I like to download a rare book now and then, but if practical I’d like to be safer about it.

Im using Tor for that.

I use a VPN and a private DNS . i feel like thats plenty and I dont have any DNS leaks from my tests. I wouldn't really trust mozzilla VPN a whole bunch but its probably fine. A real VPN provider is cheap, I'd get one. Ivpn or icevpn are good.

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?

MAM+VPN is a good way

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.

raw tor could cause more harm because its easily detectable by isp. i recommend using tor over vpn if living in a hostile state

If you want to be extra secure you could use a VPN before Tor. But using a VPN would make you suspicious as well. They could force the VPN provider to track your future connections over their VPN. I assume it's not that easy to trace your connections if your using tor.

Best is to install Tails on a USB Stick, boot it on a public computer over public WiFi while being completely covered with no mobile devices on yourself. But let's be serious. The given thread model involved in downloading a book, the risk of drawing the attention of the authorities is probably very low. :)

In that case, any vpn should suffice.

I've only ever used IRC to find ebooks and never worried about a VPN. Check #ebooks on IRChighway or Undernet.

Or xdcc search

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

I'm not understanding the risk, are you downloading at work or on a school network? is the book content illegal where you live? worried about malware maybe?

safe from whom/what is what i'm asking

Wow, that's oldschool. I haven't even thought about IRC for at least 15 years. How actively is this still being used in general?

I’m worried about the law’s attention for illegal procurement of otherwise legal works. I’m depriving rent collectors (oh no) and want to stay off their radar.

You should do whatever it takes to feel safe. But FYI, no private individual has ever been sued for downloading books.

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

probably better to use it on a burner device(cheap device) if you that paranoid, and on a public wifi like library or cafes.

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.

Generally downloading files is pretty much safe and untraceable. At least in the countries I know of, so this might depend on where you life. What is a problem is uploading or sharing with a torrent client. Then you need a VPN.

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

That's a bit over the top for grabbing some text books. That's like, opsec for running an IPTV service or something... but it is possible, and easy. Whip up a vm with a linux distro, connect to an open wifi (vpn if you have one, if not who really cares), and download away. Blow away the VM when done.

Yep, Swaps the ISP for the VPN provider

It strongly depends on your threat model.

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 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 🙏

The DNS default settings pissed me off. It should default to what is set by the user.