Considering my threat model is just preventing my ISP to know which websites I am visiting and to prevent my government (India) from tracking me, do I need to use a VPN?
Currently, I am using a trusted VPN provider with a permanent kill switch and am never off of the VPN. Today, I was reading IVPN’s homepage and it says, “A VPN can be effective at encrypting your DNS requests so your ISP or mobile network provider cannot monitor or log the domains you visit.” But as far as I know, DNS over HTTPS does encrypt the DNS requests. Right?
I regularly clean my cookies, use hardened browsers, etc. So is a VPN really necessary for me? Or shall I just shift to using Quad9’s DoH or something?
Edit - I am using the router provided by the ISP and I cannot change it because I am behind CGNAT. I can use a separate device and install PfSense or OpenWRT or something on it and use that as a firewall. Any suggestions there?
Most sites still send domain name in clear text. You can see it in Wireshark or PCAPDroid. You need VPN if you don’t want your ISP to see the sites you visit.
This is pretty easy to do with a network tap, but it’s a bit of data to capture an search. The SNI header tells a frontend at the IP what site you want. Something like SecurityOnion sitting on your net is a way to see it yourself.
Email is likely just as much a risk since the host would not only know who you communicate with but the content.
