Am I standing out for using the Mullvad browser with a Proton VPN IP?

Questions
1

Hello,

I am a big fan of blending into a crowd approach the Mullvad browser has, my question is though: Would paying for the Mullvad VPN increase the strength of this approach over using Proton VPN?

Proton VPN doesn’t really jump around between different IPs and I imagine you might be quite unique and stand out if you’re the only person on a Proton IP using the Mullvad Browser, whereas I imagine many more people on the Mullvad VPN IPs use the browser.

Am I wrong in thinking that I might be the only person on a Proton IP using the Mullvad browser and that I stand out?

2

This is not necessarily true at all. You can always use the browser any way you want. But with Mulvad VPN, it’s best. Doesn’t mean it’s not good or even ideal otherwise. It really depends on what you’re doing and why you’re using it.

I would say use it as you want. There is no wrong answer here if you ask me.

3

If you are worried about standing out from your VPN usage, I highly recommend using the Tor Browser instead.

Using Mullvad Browser also helps you blend in with other Mullvad Browser users and obscures a lot of the data that may be used to fingerprint you (i.e. Display resolution). The idea is, your connection to a VPN server would be obscured by the hundreds of connections it makes with other users, while Mullvad browser reduces the data sent by your browser that can be used for fingerprinting. Better than using absolutely nothing at all, but worst than using Tor Browser on Tails or Whonix.

If someone were to view your browsing activity, they may see a customized version of Firefox connecting from a Proton VPN IP address. That does not mean that it is “bad” as Mullvad browser reduces a lot of metadata that could be used to more accurately identify you. It is meant to be used with a VPN and should not be relied upon for sensitive tasks. Since it is a Tor Browser fork, you pretty much get the same anti-fingerprinting protections without necessarily being on the Tor Network.

TLDR; Use Proton VPN and Mullvad Browser for daily usage. Switch to Tor Browser to minimize it further

EDIT: There is also the argument that using a VPN may be less suspicious than using a Tor connection because it is comparably normalized. Take that as you will. Whether you use a VPN or Tor depends entirely on your threat model.

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4

I don’t think the question was about VPN usage in general standing out, but rather the combination “Mullvad Browser + Non-Mullvad VPN IP” standing out in the crowd of “Mullvad Browser + Mullvad VPN IP”-users.

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5

The Mullvad browser is one of the well-known and trusted desktop browsers for privacy-conscious individuals. So it’s likely that many of its users also utilize ProtonVPN or IVPN. Therefore, you can still expect to blend in with the crowd to some extent.

Also, since ProtonVPN offers many servers for free, you can expect it to have a larger user base than other entirely paid VPN services. So, there might be far more ProtonVPN users using the Mullvad browser than you might imagine.

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7

Not quite true. You can always use Digital Goods by ProxyStore to buy it.

Let’s not even imply this is even possible. You’re spreading FUD.

Well, you’re objectively wrong.

This is ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE. Geez. Please stop with your misinformation.

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Everything you’ve said is wrong. Objectively. You have no idea what you’re talking about. That you have made clear. Please read up on resources provided my Privacy Guides to learn more.

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8

You can just change the locations yourself. The VPN randomly changing your IP sounds like a nightmare.

I change my VPN location all the time. It shouldn’t take more than 2 seconds.