Answers to common questions

General Technology Questions

• I've just signed up, does that mean I'm automatically connected using goldensVPN?

  Almost, but first you need to put the goldensVPN client app on your machine (that's the Windows version). Once that's done, double-click on the "two red computers" icon in your taskbar, enter your userID and password, and you'll be connected.

• I've misplaced my userID and/or password, how do I reset it?

  Please contact us and, once we've confirmed you are the account holder, we'll get you reset.

• I'm having a problem with my router/hub/switch and I'm not sure how to fix it - can you help?

  We'll do our best! Our tech support folks have extensive experience with most all networking technologies - hardware and software. For our goldensVPN customers, we'll do everything we can to troubleshoot any issues. . . even if they might not really be VPN-related :-)

• There's a particular thing I want to do using my goldensVPN connection - how can I be sure it'll work?

  We offer a five-day trial period of the goldensVPN service. If you don't like it, you can have a complete refund, no strings attached. So, go ahead and buy a month of service for a trial run.

• Do I need to manually re-configure all my internet applications to use goldensVPN?

  No, not at all. When installed, the goldensVPN service runs via a "virtual adapter" on your computer. It takes all the data coming and going from your machine, encrypts it, and passes it into the secure tunnel. You don't need to "tell" all your applications about the VPN - they'll run over the tunnel automatically.

• Is it possible for my ISP/school/employer/government to block goldensVPN?
  

Nothing is impossible, but it's very hard to entirely block our service. We run via UDP protocol, and can step through any ports if there's a problem with the standard portsettings. So, if you've signed up and can't get things running, don't give up! Please contact us so we can work things out. We can even do custom configuration scripts for you if you've got a seriously thorny connectivity problem.


• What is your bandwidth/usage limitation?

  We do not limit your bandwidth, or usage of the goldensVPN service. Ever. Some of our customers log in and stay connected for weeks - that's quite fine with us. We always over-provision our server and interconnect capacity, so you aren't using pipe that's saturated by other customers. We've got clients up to 10 megabits/second upload and download, which is fine with us. We've built goldensVPN to be used, so use it!

  Ontology, Philosophy of Security, etc

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• Don't you think your service will allow terrorists to run amok?

  No, we don't. Historically, violent terrorists have relied on the simplest tools and not on complex technologies. The same concern has been brought up every time a technology that provides genuine security against surveillance has been developed. But, the worst-case fears have never materialized. Box-cutters are a far more "dangerous" technology than VPN tunnels.

• What about filesharing and copyright issues? Won't people use goldensVPN to "steal" music and other files?

  The field of intellectual property ownership, protection, licensing, and control is ripe for major transformation. The old models of copyright enforcement are not working in today's interconnected world. Whether people share files over goldensVPN or not doesn't change that one bit. We don't encourage folks to cheat the producers of creative work out of their just payments. . . but we also don't think enormous media conglomerates should be able to write whatever rules they want to protect their profits, and target individuals in a shotgun fashion as a "deterrent" to filesharing. That's bullying, or outright gangsterism.

• Aren't you obligated to "turn over" information about customers if some sort of law enforcement authority asks for it? Are you already doing that?

We have never been asked to provide "backdoor" access to our customers accounts, so far. If we are, we'll fight tooth and nail to protect the genuine privacy of our customers (unless they are doing one of two evil things. In addition to the techical barriers (we don't keep logfiles, our VPN code is entirely opensource and any "backdoors" injected into it would be easily visible, etc.), we're based in the Netherlands where privacy safeguards are written into statute. If we ever have "the screws" put to us, we'll warn our customers straight away.

Opinions, Errata, Detritus

• I saw the goldens.com name on a file/movie/video/picture and I don't like what I saw - what should I do?
  

  If you don't like what you saw, then don't go searching for stuff like that in the future. Seriously. Many folks use the goldensVPN service, and some of them are doing unusual or downright provocative things. . . occasionally they "credit" us in the work. We couldn't stop them if we wanted, and we don't want to. So long as nobody's being harmed, we don't mind of folks are doing unusual things - different strokes for different folks. In fact, we love to see the most oddball, outrageous, or unusual places where the goldens.com name pops up. . . if you know someone who might give a credit like that, contact us and maybe we can hook 'em up with a few months free service if it's truly something out of the ordinary. We're very openminded.

• I heard that someone involved with goldens.com has a rather ecclectic background - is everything I've heard true?

  No, it's a good bet that some of what you've heard isn't true. . . but some probably is. Fausty is an unusual character, and his experiences and worldview have certainly animated much of the goldens security system philosophy. But this isn't his site - you'll have to look elsewhere for his own words about. . . well, about most everything under the sun! Yes, you can email him and he'll probably respond directly.

• I have an idea for a really interesting product or service that will help folks maintain their security and privacy via opensource technology - are you interested?

Sure! Drop a note to our CTO and we'll see if we can help to make it a reality.

• Do you have other services under development?

Yes, we do. Currently we're working in the area of onion routing topologies and fast-flux DNS resolution frameworks. Also, we've got two stealth mode efforts that, hopefully, will be ready for public beta quite soon.

• Are there any open positions at goldens security systems?

We're always looking for talented, passionate, openminded, detail-oriented folks. In addition to technical resources (network engineers, world-class sysadmins, SIP/Asterisk coders), we're short-staffed in the marketing/public relations area at present.

• I want to invest - is this possible?

  No. We are privately held, and not accepting any new investments at present. Perhaps in the future, but don't hold your breath.

• Your logo is unusual - what's the story?

  He's terribly sexy, isn't he? A friend of ours drew him and, eventually, someone dared us to use him as a logo. . . so we did. He has a name, but only his friends know what it is. If you want to earn major good karma with us, help us animate him so we can have him do all manner of fun stuff.