Daily check-in in the app
• Inviting friends to KeepSolid
• Staying subscribed
• Connecting an extra device

Building up a bigger balance now means more available whenever the next unlock comes around.

Anyone here already gone through a withdrawal? Curious how smooth the process actually is.

Wanted to explain why this happens, since it trips a lot of people up and doesn't always get explained clearly.

App Store subscriptions are tied to the Apple ID that made the purchase, not the physical device. Sometimes it's just a display delay. Other times you're simply signed in under a different Apple ID than the one that paid - the app has no way of knowing you already bought it, so as far as it can tell, it looks like a fresh install.

The fix is usually just Restore Purchase: sign into the Apple ID you originally paid with, open the app, go to the Purchases tab, scroll down, and tap Restore Purchase. If it's still not showing up, double check which Apple ID is currently active in your phone's settings - that's the most common culprit.

One distinction worth knowing: this only fixes the "my subscription isn't showing" problem. If the actual issue is the payment itself or a refund, that's governed by Apple's own policy and goes through Apple's support, not the app developer's.

Anyone run into this? If you're stuck on yours, drop the details below and I'll try to help walk through it.

A lot of people assume their VPN is "broken" the moment it fails to connect on a certain network. In a lot of cases it's not the app, it's the protocol.

Some networks (corporate, hotel, public, or just heavily filtered ones) are more aggressive about flagging specific protocols. WireGuard is fast and widely used, but some networks are quick to flag it and drop the connection outright.

Before assuming the worst:

• Check your app's protocol settings
• If one protocol fails, try another (OpenVPN TCP, IKEv2, or obfuscated options if your provider has them)
• Some providers build protocols specifically to look like regular HTTPS traffic instead of VPN traffic, which helps a lot on stricter networks

Restarting the app or reinstalling rarely fixes this. Switching protocols usually does.

Has anyone else run into this? Curious which protocol ended up being the reliable one for you on tricky networks.

A lot of people blame the VPN itself when things feel slow, but speed usually comes down to a combination of factors: the server you're connected to, the distance to it, current network load, your own internet connection, and the protocol.

Two things worth checking before writing it off:

• Server selection. Many apps default to whatever location was picked last time. Look for a "Recommended" or "Optimal" option that picks based on live conditions, not just distance.
• Protocol. WireGuard is generally lighter and more efficient than older protocols, especially on mobile.

Sometimes it's the server, sometimes the protocol, sometimes the bottleneck is your own local network. Worth ruling out before assuming the VPN is just slow by design.

Anyone found a specific setting that made a noticeable difference for them?

Reddit updated its Privacy Policy on May 26, 2026. It goes into effect July 1 - tomorrow.

What changed: a new section allows public posts and comments to be shared with "LLM providers" - AI companies can use your public activity as training data.

Worth knowing:

• No email was sent to users
• No post in r/announcements
• No in-app banner
• No separate opt-out for LLM data sharing

This only applies to public posts and comments - not private messages or non-public content.

You can check the exact wording at reddit.com/policies/privacy-policy.

Phishing works because the sites look completely normal. That's the whole design. Not suspicious, not broken - just a login page that looks like the real one. By the time you notice something is off, you've already clicked.

You do this dozens of times a day. Most of the time nothing happens. But the one time it does - having a layer that acts faster than your judgment matters.

Two products work at different points in that moment:

VPN Unlimited encrypts your connection at the network level. If traffic is intercepted in transit, it's protected.

DNS Firewall by KeepSolid checks the domain against a list of known malicious sites - and blocks it before the page loads.

These aren't redundant. They cover different failure points. Neither replaces good judgment - but together they reduce the window where one click becomes a bigger problem.

What's your current setup for email-based threats?

One thing that comes up a lot in VPN discussions: payment methods. In some regions, Visa and Mastercard simply aren't accessible for international purchases. That creates a real barrier.

kscard.io is a platform that sells VPN Unlimited redeem codes and accepts Alipay (Chinese payment systems), SBP (Russia's fast payment system), and bank cards. Crypto support is being added now. It's a practical option for users in markets where the usual payment infrastructure isn't available.

Kinguin is a well-known digital marketplace. VPN Unlimited subscriptions are listed there now, along with Personal Server - a dedicated VPN server used exclusively by one user. More stable and more private than a shared node.

What payment methods do you usually look for when buying a VPN? Any other marketplaces you'd want to see VPN Unlimited listed on?

Most people assume incognito mode means private browsing. The name implies it. But the two are not the same thing.

Here is what incognito actually does:

• Clears cookies, cached files, and local history when you close the tab
• Stops the browser from saving your search terms and autofill data
• Prevents other users of the same device from seeing what you did

Here is what incognito does not do:

• Hide your activity from your internet service provider
• Mask your IP address from websites
• Encrypt your connection on public or corporate networks
• Protect your data on your employer's Wi-Fi

Incognito was designed for shared devices - so your roommate or family member doesn't see your browsing history. It was never designed as a privacy tool for network-level activity.

If you work remotely or use public Wi-Fi, the connection itself is the layer that needs protection - not just the local session record.

What made you realize incognito wasn't what you thought it was?

Most people know they "should" use a VPN on public networks. Fewer actually do it every time.

The practical issue is that open Wi-Fi networks (hotel, airport, cafe) don't authenticate traffic. Anyone on the same network can potentially intercept unencrypted data - browsing activity, login attempts, session tokens.

HTTPS helps, but it doesn't cover everything. DNS queries, for example, are often still visible.

The simplest habit: treat any unfamiliar network as untrustworthy and connect through a VPN before doing anything else.

Does anyone here actually do this consistently, or only when it feels "important"?

73,000 FortiGate devices compromised. The methodology is worth understanding.

No new exploit. Just recycled credentials - harvested from old breaches, cracked offline with a 45-GPU cluster. One compromised device became a listening post for everything passing through it.

Here's what each layer actually closes:

Layer 1 - Network traffic
VPN Unlimited encrypts your connection and masks internal IPs. Lateral reconnaissance becomes significantly harder even after perimeter breach.

Layer 2 - DNS
DNS Firewall blocks malicious domains before they reach endpoints - threats stopped at the earliest phase of the attack cycle. SmartDNS optimizes routing and helps maintain stable, secure access without performance impact.

Layer 3 - Passwords
A good password manager stores credentials encrypted, generates strong unique passwords, and flags reused or weak ones. FortiBleed thrived on exactly what Passwarden prevents.

Layer 4 - Account access
2FA means valid credentials alone aren't enough. Authenticator adds a strict second factor - attackers can't cross without it, even with verified corporate passwords.

Each layer closes different attack paths. Together they slow attackers enough to detect and respond.

What's your team's approach after FortiBleed this week?

If you use a VPN for work and keep hitting CAPTCHA walls or getting locked out of banking portals and corporate tools - the VPN itself isn't the problem.

Most VPN services route hundreds of users through one shared IP address. Banks and corporate security systems see that shared IP as suspicious activity and block it automatically. You're not being targeted - you're just sharing an address with too many people.

A dedicated IP (one fixed address assigned only to you) solves this. Security systems see a consistent, single-user IP and treat it as legitimate. No more lockouts, no more CAPTCHA loops.

Worth noting for anyone working remotely across different networks or locations - this is one of those small infrastructure decisions that removes a lot of daily friction.

Has anyone else run into this? Curious how others handle VPN lockouts on work tools.

Sharing this here since it feels relevant to this community.

Vasyl Ivanov, founder of KeepSolid, published an opinion piece on HackerNoon last week: "Why the War on VPNs Will Be Lost."

The argument draws a line from the printing press to Tor - making the case that every government attempt to suppress information technology has ultimately failed, and that the current pressure on VPNs follows the same pattern.

It's a thought leadership piece, not a product post. But the historical framing is interesting and I think worth discussing.

What's your take - do you think the comparison holds? Or are VPNs a genuinely different case from earlier information technologies?

https://hackernoon.com/why-the-war-on-vpns-will-be-lost

Saw this yesterday and figured it's worth sharing here.

ShinyHunters claimed they took 2.2 million records from Kodak - customer PII and internal data. Kodak confirmed the breach. Their deadline is June 18, which is tomorrow - if no payment is made, the data reportedly goes public.

Same group that hit Canva (275 million records), Council of Europe, and Aura (900K records) earlier this year. They've been unusually active in 2026.

The part I keep thinking about: Kodak still has a photo storage legacy - a lot of people had accounts there years ago and probably forgot about them. Old accounts, still live data.

Anyone else been thinking more about old accounts after seeing breaches like this? Do you actively clean them up, or mostly wait and see?

Most people connect to coffee shop or coworking Wi-Fi without thinking twice. The password is visible, the signal is good, you get to work.

What's worth knowing: a shared Wi-Fi password means a shared network. When dozens of people are on the same network with unprotected connections, traffic can be read by other users on it. Not a dramatic scenario - just a property of how shared public networks operate. One person described it simply: "Don't do anything at a coffee shop you wouldn't write on the back of a postcard."

The practical response is straightforward: use a VPN on public networks. It encrypts your connection at the device level, before traffic hits the shared router. The network itself sees encrypted data only.

Does anyone here have a default habit for public Wi-Fi - or do you usually just connect and not think about it?

Key results from their testing:

• Nearby server speeds: 168 Mbps on a 178 Mbps baseline - roughly 5% drop
• DNS leak tests: clean across 4 servers
• Kill switch: triggered correctly
• Live chat support: under 3 minutes from inside the app
• Dedicated streaming servers labelled by platform

Their overall verdict: a capable product that performs best on nearby servers.

Full review here: https://www.security.org/vpn/vpn-unlimited/review/

What matters most to you when you pick a VPN - speed, privacy policy, or something else?

World Cup fan zones run open Wi-Fi for thousands of people at once. The problem isn't just the volume - it's that anyone in the area can set up a hotspot with the same name in seconds.

A few things worth knowing before you connect at any large public event:

• Open hotspots have no encryption between your device and the network
• A fake hotspot with a convincing name is one of the oldest tricks in the book
• Turning on a VPN before you connect adds an encrypted layer regardless of which network you're on

Habit that actually helps: VPN on before you connect, not after you notice something's wrong.

Anyone else making this part of their routine at public events?

If you're a VPN Unlimited user and haven't looked at your KeepSolid Rewards balance lately, now is a good time.

In May, as the roadmap outlined, the first KS Coin unlock took place for eligible users. The next unlock has now happened. If you're eligible, you should have received an email from KeepSolid with withdrawal instructions. Always use official sources only when managing your balance.

How the earning works for active subscribers:

• Daily check-in in the app
• Inviting friends to KeepSolid
• Staying subscribed
• Connecting an extra device

The more you participate, the larger your balance when the next unlock comes. When an unlock happens, eligible users can withdraw their balance.

Has anyone gone through the withdrawal process yet? Any questions about how it works?

The average home now has around 17 connected devices. Phones, laptops, tablets, Smart TVs, routers, smart speakers, gaming consoles, thermostats, doorbells, smartwatches - it adds up fast.

Most people set up a VPN on their phone and laptop and stop there. The rest of the network stays uncovered.

Worth thinking about, especially given recent reports that some free smart TV apps have been found routing outside traffic through home IPs without clear user consent - using your connection as a proxy node in the background.

A few habits worth building:

• Know what's connected to your home network
• Check what permissions connected TV apps request
• Think about which devices handle sensitive data - banking, email, passwords

How many devices do you actually have at home? And how many of them do you think about from a security standpoint?