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VPN Providers Report Huge Increase In Downloads, Usage Since Privacy Rules Were Repealed (ibtimes.com)
An anonymous reader writes: A number of major VPN providers reported a significant increase in subscriptions, downloads, and traffic from Americans since the U.S. Congress voted to repeal the Broadband Consumer Privacy Rules that would have mandated internet service providers get user permission before collecting information. The International Business Times reports that "several popular VPN providers reported a more than 50 percent increase in downloads." VPN provider ExpressVPN said they "experienced a 105 percent increase in traffic from the U.S. and a 97 percent spike in sales" since the repeal. Additionally, "KeepSolid, the New York-based company behind VPNUnlimited, noted a 32 percent increase in purchases and growth of 49 percent in total downloads," reports IBT. "The company also reports having a considerable amount of increased engagement via social media regarding user privacy." Have you taken any privacy measures since Congress voted to repeal ISP privacy rules? If you use a VPN, which provider do you recommend and why?
The privacy rules WERE NEVER IN EFFECT
But repealing them shows an intent, and there is some rationale to react to just that.
Exactly. It was one thing when internet providers new that the rule was coming, because it wasn't worth the investment in a program that would soon be canceled. Now that the rule has been canceled, you can be 100% certain that Comcast and its ilk will be monetizing you in every way they can, disingenuous statements about not selling your data be damned. (Of course they're not selling the actual browsing histories of their users, because they'd be selling the keys to the kingdom. What they'll sell is customized reports on your browsing behavior. The report on you that your medical insurance company buys will be different from the one that your would-be next employer buys, because they'll both be interested in different things.