VPN Services

Introduction

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server, masking your IP address and protecting your online activity from ISPs, hackers, and other third parties. VPNs are essential tools for maintaining privacy and security while browsing the internet, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks.

Threat Model

When considering a VPN service, you need to protect against several threats: ISP surveillance, public Wi-Fi attacks, geo-location tracking, and network throttling. However, it's important to note that your VPN provider can see your traffic, so choosing a trustworthy provider with a strong no-logs policy is crucial. Your threat model should consider whether you need protection from casual observers, your ISP, or more sophisticated adversaries.

Legend

Trust Level

Higher is better (max 5)

Compatibility

macOS, Windows, Linux, Mobile

Top 3 Recommended Providers

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VPN Comparison Matrix

CriteriaIVPNMullvadNordVPNProtonVPNSurfshark
App Collects Customer Data
Are Reproducible Builds Used to Verify Apps Against Source Code
Are the App and Server Completely Open Source
Can You Sign Up to the App Anonymously
Company Collects Customer Data
Company Jurisdiction
Company's General Stance on Customer Privacy
Cryptographic Primitives
Does the App Allow Local Authentication When Opening It
Does the Company Log Timestamps/IP Addresses
Funding
Have There Been Recent Code Audits and Independent Security Analyses
Implicated in Providing Customer Data to Intelligence Agencies
Infrastructure Jurisdiction
Is Encryption Turned On by Default
Is the Design Well Documented
Surveillance Capability Built into the App
Transparency Report Availability
User Data and/or Metadata Sent to Parent Company and/or Third Parties