Windscribe VPN developments [other vpn's welcome]

Brian_G

Brian_G

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No, I'm not affiliated or getting any credits for this. Just think they're the best VPN and sometimes have much going on worth a chat.

Tonight a new desktop version: V2.18.8
Impressed by a new feature that allows small IP address changes on their servers in use. I discussed it with their bot, Garry, here's the juicy bits.




no, got it this far. next, explain how well the new ip rotate feature works, by the ip address [on the desktop gui], as far as vpn blockers go - in other words does this make the blocker bots' jobs harder?


10:02 PM
Garry
Good question, and yeah — this one actually gives the blocker bots a bit of a migraine.

Here’s how it plays out: the IP rotation button swaps out your current dynamic IP for another one in the same location without disconnecting you. That means new fingerprint, new exit node, same session. Nice and sneaky.

It doesn’t magically make Windscribe invisible to every VPN detector — those use a cocktail of IP ranges, DNS signals, browser fingerprinting, and dark magic — but rotating your IP mid-session definitely screws with their tracking patterns. It disrupts session-based IP flagging and forces them to reanalyze every new connection.

So yeah, it makes the blockers’ jobs harder, but not impossible — just delightfully annoying for them.
 
8048ea49154589439445e1e891f45e3c.gif
 
I understand the use case here, but IP rotation could end up with more shared instances. Interesting that it is called a rotation because it is dynamic cycling, but I guess rotation is the same. Proxy services do this too, pending.

Blocker bots, as the AI called them. Geez, what a tone. Uhm, yeah, you will be handing them batches, and depending on the complexity, the system will know and associate. There are 'scripts' that do this, that would disconnect/reconnect through a pool, and this can be routed via a node, meaning that the client remains connected. There are home tinkerers who build clusters like these with RPis and the like. It is cool to do testing.

All that mumbling; a certain DNS service might not like this at all and could potentially deem it malicious. I had a chuckle at "dark magic", yeah...

Also, to add, changing IPs too rapidly while logged into a service might also give you a session warning or a lockout. Frequency control is important when using such an IP rotation service.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
Geez, what a tone.
Click to expand...
Yep, just like the staff and their press releases. Some fun, I just ignore when it gets irritating.

Fulcrum29 said:
Also, to add, changing IPs too rapidly while logged into a service might also give you a session warning or a lockout. Frequency control is important when using such an IP rotation service.
Click to expand...
From what I saw seems it's been released with manual control only, so no cycling.

Will need to be experimented with
 
What I don't get about the "pinning" - AFAIK these guys change their primary IP's from time to time, to shake off built up mass detection that develops over time. So pinning would only be of temp value then, yes?
 
Brian_G said:
What I don't get about the "pinning" - AFAIK these guys change their primary IP's from time to time, to shake off built up mass detection that develops over time. So pinning would only be of temp value then, yes?
Click to expand...
From the blog:

The Fine Print

IP Pinning works on a best-effort basis. Servers come and go, IPs get reassigned, and the internet occasionally does what it wants.

If your pinned IP disappears, just pick a new one. You’ll survi ve.
 
Windscribe actually engages with its users on GitHub:

github.com

New IP every N hours · Issue #272 · Windscribe/Desktop-App

As per title really, I would like to get a new IP every N hours. This sounds potentially like a reconnection, and I guess it can be achieved in a number of way like: Adding an option to reconnect t...
github.com github.com

I can't say the same about some others...
 
Not the cheapest of the VPNs but I like that it allows for unlimited connections.

I've subbed around November 2023 (annual) and have been lucky that my renewal each year has been $30, over the full-price, thanks to Black Friday promos.
 
LCBXX said:
Not the cheapest of the VPNs but I like that it allows for unlimited connections.
Click to expand...

Not really - supposed to be self-restricted to same household (or perhaps family as an alternative), no idea on the business front though.

I know as I asked their helpdesk, didn't want a potential abuse to be detected and cause a ban.
 
Brian_G said:
Not really - supposed to be self-restricted to same household (or perhaps family as an alternative), no idea on the business front though.

I know as I asked their helpdesk, didn't want a potential abuse to be detected and cause a ban.
Click to expand...
I've not had this restriction this end. It works with everyone I've shared my account with, regardless of where they are. I'd say it's active on about 7 devices at any given time.
 
I use http://mullvad.net/ They are pretty fast but I like the added functionality of their app. Their tunnel is quantum resistant. They can provide a special type of tunnel that is censorship resistant (to evade tech thats meant to block vpns) and they offer split tunneling (useful if you want to watch prime or something that doesnt normally allow VPNs).

Also, they record none of your personal data. They dont even record your name or email address (their account setup doesnt require a normal email login). There are many ways to pay including crypto.
 
w1z4rd said:
I use http://mullvad.net/ They are pretty fast but I like the added functionality of their app. Their tunnel is quantum resistant. They can provide a special type of tunnel that is censorship resistant (to evade tech thats meant to block vpns) and they offer split tunneling (useful if you want to watch prime or something that doesnt normally allow VPNs).

Also, they record none of your personal data. They dont even record your name or email address (their account setup doesnt require a normal email login). There are many ways to pay including crypto.
Click to expand...
Do they work with streaming services yet?
 
w1z4rd said:
I use http://mullvad.net/ They are pretty fast but I like the added functionality of their app. Their tunnel is quantum resistant. They can provide a special type of tunnel that is censorship resistant (to evade tech thats meant to block vpns) and they offer split tunneling (useful if you want to watch prime or something that doesnt normally allow VPNs).

Also, they record none of your personal data. They dont even record your name or email address (their account setup doesnt require a normal email login). There are many ways to pay including crypto.
Click to expand...
Windscribe has this as well.
 
Windscribe's Garry bot answer:


Alright, here’s the deal: sharing your Windscribe account with your household is technically fine within reason. We’re not corporate tyrants policing your living room — if it’s just your own devices, your spouse, maybe the kids’ iPads, go wild. You can use Windscribe on as many personal devices as you want.

However, the moment Aunt Petunia, your gym buddy, or “a friend from Discord” start hopping on, that’s account sharing — and that’s a big no-no. It violates our Terms of Service and can get your account permanently banned faster than Eskom drops the grid.

To summarize:
  • Personal use within one household = totally fine (reasonable usage expected).
  • Sharing with people outside your household or randoms = not fine, not allowed.
  • You need multiple accounts for a group or team? Check out ScribeForce, our multi-user plan that was literally built for that.
 
^^ Scary-clever that it knows enough about Eskom to joke with me :unsure:

Best retailer bot I've found so far.
 
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