Should a Christian use a VPN or is that sort of like lying?

[topher694]

It is amazing to me that this could even be considered a legitimate thing.

 

[literaryjoe]

As someone who has worked in cyber security for over 20 years, I can tell you definitively that Christians may use a VPN without any fear of sinning. On the other hand, a VPN may certainly be used in a sinful manner.

It's no different than food, fire, or sex (or anything, really). "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17 ESV) We cannot survive without food, fire, or sex (meaning the human race would end), and yet each of those can be used in both good ways and evil ways. It is no different with a VPN.

If you're using the free Wifi in a coffee shop or other public place, you better be using a VPN, otherwise, it is beyond simple to sniff your traffic simply by sitting on the same network. An individual under a repressive regime like China, needs to be able to use a VPN, just so that they are protected from unjust censorship. But, if you are intentionally using a VPN to get around paying for something, or to thwart licensing restrictions that apply to your country, this is sinful, since it is stealing.

But while we're on the topic of VPNs, please don't presume that they make you safe. This is sort of a complicated topic, and people presume their traffic is encrypted from end-to-end, when this is usually not the case. It's encrypted from your machine to the VPN server on the Internet, which then decrypts your traffic and sends it on to whatever the final destination is. The company providing the VPN server always has access to that traffic, if that server has been compromised (as happened to Nord VPN several months ago) someone else has access to that traffic too.

Also, on a related note, I would advise avoiding Avast (or AVG, same company) as they are not a trustworthy company. And always remember: nothing is free; you will pay with either time, money, or information. And in a digital economy, information is increasingly the most valuable one of those commodities.

Want to dig deeper into VPNs? ‎The Cyber Chronicles: S2-Episode Eight: VPNs, Yes or No? on Apple Podcasts

 

[PaulCyp1]

While I am not knowledgeable about VPNs, privacy is not contrary to Christian teaching.

 

[WanderedHome]

In my understanding, a VPN doesn’t connect your personal identity to the server, which is the whole point. So, if the government sees a VPN location, it is not going to say “John Smith from Chicago is connecting from London.” It just won’t say anything about John Smith. So you’re just not showing them all your cards. Even if you were outright lying, you’re still doing so for the greater good- to protect your identity from people who would potentially seek to harm you.

 

[Anthony2019]

Should we conceal things about ourselves we don't want others to know?

Well, I can't wash dishes if my life depended on it, but when I get visitors to my home, I don't want them seeing something like the Tower of Pisa emerging from my kitchen sink, but I want them to think that I am as tidy as Mary Poppins with everything looking spit-spot.

Life is full of people prying over our garden fences. But if they are looking over mine, I am going to be very careful at what kind of washing I am hanging out.

 

[ChetSinger]

I chose "It depends".

Can a VPN be used in an attempt to hide evil? Yes, and then I consider it to be lying.

But I use a VPN regularly in order to do my job. The world thinks I'm in Chicago, when I'm not. Do I care? No. In fact it's a little amusing to see google maps place me in downtown Chicago. My employer considers it a necessary data protection tool.

And a VPN is personally useful in protecting your security if you're using public wi-fi.

So I think it's a matter of the heart: why is it being used?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

As someone who has worked in cyber security for over 20 years, I can tell you definitively that Christians may use a VPN without any fear of sinning. On the other hand, a VPN may certainly be used in a sinful manner.

It's no different than food, fire, or sex (or anything, really). "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17 ESV) We cannot survive without food, fire, or sex (meaning the human race would end), and yet each of those can be used in both good ways and evil ways. It is no different with a VPN.

If you're using the free Wifi in a coffee shop or other public place, you better be using a VPN, otherwise, it is beyond simple to sniff your traffic simply by sitting on the same network. An individual under a repressive regime like China, needs to be able to use a VPN, just so that they are protected from unjust censorship. But, if you are intentionally using a VPN to get around paying for something, or to thwart licensing restrictions that apply to your country, this is sinful, since it is stealing.

But while we're on the topic of VPNs, please don't presume that they make you safe. This is sort of a complicated topic, and people presume their traffic is encrypted from end-to-end, when this is usually not the case. It's encrypted from your machine to the VPN server on the Internet, which then decrypts your traffic and sends it on to whatever the final destination is. The company providing the VPN server always has access to that traffic, if that server has been compromised (as happened to Nord VPN several months ago) someone else has access to that traffic too.

Also, on a related note, I would advise avoiding Avast (or AVG, same company) as they are not a trustworthy company. And always remember: nothing is free; you will pay with either time, money, or information. And in a digital economy, information is increasingly the most valuable one of those commodities.

Want to dig deeper into VPNs? ‎The Cyber Chronicles: S2-Episode Eight: VPNs, Yes or No? on Apple Podcasts

Thank you for your input.
What is the best anti virus software for a Mac instead of Avast?
Is there a VPN out there that merely announces the location as being called: "Hidden" to hackers instead of naming a false location?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

While I am not knowledgeable about VPNs, privacy is not contrary to Christian teaching.

Not against privacy. I am just against the idea of having to announce to others who can see me online as me telling them I am in a different location then the one I am actually in. If there is a VPN that merely said, "Location Hidden" or "Location Encrypted" I would be fine with a VPN (If such a VPN exists).

 

[redleghunter]

The Covenant Eyes app uses a VPN. So I’m all for it.

Isn’t there a site rule here that one cannot register on CF using a VPN? But once registered it is fine to use one?

 

[chilehed]

Assuming your online behavior is licit, no one has a right to know where you are so there's nothing wrong with not letting them know.

If you're using it to, e.g., keep the police from finding you because you're breaking a just law, then that's a problem.

 

[Isilwen]

Not against privacy. I am just against the idea of having to announce to others who can see me online as me telling them I am in a different location then the one I am actually in. If there is a VPN that merely said, "Location Hidden" or "Location Encrypted" I would be fine with a VPN (If such a VPN exists).

I'm not sure there is.

 

[redleghunter]

I just ask you not to shame or guilt others out of using them (which, by the way, i'm not saying you're doing.) I won't shame or guilt you out of your understanding of lying, either. In fact, I appreciate your question a lot.

It’s what “good” Pharisees do.

 

[Hammster]

Isn’t there a site rule here that one cannot register on CF using a VPN? But once registered it is fine to use one?

It’s not quite nailed down.

 

[redleghunter]

If using VPN is lying then our persecuted brethren in Saudi Arabia and China would be guilty. So no it is not lying to protect your family and church. I don’t even know how “lying” is being used here. People do try to hide their IP to conduct criminal activities. However, if the intent is to protect your identity and home systems from intrusion and malware then the intent is moral.

So the question is about the moral and protective use. If someone is using porn hub then the motive is not moral.

 

[redleghunter]

It’s not quite nailed down.

I can see how it could cause problems.

 

[Hammster]

I can see how it could cause problems.

If we think you’re bypassing a ban, and you are using a vpn, it’s an issue.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

It’s what “good” Pharisees do.

Thank you. I will rejoice in God my Savior.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

VPN is not lying, VPN is hiding your IP behind a public server.

You connect to the server and the server connects to the website.

This hides what you are doing on the internet from your provider, government etc.

Again, watch the video.
A VPN generally is used to say a person is in a different location that they really are not in.
What if a man lied to his wife about where he was at on the phone?
What is the difference between these two things?
Telling others online that you are in a different location is lying in my view.
Now, if your location was simply cloaked, then that would be a different thing.

 

[Hammster]

Again, watch the video.
A VPN generally is used to say a person is in a different location that they really are not in.
What if a man lied to his wife about where he was at on the phone?
What is the difference between these two things?
Telling others online that you are in a different location is lying in my view.
Now, if your location was simply cloaked, then that would be a different thing.

Lying is a sin. Using a vpn to lie is a sin. Using a vpn isn’t a sin.

 

[Isilwen]

Again, watch the video.
A VPN generally is used to say a person is in a different location that they really are not in.
What if a man lied to his wife about where he was at on the phone?
What is the difference between these two things?
Telling others online that you are in a different location is lying in my view.
Now, if your location was simply cloaked, then that would be a different thing.

You are taking it a little too far.

Others have given the reasons why it is not as you said. Can it be used to win, sure so can anything else we use, including the Bible. It's the intent behind it.

If you're doing it to keep your wife in the dark, that is a sin, but keeping your computer and life safely hidden sure isn't.