- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
Everyone talks about buying Monero, but what is better than buying money with money? With Monero, we have an incredible opportunity to build parallel economies that can empower the individual, and able businesses should create opportunities that allow willing participants to earn Monero, independently of the state.
As big Monero supporters, it is why we introduced the AriaVPN Referral Program and want to invite the community to check out our proposal and consider participating. We seek influencers and website owners who can help us promote our VPN service in exchange for a 30% sales commission. Each time someone buys a VPN plan via your referral link, you’ll receive 30% of the value of the plan, have to option to redeem your balance at any time, and get paid within 24 hours.
Besides offering the opportunity to earn, as a new VPN service provider we hope we can become the community choice for those who regularly use VPN services. Please hit me up if you have any questions or feedback, and thanks for stopping by and checking us out!
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kuno.anne.media started hosting this VPN’s ads, since around the end of October, 2023, also blatantly calling /cdn-cgi/apps/head/ (trying to installing some CF app(s) via .js if your browser is lenient).
Not sure which is better: zero-fee idealism + ad-supported (implicitly selling some info) vs. low-fee realism + ad-free
First of all, AriaVPN is a brand of Anne Media and when we became host to Kuno, it was pre-agreed that instead of asking for donations that’d cover the cost of hosting and additional development, we’ll simply add our ad for our VPN service so we can reach out to the community. We don’t run external ads. Secondly, the script you see and block facilitates automated translations, which we added on request. So thank you for your assessment.
You’re basically using Kuno to attract potential VPN customers? That could be an interesting, new business model. Some marginalized people can get humanitarian help via Monero, while these supporters (Monero users) are likely to be interested in privacy, so they might buy your VPN service. In theory, this could be win-win-win :) A good potential.
On the other hand, it’s rather obvious that you’re not one of us, not someone privacy-aware. You can read some discussions about Kuno here:
- Kuno XMR Fundraising Platform is Down - We need a fundraiser to get this on a proper hosting provider ASAP https://monero.town/post/921314
- Re: Support Ashley’s Laptop/Computer Fundraiser https://monero.town/post/737813
Use Cloudflare (while saying “We protect your privacy”), and you’ll immediately lose 50% of trust. Additionally, the script via CDN in question is for Google Translation… 😓 Like this, perhaps a typical privacy advocate doesn’t even consider your VPN. The worst part is, you’re not even able to see the problem… If you were a privacy advocate, Google wouldn’t be even an option to begin with. (If you’re wondering why, perhaps you shouldn’t do VPN business.) How about LibreTranslate, for example?
Get rid of anything Google, and stop using CF (MitM) so that you might be able to rebuild credibility. Make everything Tor-friendly. That’s a minimum requirement for the “privacy industry”: even something rather iffy like Proton has a token onion. I also suggest you be transparent about Kuno. Make it clear it’s zero-fee because it’s there as a promotion for your VPN business. Such transparency doesn’t make you look bad. On the contrary, people may trust you more, if the reason why it’s zero-fee is not hidden and people behind it are honest.
Kuno could be a great website—it has already helped a few people. Some of us were even saying (thinking) that we were willing to make donation to Kuno itself (not buying your VPN, but we could send you XMR anyway “for free”). Still, I hope Kuno will become somewhat more privacy-aware, so that a typical Monero user feels comfortable with using it. Thank you for reading.
In essence, ads serve a brand awareness purpose, but what a giant stretch to call an ad a business model. Although it would be fantastic if the core of the Monero community saw the value & helped, AriaVPN service isn’t specifically aimed at the typical Monero user. Our target market is the new user or crypto-aware/curious user.
As for privacy, there are different levels, and I’m sure not one of ‘you’, i.e. those excessively paranoid. To be in our field of business, there is no way of avoiding revealing our identities, so I can’t even begin to mind using Cloudflare as one of our service providers. On the contrary, they are a top-grade service, and using them doesn’t compromise anyone’s privacy except ours. Those fussy about suspected CF proxy logs can use VPN/Tor when accessing the site. Plus, we are the main third party. If someone posts a listing on Kuno asking for funding to cause harm or injury, I’ll remove it before they can say Cloudflare. These folks can do that shit on the darknet where and if the admins allow for it.
Then, I find the downtime/crackpot drama pathetic. This had been covered and discussed at length and ended up in that crackpot losing his 5 XMR bet and his X account, and anyone who believes we are not a reliable host to Kuno can feel free to grab & run an instance themselves and do a better job.
Lastly, you get no argument from me GT isn’t a great choice. Hence we don’t use it for AriaVPN but as for Kuno, that’s a very different story. Right now, we don’t have the luxury of time and resources to give Kuno the full dedication it may deserve, and as for donations, appreciate the thought, but that’s not my style. The chance that a community donations-based model would cover real expenses we incur beyond mere hosting is nill. So perhaps instead of giving unsolicited advice, tho not overly out of place, you might consider contributing your skills to the common goal? We sure have plans and could use the expert hand.
Bold of you to starting insulting “us” in our forum where “we” are collectively giving you actionable feedback.
The monero community here is small, but we’re very vocal, so obviously you’re here trying to get us to get on board with the service and advocate for it. Which we can be. Insulting us however is going to diminish our zeal in promoting your service over other known good services such as Mullvad.
Though I would suggest you look at privacy guides, getting listed there as a well-respected VPN provider could be a huge boon for you
If you want us to join your Referral Program, explain why one wants to recommend your VPN, why one wants to use it, how it is different from generally more trusted other VPNs.
You’re only repeating, “Advertise us, and we’ll pay. Attractive, isn’t it?” No, it isn’t. We refuse to advertise a random service we can’t trust, with zero track record, even if you pay.
The number one sales point of your VPN is “We pay if you advertise it”? Is that the “best thing” about your VPN?
Choosing the VPN That’s Right for You | Surveillance Self-Defense - EFF
Monero.town is a tiny Lemmy instance, only having like 20 (?) active users. Active users know each other more or less. Naturally we say “we” meaning fellow users.
But kuno.anne.com was being useful. Though ad-supported by an iffy company—big banner ads—, maybe any sponsor is better than no sponsors; although we could start our own similar platform, community-supported rather than supported by a sketchy company. Kuno was a bit like a Bait-and-Switch scam, initially pretending to be a clean, great, passion project. I felt betrayed. You’re using Monero to make a false impression that your service is equally idealistic.
You may be a good person. It might be just miscommunication. We’ll see… If you’re a sales person, though, be more professional; avoid saying unprofessional, rude things, even if you disagree. You’re talking to potential customers, potential affiliates.