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Browser pop ups when connecting to VPN Gate servers

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2018 2:56 pm
by pipis
Hello,
Sometimes when I connect to servers on VPN Gate, windows open in my default browser for strange websites. This only happens with United States servers. Is this normal? Is this safe?

Re: Browser pop ups when connecting to VPN Gate servers

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 8:55 am
by pipis
Bumping, this is very concerning

Re: Browser pop ups when connecting to VPN Gate servers

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 9:45 am
by fenice
The obviously simple answer (at least to me) is to not use any of those servers that cause you a problem. Is this only a specific server or all of them in the US? Do you not have any security in your browser such as uBlock Origin or Ghostery (I'm using firefox) to block any untrustworthy sites or pop-ups? Yes, it should be a concern that random pop-up sites are getting loaded in your browser.

Re: Browser pop ups when connecting to VPN Gate servers

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2018 3:27 am
by pipis
Thanks Bill. I don't keep track of servers and generally just use the one that is good at the time. It's very rare that SoftEther tries to load a webpage in my browser even when using US servers, but when it does, none of my tools block it (I assume they are just not designed to handle out-of-browser popups). A couple of times the websites seemed to be managed by or otherwise affiliated with University of Tsukuba, so I do not think it is isolated to certain servers and is rather an issue with the software or plugin as a whole.

Re: Browser pop ups when connecting to VPN Gate servers

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2018 6:18 am
by pipis
Also I am worried about the application remaining active even when the window is closed.

Re: Browser pop ups when connecting to VPN Gate servers

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2018 12:51 am
by pipis
Got another pop-up just now connecting to the UK, took me to https://www.vpngate.net/en/

Re: Browser pop ups when connecting to VPN Gate servers

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2018 6:32 am
by fenice
pipis wrote:
Tue Nov 06, 2018 12:51 am
Got another pop-up just now connecting to the UK, took me to https://www.vpngate.net/en/
That's just a list of the VPNgate servers and there's nothing wrong with that site.

Re: Browser pop ups when connecting to VPN Gate servers

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2018 10:54 am
by pipis
Oh no, I know that. I was just pointing out that the pop-ups are likely to be affiliated with University of Tsukuba because of that. I have gotten pop-ups to other, stranger websites before. I will record them if I get any.

Re: Browser pop ups when connecting to VPN Gate servers

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2018 10:57 am
by fenice
That's good to know. :) Yes, if you do see anything odd then grab the url if you can and post it here and we can take a look. If this continues and you're really uncomfortable with it then it may be worth opening a bug report (or RFE) on github to see if it really is innocuous or a potential problem

Re: Browser pop ups when connecting to VPN Gate servers

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 8:58 am
by thisjun
VPN Gate server volunteer can alternate the traffic.
There is a possibility that the volunteer leads users to a malicious site.

Re: Browser pop ups when connecting to VPN Gate servers

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 2:01 am
by pipis
Thanks thisjun. I am also noticing SoftEther forces itself to run in the background, and will even start up again by itself if forced to shut down. If I change the startup conditions in Services then SoftEther breaks permanently and can only be fixed by reinstall. What does this mean?

Re: Browser pop ups when connecting to VPN Gate servers

Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2018 3:13 am
by thisjun
Could you explain more about "SoftEther breaks"?