Posted on 01/23/2020 1:01:38 PM PST by BTerclinger
I am trying to help some family out who want to use a VPN both while on public wifi, and at home for simple privacy from their ISP.
They are using 2 Mac laptops, 2 older iPhones, 2 iPads, and 1 old android phone. They do not need to use every device at the same time. They have Apple email accounts, gmail accounts, and Outlook and Hotmail email accounts; all email accounts are run through OSX Mail and iOS Mail. Whenever the VPN is enabled on the Macs, Microsoft instantly sends warning notices to the Outlook and Hotmail email accounts demanding verification.
User is forced to click on a link in an email from Microsoft (sent before they lock the user out!) to go online, confirm their backup email program, receive another confirmation email sent to that back up account, and copy and paste a passcode.
Until they do that OSX Mail says "can not verify account name or password” for those accounts. The phrase “automatic syncing” shows up on a Microsoft page they are often taken to. This rarely if ever happens when the Macs are offline and IOS devices check the mail. ExpressVPN touts a Split Tunneling feature on Mac and Windows that can allegedly do the following: Allow every application to use the VPN. One or more applications to NOT use the VPN.
One or more applications as the ONLY applications to use the VPN. On the Mac, it makes no difference what Split Tunneling setting is chosen above; if OSX Mail is open when the VPN is enabled, the Microsoft email accounts get unverified. I tried contacting Microsoft and got passed around to people who don't have a clue. ExpressVPN is telling the customer there’s nothing they can do, it’s a Microsoft issue, and “it proves the VPN is working!”
I thought the point of VPN is to help protect web AND email from being snooped on in public WIFI or by an ISP.
Any suggestions (an alternative VPN?) would be gratefully appreciated.
On my 2011 MacBook Pro with High Sierra, I only use Safari, and can use the VPN to download from if I'm on the road. I only use Apple's email program, and have never had a problem getting my emails while it's on. I don't use my iPhone for anything but phone calls and texts, and I use the Pandora app to play music in my car via bluetooth. My youngest son showed me how to do that.
Hopefully there is someone here who can help solve the problem.
“I deactivate the VPN just to avoid the hassle when I’m at home. But, I jump through the hoops when on public WiFi.”
User wants to shield their email and their browsing from their home ISP as well when as on public wifi.
but thanks for the suggestions.
Wondering if you have any Outlook accounts accessed thru OSX mail that you can access when Nord VPN is enabled?
Thanks for commenting. Same question to you:
Do if you have any Outlook accounts accessed thru OSX mail that you can access when Nord VPN is enabled?
It is plausible that ExpressVPN works in China because it keeps finding loopholes in the Great Firewall. Sort of a Spy vs Spy situation, where ExpressVPN exploits a chink in the armor, the Party eventually fills it, a new gap is found, and so on. ExpressVPN owner’s rebuttal:
Good info, thank you, will pass it on.
What do you think of the VPN “SurfShark”, who are touted by the guy at China Uncensored?
ok, thx just seeing this now.
Thank you for the ping.
I use PIA - Private Internet Access privateinternetaccess.com. Its a paid service though. But they guarantee no log files kept. Thats the best to hope for.
Using any Macs with outlook email accounts on that VPN?
(ExpressVPN is a paid service also).
The only recognition (while using one of the workstations) is when using Firefox... It simply puts a small banner at the top of the first page opened and says that some people/applications have issues with AVG... I just disappear it and it doesn't come back...
Then the user will have to jump through the prove you are you hoops every time.
I don’t use Outlook but some websites block VPN IP addresses or request additional account verification.
[What do you think of the VPN “SurfShark”, who are touted by the guy at China Uncensored?]
Surfshark is recommended by the China Uncensored guy probably because it works in China. If you need it to work there, it’s probably as good a solution as any. But the murky British Virgin Islands address means it could also be owned by or beholden to the Chinese government.
I second IP Vanish
Thanks. I don’t travel to China but appreciate the heads up about BVI offices.
re your comments on any U.S. based VPN having to answer to the FBI, well... our FBI is pretty stupid and useless these days!
Got it, thx.
re “But the murky British Virgin Islands address means it could also be owned by or beholden to the Chinese government.”
How does PRC have any control in BVI?
[re your comments on any U.S. based VPN having to answer to the FBI, well... our FBI is pretty stupid and useless these days!]
[How does PRC have any control in BVI?]
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