Coder Legion - Recent posts tagged internet-tips

What Is a Travel Router and How Does It Make Travel Easier?

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:59:46 +0000

You're checked into a hotel after a long day of travel. You open your laptop to catch up on work, and the Wi-Fi is painfully slow. It kicks you off every 20 minutes, makes you log in through a clunky portal, and only allows one device to connect at a time. Sound familiar? Many travelers face this problem of slow, unreliable, or limited public Wi-Fi on every trip, whether they stay at budget hostels, mid-range business hotels, Airbnbs, or airport lounges. A travel router can solve all of these issues, but surprisingly few people know what one is or that they even need one.

What Is a Travel Router?

A travel router is a small, portable networking device that usually fits in your pocket. It takes an existing internet connection and rebroadcasts it as your own private, password-protected Wi-Fi network. Think of it as a personal mini router you carry in your bag.

Unlike bulky home routers, travel routers are lightweight, often weighing under 100 grams. They are compact enough to fit in your palm and can be set up in under 2 minutes. Typically, they connect to a hotel's wired Ethernet port or existing Wi-Fi signal, turning it into a private hotspot that all your devices can join at once.

"A travel router doesn’t provide its own internet; it uses whatever connection is available and makes it yours. It’s private, secure, and shared across all your devices."

How Does a Travel Router Work?

Most travel routers operate in a few different modes depending on what kind of connection is available to you:

Router Mode is the most common setup. The router plugs directly into a wired Ethernet port and creates a new Wi-Fi network. This works well for hotels that provide Ethernet cables in rooms.
Repeater or Extender Mode connects to an existing Wi-Fi signal and rebroadcasts it with a stronger, more stable output. This is useful in places with weak hotel Wi-Fi, Airbnbs, or remote lodges where the signal barely reaches your room.
Access Point Mode takes a wired internet connection and turns it into a wireless network. This is great for conference centers, co-working spaces, or any venue that offers only wired connectivity.
Tethering or Bridge Mode allows the router to share your phone's mobile data as a stable Wi-Fi network that multiple devices can connect to at the same time. This is especially handy in rural areas or when traveling internationally with a local SIM card.

Once you set it up, every device you own, like your phone, tablet, laptop, e-reader, and smart TV stick, connects to your travel router's network instead of the hotel’s. You only need to go through the hotel login portal once. After that, everything just works.

Why Do Travelers Actually Need One?

Here's the honest truth: most people don’t realize they need a travel router until they have a terrible experience without one. Here are the real problems it solves:

1. The One-Device Limit Problem

Many hotels, especially older ones, limit free Wi-Fi to one device per room or charge extra for each device. A travel router gets around this. The hotel sees one device (the router itself), while your router connects all your gadgets at the same time.

2. Hotel Wi-Fi Instability

Hotel networks are shared among dozens or hundreds of guests. Speeds slow down, connections drop, and bandwidth gets crowded during busy times. Connecting through a travel router in repeater mode can strengthen your signal and provide a more stable experience, especially if your room is far from the hotel’s access points.

3. The Security Risk of Public Wi-Fi

Open hotel and café networks are often vulnerable to packet sniffing and man-in-the-middle attacks. When you connect directly to an open public Wi-Fi, your traffic is exposed. A travel router creates a private, encrypted network layer between you and the public network. This greatly reduces your risk, especially when used with a VPN.

Security Tip

Always set a strong custom password on your travel router's network.
Use a VPN alongside your travel router for maximum privacy.
Disable WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) if your router supports it. It's a known vulnerability.
Change the default admin login credentials on your router before your first trip.

Captive portals, those forced "click to accept terms" login pages, are fine once. But when you have five devices, you end up clicking through that portal five times. With a travel router, you log in once through its interface, and every connected device gets internet access automatically. No repeated logins, no re-authentication every few hours.

5. International Roaming Costs

Traveling abroad with multiple devices? International data roaming on multiple devices can get expensive fast. A travel router lets you insert a local SIM into routers that support it or share a single hotspot from your phone across all devices without draining your phone's battery as much as direct hotspot tethering does.

What to Look For When Choosing a Travel Router

Not all travel routers are equal. Here are the most important factors to consider before buying:

Size & Weight: Look for something under 100g and no larger than a deck of cards. It should easily fit in a jacket pocket or tech pouch.
Speed & Standards: At a minimum, look for support for Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). Wi-Fi 6 models are available and offer faster speeds if you often stream or make video calls.
Power Source: USB-powered models are great for travel since they can run off a power bank. Some have a built-in battery, which adds more options.
VPN Support: Choose a router that supports OpenVPN or WireGuard at the router level. This will protect all devices at once without needing to install individual apps.
Multiple Modes: Modes like router, repeater, access point, and tethering offer flexibility for all types of places you'll stay.
SIM Card Slot: Some travel routers accept a SIM card directly, making them very useful as standalone hotspots abroad with a local data SIM.

Who Benefits Most From a Travel Router?

While anyone can benefit from one, travel routers are especially worth it for:

Remote workers and digital nomads need stable internet connections to make calls, upload files, or work on multiple screens. A dropped connection during a meeting is not just frustrating; it’s a serious issue.
Families traveling together often require multiple devices to connect at the same time without paying hotel fees for each device. It’s common for parents to stream a show for their kids while using a laptop. A travel router handles this situation easily.
Frequent business travelers often stay in hotels with only Ethernet connections or unreliable shared Wi-Fi. Many corporate hotels still prefer wired connections, and a travel router can turn that single Ethernet port into Wi-Fi for all your devices.
Privacy-conscious travelers want to protect their data on shared networks. If you do online banking, access sensitive work systems, or simply prefer not to expose your online activity on open networks, having that extra security is truly valuable.

Are There Any Downsides?

In fairness, travel routers aren't perfect for everyone. A few honest caveats:

They don't create the internet out of thin air. If the hotel's connection is fundamentally slow, your router won't magically fix the upstream bandwidth. It can optimize and stabilize, but speed is ultimately capped by the source.
There's also a minor setup curve for first-time users. Most modern travel routers have companion apps and simple web interfaces, but if you're not comfortable with basic network settings, the initial configuration might feel daunting. That said, most people get it running within 10–15 minutes on the first try.
Finally, budget models can have weak antennae and limited range. If you're in a large suite or a space with thick walls, a cheap travel router may not broadcast reliably to every corner of the room.

The Bottom Line

A travel router is one of those quiet, unglamorous pieces of gear that you don't think about until you desperately need it, and then you wonder how you ever traveled without it. It solves real, recurring frustrations: device limits, insecure public networks, captive portal fatigue, and unstable hotel connections. For anyone who travels with multiple devices, works remotely, or simply values a stable, private internet connection on the road, it's a genuinely practical investment.

You don't need to spend a fortune either. A solid mid-range travel router runs between $40–$80 and pays for itself the first time you avoid a per-device hotel Wi-Fi charge or the first time you finish a video call without dropping the connection mid-sentence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a travel router improve Wi-Fi speed?

A travel router can improve your effective speed in certain situations, for example, by picking up a stronger signal when used in repeater mode or by giving you a dedicated private channel instead of fighting for bandwidth on a crowded shared network. However, it cannot exceed the speed cap of the original internet connection it's borrowing from. If the hotel's line is slow, the router will distribute that slow connection more reliably but won't generate additional bandwidth.

Is a travel router the same as a mobile hotspot?

No, they serve different purposes. A mobile hotspot creates an internet connection from a cellular data plan and broadcasts it as Wi-Fi; it needs its own data connection. A travel router takes an existing wired or wireless internet connection (like hotel Wi-Fi or an Ethernet port) and creates a private network from it. Some travel routers also have a SIM card slot, combining both functions, but they are fundamentally different tools. A mobile hotspot generates connectivity; a travel router redistributes it.

Can a travel router be used with a VPN?

Yes, and this combination is one of the most compelling reasons to own a travel router. Many travel routers, particularly those running open-source firmware such as OpenWrt or GL.iNet's software, support VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard) at the router level. This means every device connected to your travel router is automatically routed through the VPN, without needing to install or activate a VPN app individually on each device. It's a significant time-saver and a much cleaner security setup for frequent travelers.

Do travel routers work in hotels that use captive portals?

Yes, and handling captive portals is one of their most useful features. When you first connect the travel router to hotel Wi-Fi, you complete the captive portal login through the router's admin interface. After that one-time authentication, all devices connected to your router automatically get internet access. The hotel's system sees only the router's single MAC address, so you're not forced to log in separately on each device or re-authenticate every time you switch between your phone, laptop, and tablet.

What is the best travel router to buy in 2026?

BeingOptimist Social Media Bio Generator

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:33:35 +0000

BeingOptimist Social Media Bio Generator is an AI-powered tool that helps creators, professionals, and brands generate engaging, platform-ready bios in seconds. Just add a few details about your niche, tone, and audience to get clear, personalized bio ideas for Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and more.

Social Media Bio Generator

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:47:09 +0000

Generate professional, creative, and platform-specific social media bios in seconds. Use this free Social Media bio generator for Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

Free Social Media Content Planner Tool

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:04:12 +0000

Create, organize, and schedule 30 days of social media content in just a few minutes with this free social media content planner tool, designed to help creators, freelancers, and small businesses stay consistent without burning hours every week on ideas and planning.

Best Time to Post on Social Media Tool

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:49:15 +0000

This free tool converts your audience’s peak activity hours into your own time zone, so you can see the best local times to post on each social platform and maximize engagement without any manual time‑zone math.

What Is Nomad Internet? Everything You Need to Know

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:40:59 +0000

Can You Really Stay Connected While Traveling?

Imagine driving your RV, working from a seaside café, or hiking mountain trails, only to find you have no reliable internet. For many digital nomads, traveling professionals, or adventure seekers, this is a real issue. Staying connected is essential, whether for work, streaming, navigation, or just keeping in touch with friends and family.

This is where Nomad Internet comes in. But what is it, and how does it function? If you've ever wondered if you can have fast, reliable internet without being tied to a home connection, you're in the right spot. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Nomad Internet, including how it functions, its benefits, setup options, and key points to think about before picking a provider.

What Is Nomad Internet?

Nomad Internet means internet solutions created for people who are always on the move. Unlike traditional home internet, which depends on a fixed point, Nomad Internet is portable and flexible. It allows users to access high-speed internet wherever they go, whether that’s within cities, across states, or even internationally.

Key features of Nomad Internet include:

Portability: The Internet goes wherever you go.
Versatility: Works with multiple devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Independence: No need for long-term contracts tied to a physical address.

It’s no surprise that this type of service has surged in popularity among travelers, remote workers, and RV owners.

How Does Nomad Internet Work?

Nomad Internet works through several technologies depending on your location and needs:

1. Mobile Hotspots

Mobile hotspots use cellular data networks to create a personal Wi-Fi connection. These devices are compact, portable, and easy to set up. You just insert a carrier SIM card, turn on the hotspot, and connect your devices.

2. Satellite Internet

For remote areas where cellular networks don’t exist, satellite internet is a major advancement. A small dish or terminal connects to satellites orbiting the Earth, offering coverage in places traditional networks cannot reach.

3. MiFi Devices

MiFi devices mix the portability of hotspots with added features like multiple device connections, longer battery life, and stronger signals. These are perfect for travelers needing steady internet for work or streaming

4. Cellular Data Plans

Some Nomad Internet services offer SIM cards or data plans aimed specifically at travelers. They often function across several carriers or countries, reducing the need for multiple subscriptions.

Who Should Use Nomad Internet?

Not everyone needs Nomad Internet, but it’s perfect for people who:

Work remotely and travel frequently
Own an RV or camper and spend nights on the road
Spend time in rural or off-grid areas
Rely on a stable internet for streaming or gaming
Want freedom from traditional ISP contracts

Even casual travelers who occasionally need reliable connectivity find Nomad Internet invaluable.

Benefits of Nomad Internet

Choosing Nomad Internet can transform your digital experience. Here are some advantages:

1. Flexibility and Freedom

Nomad Internet removes the boundaries of location-based connections. You can work, study, or stream from anywhere with a signal.

2. Reliable Connectivity on the Move

Unlike public Wi-Fi, which can be insecure or unreliable, Nomad Internet offers private networks with consistent speeds.

3. Scalability for Multiple Devices

Most solutions support multiple devices at once, ensuring your laptop, smartphone, and tablet stay connected simultaneously.

4. No Long-Term Contracts

Many providers offer monthly plans without locking you into yearly commitments, which is ideal for temporary stays or seasonal travel.

5. Cost-Effective Alternatives

While some options, such as satellite internet, may appear costly, they often save money compared to frequent hotel Wi-Fi fees, co-working space expenses, or international roaming charges.

How to Choose the Right Nomad Internet Solution

Choosing the best option depends on your needs, travel style, and budget. Here’s what to consider:

Coverage Area: Check if the service works in the areas you plan to visit. Satellite internet works almost everywhere, while cellular hotspots may have limitations.
Speed and Data Limits: Providers offer varying speeds and data caps. Consider how much streaming, uploading, or video conferencing you plan to do.
Device Compatibility: Ensure the device works with your laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Some services also allow simultaneous connections for multiple devices.
Setup and Portability: A compact, lightweight device is ideal for travelers. Some satellite solutions may require more equipment, so portability is a key factor.
Cost: Compare plans to find a balance between speed, coverage, and monthly fees. Nomad Internet can range from affordable hotspots to premium satellite services.

Popular Nomad Internet Options

Some of the most reliable options include:

Mobile hotspots from carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile
UbiFi portable internet solutions for remote and mobile connectivity
Nomad-specific satellite providers such as Starlink RV or Viasat
Portable MiFi devices that work with multiple carriers
Prepaid international SIMs for cross-border travel

Each option has its own strengths, so it’s worth evaluating based on your travel frequency and connectivity requirements.

Tips for Maximizing Nomad Internet Performance

Place Devices Strategically: In satellite setups, line of sight to the sky is crucial. In cellular hotspots, higher-elevation areas improve signal strength.
Monitor Data Usage: Many portable solutions have data limits. Tracking usage prevents unexpected overage fees.
Secure Your Connection: Always use a strong password for hotspots and consider a VPN to protect sensitive data.
Update Devices Regularly: Keep firmware and apps up to date to maintain stable performance and security.

Conclusion: Stay Connected, No Matter Where Life Takes You

Nomad Internet is more than a convenience; it’s a solution for a lifestyle without limits. Whether you’re a full-time traveler, remote worker, or weekend adventurer, reliable internet is now available almost anywhere. By learning about the various technologies, benefits, and setup options, you can pick the solution that helps you stay productive, entertained, and connected wherever your journey takes you.

With the right Nomad Internet service, you won’t have to sacrifice your digital life for the sake of mobility. It’s freedom, convenience, and connectivity, all in one portable package.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the difference between Nomad Internet and traditional home internet?

Nomad Internet is portable and works on the go, whereas traditional home internet is tied to a fixed location.

2. Can I use Nomad Internet while traveling internationally?

Yes. Many providers offer international SIMs or satellite options that work across borders.

3. Is satellite internet better than mobile hotspots?

It depends on the location. Satellite works almost anywhere, but mobile hotspots often offer faster speeds in urban areas.

4. How many devices can I connect to Nomad Internet?

Most solutions support multiple devices, but limits vary by provider. Check specifications before purchase.

5. Do I need technical skills to set up Nomad Internet?

No. Most services are user-friendly and require minimal setup, especially mobile hotspots and MiFi devices.

The Discreet Lives of Apps

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:25:21 +0000

Ever wonder how your phone streams Netflix, checks email, refreshes social media, and syncs your weather app—all at the same time—without mixing everything up? It feels like magic. But under the hood, your operating system is quietly running a well-organized show with something called ports.

Think of apps like secret agents living in the same embassy (your phone). Every time they “phone home” across the internet, they need a unique badge number that proves who they are. That badge number? It’s the port.

1. The Secret Identities of Your Apps

When an app sends data out into the internet, it doesn’t just say, “Hey, I’m Instagram!” Instead, it uses a port number, like 80 or 443, to signal how the data should be handled.

Port 80: the old-school door for unencrypted web traffic (HTTP).
Port 443: the secure, encrypted door for HTTPS traffic.

Without ports, it would be like a hundred spies all whispering in the same room—pure chaos. With ports, everyone knows whose message is whose.

Fun Facts

Port 443 handles over 80% of all web traffic today—that’s like being the busiest checkout lane in a store that never closes.
Tech culture nicknames ports too: Port 666 is sometimes called “doom” (after the video game), and 1337 spells leet in hacker speak.

2. The OS: Master Connection Handler

Behind the curtain, your operating system (OS) is the spymaster. It hands out ports, tracks who’s using what, and makes sure your Netflix stream doesn’t collide with your WhatsApp call.

This coordination happens through sockets—temporary pipelines that connect apps to the network.

Imagine the OS as a phone operator in the 1950s, manually plugging cables into switchboards. Only today, the switchboard is digital, lightning-fast, and juggling thousands of lines at once.

Fun Facts

Your phone can theoretically handle 65,000+ simultaneous connections—basically, holding a conversation with an entire stadium of people.
Even in normal use, your phone might juggle 50–100 ports just for background refreshes, social media, and emails.

3. Why Port 443 Took Over the Internet

Port 443 isn’t just another door; it’s the secure door. It became popular because it supports SSL/TLS encryption, the tech behind HTTPS.

Why does that matter? Well, the difference between browsing over Port 80 (HTTP) and Port 443 (HTTPS) is like whispering your bank password loudly in public versus using a sealed envelope with your name on it.

Fun Facts

The “s” in https:// was such a game-changer that Google actually ranks HTTPS sites higher in search results.
Today, Netflix alone probably generates more 443 traffic in a day than the entire internet did in 1995.

4. Ephemeral Ports: The Mall Parking Spaces

Here’s where things get clever. Your phone doesn’t just use ports like 80 and 443. It also creates temporary ports, called ephemeral ports, to handle unique conversations.

Think of them as parking spots in a busy shopping mall. You drive in, park for a while, leave, and the spot becomes available for someone else.

So when your browser connects to https://example.com on port 443, your OS might assign your app a temporary local port (say, 49152). The site knows you by this parking spot, while the OS ensures you don’t collide with another app’s connection.

Fun Facts

Your computer can create and destroy thousands of ephemeral ports per minute without you noticing.
It’s one of the quietest but most important juggling acts your device performs.

5. Local vs. Internet Ports: What’s the Difference?

Not all ports are global superstars like 80 and 443. Some are local ports, used by developers and apps running just on your machine.

For example:

8080: A common “backup” web port, often used for local testing.
5555: Frequently used by Android devices for debugging.
25565: Used by Minecraft servers so friends can connect.

These local ports are like service entrances in a building—different from the front doors (like 80 and 443) that face the internet. They help apps communicate internally or set up test servers without colliding with the main network highways.

Fun Facts

Port 8080 is so common it’s basically the internet’s “Plan B” when 80 is busy.
Gamers literally “open ports” to create digital doorways for friends to join matches.

6. Why All This Matters

From your perspective, it’s seamless. You just tap Instagram, join a Zoom call, or watch Netflix, and it all “just works.” But under the hood, your OS is running a high-stakes logistics game: handing out ports, securing them, and reusing them efficiently.

And while it feels invisible, understanding ports is the first step to understanding how the internet truly works—and why security and efficiency go hand in hand.

Bonus Fun Facts

Hackers often scan for open ports like burglars checking for unlocked windows—that’s why firewalls are critical.
If Port 443 traffic were a highway, it would need about 50 lanes to handle rush-hour internet traffic.

Want to Learn More?

Bypassing Internet Censorship Using SSH

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 10:44:13 +0000

As censorship systems like GFW(Great Firewall of China) and Roskomnadzor(Russia's Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology) have evolved, people have fought back and developed numerous tools, methods, and protocols to bypass these firewalls and connect to the open and free internet that most people know.

Among these protocols, there is an underrated protocol named SSH, which happens to be my favorite. SSH has been developed as a secure remote shell protocol, offering features that lie somewhere between Telnet and FTP. It enables communication with your server, execution of commands, file transfer, acting as a DNS server, and port forwarding.

SSH is both a critical and uncommon protocol when it comes to bypassing censorship. The cost of blocking this protocol is significant due to its extensive usage for managing Linux and other Unix-like servers, as well as its being used in SFTP, a secure version of FTP that relies on SSH for encryption. Also, it is not worth the time and resources to block SSH since fewer people use it to bypass censorship compared to protocols like VLESS, VMESS, and others that operate over TLS or QUIC.

The feature we will be using to bypass censorship is Dynamic Port Forwarding, also known as SSH tunneling. It enables you to establish an encrypted connection to a remote server running an SSH server, which can be used as a proxy for your network traffic. By routing your network requests through the established SSH connection, it provides a secure and encrypted tunnel for your communication.

Requirements

To use SSH dynamic port forwarding, you need a server running an SSH server and an SSH client that supports dynamic port forwarding. On Linux and most Unix-like systems, you can find the OpenSSH package, which acts as both the server and client and supports dynamic port forwarding. In many cases, OpenSSH is already installed by default on desktop machines and is always present on servers. To check if SSH is installed on your machine, run the following command:

ssh -V

If the command returns the OpenSSH version, it means you already have it on your machine. If it is not installed, search for instructions on installing OpenSSH specific to your distribution. On Windows, it may be more complicated, and you might need to install additional software like RespiteVPN or NetMod. I don't know much about Windows.

For the server, you can buy a cheap Linux VPS from websites that accept cryptocurrencies like mvps.net if you prefer to make an anonymous purchase. Alternatively, you can buy it from cloud hosting providers such as DigitalOcean or Hetzner.

Setting it Up

Once you have your server, it's time to proceed with the setup. To do this, you need to connect to your server using SSH with the username and password provided by the provider or reseller from whom you purchased the VPS.

ssh username@ip -p port

The port is optional. Most servers run SSH on port 22, which is the default port for SSH. If you don't specify a port, it will automatically attempt to connect to port 22.

Creating Users

Once we have successfully logged in to our server with our privileged user (root), we create a new user to disable root access and enhance security against brute force attacks. This user will have sudo privileges for server management. Additionally, we create a separate user with restricted access specifically for dynamic port forwarding. This allows us to grant access to friends and family without compromising the security of our server.

To create the privileged user, run the following command:

useradd username -m -g sudo

Set a password for the privileged user:

passwd username

Next, create the non-privileged user for dynamic port forwarding:

useradd tunnel_user -s /bin/rbash

Set a password for the non-privileged user:

passwd tunnel_user

For the non-privileged user, I have used the Restricted Bash (rbash) as the default shell. However, you can also utilize the BlackHole shell that I developed in my previous post.

Setting up SSHD

Next, we need to modify the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file to allow specific ports and disable root access to our server. You can use any command-line-based text editor of your choice, such as vim, vi, neo-vim, emacs, or nano. Use the editor that you are most comfortable with.

To open additional ports other than port 22, which is commonly targeted by censorship probes, add the following lines at the end of the file:

PermitRootLogin no
Port 8443
Port 2023

In this example, I have disabled root login and opened two additional ports (8443 and 2023). You can add more ports as needed.

After editing the file, you may need to allow the newly added ports through the firewall. Use the following commands to allow the ports:

ufw allow 8443/tcp
ufw allow 2023/tcp

Blocking unauthorized access

For additional security, we can set up fail2ban to block unauthorized attempts to our server. The installation process depends on the operating system and distribution of your VPS. If you are using Ubuntu or an Ubuntu-based distribution, you can install the fail2ban package by running the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install fail2ban

Once installed, fail2ban will set up the necessary background services automatically.

Next, you'll need to create the configuration file at /etc/fail2ban/jail.local. To do this, simply copy the default configuration file:

cp /etc/fail2ban/jail.conf /etc/fail2ban/jail.local

The default settings are generally reasonable, but if you need to make any changes, you can edit the /etc/fail2ban/jail.local file.

After creating the configuration file, restart the fail2ban service and check if it is running properly:

sudo systemctl restart fail2ban.service
sudo systemctl status fail2ban.service

The output should resemble the following:

● fail2ban.service - Fail2Ban Service
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/fail2ban.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Tue 2023-06-20 12:39:33 CEST; 3 weeks 5 days ago
       Docs: man:fail2ban(1)
   Main PID: 4218 (f2b/server)
      Tasks: 5 (limit: 1074)
     Memory: 20.8M
     CGroup: /system.slice/fail2ban.service
             └─4218 /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/fail2ban-server -xf start

Speeding it Up

To improve the speed of our SSH tunnel, we can enable TCP BBR (Bottleneck Bandwidth and Round-trip time), which is a congestion control algorithm developed by Google to enhance network performance and bandwidth utilization.

To enable TCP BBR, you can execute the following commands:

sudo sh -c 'echo "net.core.default_qdisc=fq" >> /etc/sysctl.conf'
sudo sh -c 'echo "net.ipv4.tcp_congestion_control=bbr" >> /etc/sysctl.conf'
sudo sysctl -p

Enabling TCP BBR can significantly enhance the performance of the TCP connection.

Connecting to it

After completing the setup process, we can proceed to connect to our server and bypass censorship. Connecting is quite simple, requiring only one command:

ssh non_privileged_username@ip -p 2023 -qD 2080

This command will create a SOCKS5 proxy on localhost or 127.0.0.1 with port 2080, which we can use to establish a connection. In a future post, I will explain how to set up an OpenVPN over SSH.

Enable compression

If you have a slower network connection, you can enable SSH compression to reduce bandwidth usage and potentially speed up your connection. To enable SSH compression, simply add the -C switch when connecting:

ssh non_privileged_username@ip -p 2023 -qCD 2080

By enabling SSH compression, the data transmitted over the SSH connection will be compressed, resulting in reduced bandwidth usage.

Automatically reconnect

If you have a connection that frequently disconnects, you can use the autossh tool to automatically reconnect when a disconnection occurs. To install autossh, you can search for the installation guide for your specific distribution.

Once autossh is installed, you can use it as follows:

autossh -M 0 non_privileged_username@ip -p 2023 -qCD 2080

The -M 0 option disables the monitoring of the connection, allowing autossh to continuously attempt to reconnect in case of disconnection. This helps to maintain a persistent SSH tunnel for your bypassing needs.

As always, the entire blog is available on my GitHub, and I would greatly appreciate it if you could point out any inaccuracies, grammatical errors, technical mistakes, or simply give it a star. Your feedback and contributions are valuable to me.

Cookies and Your Privacy: A Guide for Non-Technical Users

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 00:55:49 +0000

Introduction

Users often find it frustrating when websites prompt them to accept or reject cookies. These seemingly Ever-present pop-ups can interrupt the browsing experience, yet they serve a crucial role in personalizing and optimizing how we interact with websites. While cookies are designed to enhance your online experience by remembering preferences, login details, and helping sites load faster, have you ever wondered what those consent options really mean? In this article, we’ll explore the role of cookies in web browsing, explain the different types, and uncover what happens when you accept or reject them. Let’s dive in and clarify the details behind those cookie prompts.

What Are Cookies And How Does it Work?

Beyond being a tasty treat, cookies were introduced in 1994 by Lou Montulli at Netscape to address the lack of memory in HTTP, allowing websites to remember information like login status or preferences. Cookies on websites are small pieces of data stored on your device (like your phone or computer) when you visit a site. They help the website remember things about you to improve your experience or enable certain features. Cookies can also allow website owners to track exactly how many unique visitors they're getting to their website because each cookie has its own unique ID.

For instance, when you visit an e-commerce website for the first time, it places a cookie on your device containing a unique identification code. This ID helps the website track your session, which refers to your entire visit from start to finish. The cookie's purpose is to remember details like the items you added to your shopping cart or the products you viewed, allowing the site to enhance your experience by suggesting similar items.

These are called First-party cookies or Session cookies, created by the website you're actively visiting. Sounds helpful, right? Who wouldn’t want a website to do all this? So, should we just accept every cookie request without hesitation? Hold on... let’s think this through!

While first-party cookies enhance your experience on a website, there’s another type of cookie that sparks more controversy: Third-party cookies. These are small files created by domains or servers other than the one you're visiting. Advertisers, social media platforms, and analytics tools often use them to track your activity across multiple websites. They’re also called persistent cookies because they remain active until removed by the website admin. Imagine you're browsing a website that includes a button to like or share content on Facebook. When you interact with this button, it communicates with Facebook's servers, allowing Facebook to send its own cookies through the website. These cookies can track your activity and are often used to set up targeted ads that may appear on your Facebook newsfeed later.

Regulations Addressing Third-Party Cookies

Third-party cookies can raise privacy concerns as they track users' activities across the internet, often without clear consent. To address these issues, various laws have been introduced in recent years.

One prominent example is the ePrivacy Directive (ePD), often called the Cookie Law or the EU Cookie Law. This legislation requires websites to obtain user consent before storing, using, or retrieving cookies from their devices, except for cookies deemed strictly necessary for basic website functionality.

Article 5(3) of the Directive outlines the rules for information stored in a user's device, which apply directly to cookies. It states:

Websites are allowed to set cookies after users are provided with
clear and precise information about the purposes of cookies that are
placed on the user’s device.
Users should be given the opportunity to refuse cookies on their
device
Users should be offered the right to refuse before dropping the
cookies and also at any later time.
The method for giving information, requesting consent or offering the
right to refuse should be made as user-friendly as possible.

Although there are some exemptions as regards to the cookie consent such as:

Cookies that are used for the sole purpose of carrying out the
transmission of a communication over an electronic communications
network.
Cookies that are strictly necessary in order to provide service
explicitly requested by the user.

Many websites design their cookie options to subtly encourage users to accept tracking. For example, the Accept button is typically more prominent, brightly colored, and easier to click than the Reject button. While some websites provide a straightforward Reject All option, many others make opting out a tedious process, requiring users to navigate through multiple layers of cookie settings.

When you click Accept, you’re often consenting to ad tracking and various forms of data collection, which websites use for analytics, targeted advertising, or personalization. This raises the question: are we left with no choice but to accept cookies, especially when certain websites restrict access without them? The answer is no.

You can take steps to protect your privacy while browsing. Browser extensions like Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin, Cookie AutoDelete, and others that can automatically dismiss cookie pop-ups, saving you the trouble. Additionally, most modern browsers offer settings to block all third-party cookies, allowing you to maintain your privacy without significantly disrupting your online experience. These measures ensure you have control over your data and can browse more securely. Let’s explore how to block third-party cookies in your browser, using Chrome as an example.

Open Chrome Settings

Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the browser window.
Select Settings from the dropdown menu.

Go to Privacy and Security

In the left-hand menu, click Privacy and security.

Access Cookies and Site Data

Under the "Privacy and security" section, click Cookies and other
site data.

Block Third-Party Cookies

Select the option Block third-party cookies.
This will prevent websites from using third-party cookies to track your browsing activity across the web.

Conclusion

Cookies are a big part of how websites work, but they come with trade-offs. While rejecting third-party cookies is a good step toward protecting your privacy, the decision really depends on what matters most to you: convenience or control over your data.

The key is to stay informed. Take a moment to understand what cookies a website is asking for, tweak your browser settings, and use tools that help you manage them easily. With a little effort, you can enjoy a better balance between browsing smoothly and keeping your online privacy intact.

Coder Legion - Recent posts tagged internet-tips

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