Slashdot Mirror
Ask Slashdot: VPN Service For a Deployed US Navy Ship?
shinjikun34 writes "I am currently stationed on a U.S. Navy ship deployed in a country with restrictive internet policies. We are currently in the process of setting up an entertainment internet connection for the crew to use in their downtime. I suggested (and was thereby tasked with finding) a VPN service that would support 100 to 500 devices, have an end point inside the continental United States, be reasonably priced, and secure/trustworthy. Something that is safe to use for banking and other financial affairs. Ideally, it would be fast enough to support several VoIP calls (Skype, Google Voice, etc) along side online gaming, with possible movie/music streaming. It will need an end point in the U.S. to allow for use of Google Books, Netflix, Hulu, and other services that restrict access based on region. I, in all honesty, have no idea where to begin searching, and I ask the good folks of Slashdot to aid me in my quest. One of the main requirements I was given is that the company has to be trustworthy. And it has to be a company — computer in someone's closet hosting a VPN isn't acceptable to the Navy. What services would Slashdot recommend? (I understand that our connection without a VN probably won't be able to handle the described load, but I would prefer a VN service that offers capacity above our need. That way when T/S'ing the connection, the VPN can be at least partially ruled out.)"
Doesn't the navy has its own Internet structure? Or may you not use that?
Then respect the laws of that country and don't try to bypass their Internet policies.
Foreign laws don't apply on an American warship, which are considered US territory. I learned this in a very practical sense many decades ago, when I was on an LPH in the South China Sea. We picked up a load of Vietnamese boat people, including a pregnant women. During the stress of the transfer she went into labor, and the baby was born on the deck of our ship. When we returned to Subic Bay, all the refugees were transferred to a refugee camp. Except the woman and her baby. They were taken to the US Naval Hospital, and then flown to the USA. Since the baby had been born on the deck of an American warship (US Territory) it was an American citizen, not a refugee.
We are happy to provide you free VPN termination for your needs. You're welcome to have us
checked out. US owned, operated, our CEO is the son of a service person, and we support our
armed forces. Contact sales@login.com and we'll set up whatever GRE/IPSEC/other VPN you
want.
Thank you for your service.
Ehud Gavron
Login, Inc.
Tucson AZ US
This VPN sounds like the perfect service for moles to transmit their findings.
I agree with all those before me that said this is a troll. I would use my real account, but that may get me into hot water.
First off, you are in no legal position to be enabling a VPN from a US Naval Vessel to any location. Not even to your own home port of call.
Second off, if you do this, you deserve to be courtmartialed. So does your commanding officer.
Third, I have worked in various NOCs for the DoD. While the majority of the contractor setups are screwed up in some fashion, there are those of us who DO know our shit, and we will ensure that you are thrown in the brig or the stockade ever so swiftly.
You think we don't know what you do while you are on that ship? SERIOUSLY?
This post is a fishing trip. The poster is trying to get responses from people in the military that have already done what he seeks, and once he knows what unauthorized networks are being used, he can then locate them and attack them.
After numerous wikileaks excursions, there is no way the government is actually allowing this sort of network on-board ships. This might actually BE the government sniffing out potential leak sources. If any of you troops are considering answering this guy with factual information, think twice, then thrice.
it's going to have to share the same satellite link for example
The whole point of this is to avoid the satellite link. He's probably in port, where he can just toss a cable from the ship to the dock. At worst he's close enough to shore for a WiMax link. I'm betting he's in port. He probably also has temporary connections for power, water, and sewer. It's probably like an RV hook-up at an RV campground.
I'm betting this comes out of some morale/entertainment budget. They couldn't afford Madonna, they aren't allowed to use that budget for hookers or alcohol, and thus... the internet.