VPN's can be good or could be bad. Most of them only support PPTP, not OpenVPN (much more secure). VPN's most likely keep logs, especially if they are in UK, Canada, Germany, Sweeden, and Russia. Don't do anything that can identify you (don't sign in to your e-mail, go on a site you would normally visit, etc.).
Thanks yeshmin. Thanks psulli I'll continue to explore electronic self-sufficiency. I live with a computer science professor, but he's strictly old old old school (worked on those computers that filled a room but had less functionality than today's iphones).
torrentfreak had a good article on VPNs a while back http://torrentfreak.com/which-vpn-providers-really-take-anon...
I've been putting off getting/using a VPN because it seems like a hassle. :/
Ha! I was telling everyone to get one. But they are very useful tools to have in the toolbox techie-or-not. The flow of information does not want to "be free" no matter how the 1990s warm-fuzzes internet led me to believe otherwise. Information is cornered and imprisoned. It is being held in Abu Ghraib. So as a consumer of both 21st century digital wheat and chaff it is important to give oneself "the full monty" because context and perspective aren't everything ... but they are worth a hell of a lot to advertisers. Setting up a VPN ... most of the places have a way for them to connect to yo' box and set it up for you. Just email them! edit: oh spelling, grammar, and punctuation et cetera