Due to limitations on iOS, I can only have either a VPN or a firewall (Lockdown) running at a time. I know sometimes you can get around it by running Lockdown after starting the VPN but this isn’t working consistently for me.
On PrivacytoolsIO website here, there is a very clear explanation on the limitations of VPNs. I understand from the article that VPNs are useful only in certain situations. I’m however feeling icky about
- the ISP knowing the websites I visit and
- Big Tech having a list of my IP addresses and thus locations.
The page I linked to suggests that IP addresses are of limited value to the companies. Am I being unnecessarily paranoid then? What about the ISPs knowing the destinations?
If the above points are non-issues when it comes to mobile use, then I want to ditch my VPN and instead, install Lockdown or a similar firewall application so that apps on my phone wouldn’t be able to send information to, say FB via Facebook SDK for example, which would protect me from FB’s fingerprinting I assume. I’m unable to come to a conclusion on which one would protect me better when using my phone.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
This is not entirely accurate. You can have both running at the same time. By switching the protocol to IKEv2, instead of OpenVPN, the VPN will not affect Lockdown.
I was able to do this with ProtonVPN and Lockdown.
I’ve had luck with switching my VPN configuration to connect via IKEv2 protocol from the standard OpenVPN protocol. This will allow you to use both Lockdown and a VPN simultaneously.
I don’t know about every vpn provider but proton has options to block malware and trackers in their VPN settings so that could theoretically provide some protection for your ISP knowing what sites you visit and Facebook knowing what sites you visit and what apps you use.
I think it just depends on what you are trying to mitigate. I don’t think it’s a clear issue of lockdown vs protonvpn. It’s what data are you trying to shield from who and then how to do it.
Idk if it’s just the TestFlight but proton lets me turn on an adblocker without having to use another it’s directly into the app
Do you mind providing a little more details on how you got proton and lockdown to work together?
Thanks
I changed the protocol from NordLynx to IKEv2 and both VPN and firewall started working together. Thank you
I’ve been looking for a solution for a while. Take this hug!
How do you like Lockdown? I tried that Guardian Firewall app but it kept dropping my wifi connection. Was a pita.
I have switched to IKEv2 protocol and it still won’t allow them to run simultaneously. When one starts the other is disabled.
Is there any other information I need to know in order to make it work?
Thanks
That’s why I posted this question because I can’t come to a conclusion on what’s more important to protect -
a) stop Facebook and other trackers in apps OR
b) hide websites I visit from the ISP and IP/location data from the big Tech.
ProtonVPN uses the OpenVPN protocol by default. There is a setting when choosing to connect which protocol to use. Switch it to IKEv2. Once that’s done both ProtonVPN and Lockdown will run at the same time.
I like it. Set it and forget it. I only have a few apps, so it’s not doing much. However, I got a family member to install it and they have lots of apps and even some social media. Sometimes I look at their phone and see the number of blocks in the tens of thousands. Must be doing something.
For DNS filter I use adguard pro instead of lockdown, but perhaps it’s the same: start with both the DNS filter and VPN turned off. Enable DNS and let it connect. Then connect the VPN.