Hey guys quick question. Ideally everyone should use a VPN as a general privacy concern I feel regardless if the use the markets or not but I have a question.
What happens if you run a VPN client on your router from company A, then run the software version on my pc from company B?
Does my traffic get encrypted leaving my pc, then "double wrapped" as it runs through the router? Would it just cause a complete clusterfuck and negate any anonymity a VPN would normally provide?
What really happens to my traffic?
(Edit: And then what would happen if I had a local VPN running and opened TOR? Would I still be able to get to .onions or would the router VPN limit me to clearnet like going TOR->VPN instead of VPN->TOR?)
I find this idea amusing as in theory it would make it much more difficult to track someone down especially if the VPN companies were in different countries and especially non cooperative ones.
Here is a discussion that illustrates the basic idea it with no definitive answers. http://security.stackexchange.com/questions/60871/vpn-tunnel-inside-other-vpn-tunnel
Anyone have any insight?
The VPN closes in the chain to you is the IP you will have out on the Internet. That means you will get your clearnet IP from VPN A, but they will only see you as connecting with an IP from VPN B. The traffic would also get double encrypted.
This is generally considered more secure than just using one VPN or just Tor alone. But as you point out is that because of the extra trouble with getting information out of two companies, not especially the double encryption.
Putting Tor on top of this would further improve your anonymity, and you would be able to reach .onion domains as well.
Extensive info here.