Safety concern. Pia vpn asking for Root password for install with a .run ?

[Lx_pollywog]

Private internet access. Should i distrust a vpn company that wants Root access for install ? I did find there is also a Openvpn install method for pia, but i was impatient at first and installed the vpn with Root access. Now i'm afraid to login to my email. I had read many times to never share Root access. What you think?

 

[kc1di]

PIA VPN usually requires the use of sudo which would be the user password on most distros not root. In fact on my installs it will not accept a root password.
I've been using it for about 2 years and never had a problem.

 

[Lx_pollywog]

I am on a Mint_debian. If i remember when i was using a pure Debian, setup asked to create a user seperate from base root system. Remembering when i installed the Mint it was simpler. Two things -login & other password. I dont exactly remember. The sudo is obvious but what do i Cli to know the Root? That would be 2 different things you say?

 

[Deleted member 108694]

I have used PIA as well have never had an issue, I run Expirion which is based on Debian 12
open terminal where PIA run file is stored

sudo ./pia-linux-3.3.1-06924.run

type in password - then you should see

Uncompressing Private Internet Access 100%

=================================
Private Internet Access Installer
=================================

This script must be run as a normal user, not root

If you just run

./pia-linux-3.3.1-06924.run

- you will see

Verifying archive integrity... 100% MD5 checksums are OK. All good.
Uncompressing Private Internet Access 100%

=================================
Private Internet Access Installer
=================================

Installing PIA for x86_64, system is x86_64
✔ Added group piavpn
✔ Added group piahnsd
✔ Copied Private Internet Access files

So running it without sudo is the correct way

 

[Condobloke]

I would agree with @kc1di and @Lord Boltar

I use Airvpn....and ir runs in a similar manner

Coming up to 8 years now, and never a problem.

 

[Lx_pollywog]

Gonna go see & i'l be back. For the moment i can say Pia has more fluid streaming on my vm's than privatevpn.

 

[vs2-free-users]

My proposal order a small vps and setup your own VPN. For simple setups it is a 5 line openvpn config file on server and client side.

 

[f33dm3bits]

You can just import the ovpn file into NetworManager since NetworkManager has support for it, no need to install a secondary application for vpn unless you want to use the Wireguard protocol.