VPN Needed if downloading using SSL newsgroups?

[jskinner123]

If I am using an SSL connection with my newshosting provider do I still need to use a VPN to hide my download traffic from the ISP?

[sander]

If you only use SSL (so NNTPS), your ISP can still see the IP address and the port of the newsserver, so your ISP (and government) knows you're downloading something from usenet. Your ISP *can* still block or throttle it. They cannot see what you're downloading.

If you use a VPN, they can only see you're doing 'traffic', but not what kind of traffic.

So a VPN provides higher privacy and protection.

[jskinner123]

Excellent answer, thank you!