I like to download a rare book now and then, but if practical I’d like to be safer about it.
I have been raw dogging epubs from Zlibrary, Annas, and libgen for years on public WiFi, student housing, work internet, my internet the most, but you name it.
Should I not do that? Though I’m not distributing which is usually what they give a shot about
I found everything I looked for in anna’s archive so far. Since it’s a simple file download I’d say it’s save as long as law enforcement isn’t already monitoring your connection. If that’s the case you got already bigger problems.
Hey thanks I’ll try Anna’s archive too.
Based on your answer and the others, it seems like I just need to practice basic internet hygiene and I won’t get any trouble.
Knowledge and peace of mind are priceless, thanks 🙏
If you are concert that the eBooks will exploit your eBook reader and infect your device you can use a website view them like this https://epubreader.net/. They will have to escape the browser sandbox to infect you’r device witch is extremely difficult and generally don’t happen if you keep Firefox updated and you are not “valuable” target.
I would disable file thumbnails in your file manger.
I’ve never used a vpn for libgen but I understand the need to feel safe and that depends on your threat model. What are the realistic consequences of not using a vpn with libgen for you and does using a vpn mitigate them?
I guess my threat model is my ISP snitching on me. Realistic consequences? Probably none, this is more of about trying to keep it that way and having peace of mind I guess.
In that case, any vpn should suffice.
Yep, Swaps the ISP for the VPN provider
Firefox VPN is just Mullvad but you pay Mozilla on top of it. I recommend using something like iVPN/AirVPN (though I’ve had slowness issues with AirVPN while browsing the general web, although weirdly enough didn’t have any such issues while torrenting).
Just disable Secure DNS so that you’re using your VPN’s DNS and you’ll be fine.
I’ve only ever used IRC to find ebooks and never worried about a VPN. Check #ebooks on IRChighway or Undernet.
Im using Tor for that.
raw tor could cause more harm because its easily detectable by isp. i recommend using tor over vpn if living in a hostile state
using tor is not illegal and what you do with tor is not readable to your isp.
using tor to make your libgen visit unreadable to your isp would work
Where you live
Does it matter ? Unless you live in a country with censorship on Tor, you can use bridges for that. It is a private Tor relay that is harder to block, because the IP is not publicly disclosed.
It does 100% matter, which I why I posted that. There are entirely different network topologies for countries where it will matter and I assure you, there, it does matter.
And my comment was more so about the “not illegal” bit
