Commit `d02cfc1464`

d02cfc1464c274a8437497b58a050b199cb72c1a

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cmc <hello@cleberg.net> · 2025-02-13 02:30 UTC

add obscura post

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content/blog/2025-02-11-obscura-vpn.org added +119

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	1	#+date: <2025-02-11 Tue 11:40:00>
	2	#+title: A Review of Obscura VPN: A Two-Party VPN
	3	#+description: A simple review of Obscura VPN, a new VPN partner of Mullvad.
	4	#+filetags: :vpn:privacy:
	5	#+slug: obscura-vpn
	6
	7	#+begin_quote
	8	This review is written at a high-level for users, not a technical deep-dive of
	9	VPN technologies.
	10	#+end_quote
	11
	12	* What is Obscura?
	13
	14	[[https://obscura.net/][Obscura]] is a new VPN offering that's [[https://mullvad.net/en/blog/mullvad-partnered-with-obscura-vpn][partnered with Mullvad]] to provide a unique
	15	service: a VPN that "can't log your activity" due to the fact that it uses
	16	Obscura servers for initial traffic routing and then passes off the traffic to
	17	Mullvad's WireGuard servers as exit nodes.
	18
	19	This two-party VPN protocol allows you to use Obscura to relay your traffic, but
	20	they don't see your traffic. On the other hand, the exit nodes from Mullvad will
	21	see where you're connecting but cannot tell who you are as your traffic will
	22	come directly from Obscura servers with other users.
	23
	24	* Privacy Features
	25
	26	One of the things I look for when considering a VPN are privacy features
	27	intended to benefit users. Here are the features I love about Obscura:
	28
	29	- Two-party VPN protocol with Mullvad's servers
	30	- No email required for sign-up
	31	- No credit card required, crypto options available
	32	- Open source [[https://github.com/Sovereign-Engineering/obscuravpn-client][repository]] is available
	33	- [[http://ngmmbxlzfpptluh4tbdt57prk3zxmq4ztew7l2whmg7hkqaof2nzf7id.onion/][Tor website available]]
	34	- Transparent display of the exit server's public key (see the Location page in
	35	the app) so you can verify with Mullvad that you're connect via a genuine
	36	Mullvad exit node using [[https://mullvad.net/en/servers][Mullvad's server listing]]
	37
	38	* Initial Impressions
	39
	40	** Available Platforms
	41
	42	I am testing out Obscura on macOS, as that is the only available platform. This
	43	is the biggest downside, as I would not want to support different VPNs on
	44	different devices - if I'm using Obscura, I want to use it on all of my
	45	platforms (macOS, iOS, and Ubuntu).
	46
	47	However, the macOS app is incredibly easy to install via the =.dmg= file
	48	available on Obscura's website. Upon first launch, you're presented with a login
	49	option and can create an account now, if you have not done so already.
	50
	51	** Payment
	52
	53	Once created, the app will ask you to pay if you do not have a subscription. As
	54	far as I can tell, there is no free tier available. In my opinion, this is a
	55	good thing as I hesitate to understand how privacy-focused apps make money when
	56	they offer free services to users.
	57
	58	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20250211-obscura-vpn/payment.png]]
	59	#+caption: Payment
	60
	61	** Connection
	62
	63	Once you've enrolled in either a subscription or one-time payment, Obscura will
	64	return you to the app and allow you to connect. You can choose a specific server
	65	location or automatically connect.
	66
	67	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20250211-obscura-vpn/connect.png]]
	68	#+caption: Initial Connection
	69
	70	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20250211-obscura-vpn/toolbar.png]]
	71	#+caption: Toolbar Utility
	72
	73	** Speed
	74
	75	The connection feels naturally smooth and I haven't experienced any disruptions
	76	or lag in my (very short) time testing out the application. To confirm, I
	77	checked a speed test while connected to a server location in my country.
	78
	79	Speed test results:
	80
	81	- 85.49 Mbps (Down)
	82	- 217.75 Mbps (Up)
	83	- 25 ms (Ping)
	84
	85	** Mullvad Verification
	86
	87	Lastly, I checked with Mullvad's verification tool (=mullvad.net/en/check=) to
	88	verify Obscura's claims that Obscura sends your traffic through Mullvad's exit
	89	nodes before connecting to your target.
	90
	91	From the image below, we can see that Mullvad confirmed my traffic to be
	92	connected through a Mullvad IP address.
	93
	94	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20250211-obscura-vpn/mullvad-check.png]]
	95	#+caption: Mullvad Check
	96
	97	* Final Thoughts
	98
	99	Overall, I have found the app to be fast and user friendly. The privacy features
	100	are certainly compelling, but the platform has a ways to go before it can
	101	displace something like Mullvad in the privacy-focused portion of the VPN
	102	market.
	103
	104	I wish Obscura offered the following features:
	105
	106	- Available on more platforms
	107	- Specifics on how many devices will be allowed per account
	108	- More server locations, especially in countries with stronger data privacy laws
	109	- Options to pay with other crypto beside Bitcoin, such as Monero
	110	- Whitepapers or videos that walk through the technical details and show how
	111	traffic can be verified to be encrypted and connecting through the various
	112	expected nodes
	113	- Verifiable builds
	114
	115	However, Obscura is a nice tool for now and I hope to see more information from
	116	the technical side to help more users gain comfort around the security and
	117	privacy of the tool.
	118
	119	Used Obscura? Send me an email and let me know your thoughts!

theme/templates/index.html +6 −7

 <section>
 	<h2>Recent Blog Posts</h2>
+	<div class="post">
+		<time datetime="2025-02-11 11:40:00">2025-02-11</time>
+		<a href="/blog/obscura-vpn.html">A Review of Obscura VPN: A Two-Party
+		VPN</a>
+	</div>
 	<div class="post">
 		<time datetime="2025-01-23 20:44:45">2025-01-23</time>
 		<a href="/blog/self-hosting-tandoor.html"
 		>
 	</div>
-	<div class="post">
-		<time datetime="2024-10-31 11:01:05">2024-10-31</time>
-		<a href="/blog/continue-ollama-code-assistant.html"
-			>Using Ollama As a Code Assistant in VS Codium</a
-		>
-	</div>
 	<br />
 	<a href="/blog/">All Posts →</a>
 </section>

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