Review on Surfshark VPN

By sending all of your web traffic over an encrypted connection to a distant server, VPNs can increase your online anonymity. However, in the case of Surfshark VPN, one of the most costly services we've evaluated, this added security comes at a cost. However, the business does a wonderful job of justifying that expense with limitless device connections, a developing and increasing offering, and top-notch apps. Surfshark VPN continues to stand out in a congested industry, earning Editors' Choice honours. Proton VPN and Mullvad VPN are both less costly options for those contemplating Surfshark VPN but intimidated by the cost.

What do you get with Surfshark VPN?

The uncommon characteristics that Surfshark offers are perhaps its greatest assets. For instance, Bypasser is a split tunnelling application that enables you to select the programmes and websites that use the VPN. It's helpful since you need to stop your VPN in order to visit some websites that ban access via that method. In comparison to rivals, Surfshark's approach is neat and much simpler to use. However, the feature is not accessible on Linux, macOS, or iOS.

Multi-hop connectivity, which establishes a VPN connection to a server and then bounces your data to a second VPN server for greater protection, is another feature that is frequently missing from VPN services. This function has been updated by Surfshark VPN, which now allows you to establish multiple-hop connections between any two server locations.

One rare feature Surfshark currently does not offer is access to Tor via VPN, which is available through NordVPN and ProtonVPN. You don't need a VPN to use Tor, but this kind of push-button access is convenient.

Many VPN providers provide additional, fee-based services. When your VPN connection is banned, private, static IP addresses from providers like NordVPN and others are helpful. Although Surfshark VPN does not provide dedicated IP addresses, it does let users freely visit static servers. Each Surfshark static server user has a shared IP address with every other user on the server.

A bespoke DNS solution called Smart DNS and an ad blocker with the name CleanWeb are both offered by Surfshark VPN. Both of these traits are pretty typical. More exclusive are Surfshark Alert, which not unlike HaveIBeenPwned(Opens in a new window) notifies you of compromised accounts, and Surfshark Search, a privacy-respecting search engine. Be aware that Surfshark Alert and Surfshark Search have an extra monthly fee of $0.99 each.

The business furthermore provides Surfshark One in addition to its privacy solutions. For only a little bit more—$14.44 a month or $77.64 per year (discounted to $65.76 for the first year—this security suite bundles the essential VPN with antivirus). With real-time security and on-demand virus scanning, Surfshark One goes above and beyond the typical claims made by VPNs regarding the detection of harmful websites..

The most exciting new features of Surfshark VPN are hidden away. A network named Surfshark Nexus(Opens in a new window) is being created by the firm out of its fleet of individual servers. By doing so, you may change your VPN server without entirely disconnecting. Additionally, Nexus supports IP Rotator, which regularly provides you a fresh IP address without disrupting your connection. More features are supposedly coming soon.

Despite their strength, VPNs cannot resolve all of your privacy-related issues. You may be tracked in a variety of ways online. We advise using a standalone ad- or tracker-blocker in addition to the privacy features included in the majority of browsers. Also take note of how much more difficult it is to monitor your online activities while using the free Tor anonymization network. We strongly advise utilising a password manager to generate complicated, one-of-a-kind passwords, activating multi-factor authentication wherever practical, and installing antivirus software.

Surfshark's VPN Protocols

There are many ways to create a VPN connection. We prefer OpenVPN, as its open-source roots mean it has been picked over for potential vulnerabilities. The heir apparent to OpenVPN seems to be WireGuard. Like OpenVPN, WireGuard is open-source, but it uses newer technology and is reportedly much faster than other protocols.

Surfshark offers the OpenVPN protocol and WireGuard protocol in its Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Windows apps. The IKEv2 protocol is also available on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.

Surfshark VPN also provides a browser extension that functions as a proxy—meaning it encrypts only your browser traffic with TLS but does route that traffic through its network of servers.

To establish a VPN connection, there are several methods. Since OpenVPN's origins are in the open-source community, it has been screened for any flaws, hence we recommend it. WireGuard appears to be OpenVPN's natural successor. Like OpenVPN, WireGuard is open-source, but unlike other protocols, it purportedly runs substantially quicker.

The Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Windows applications from Surfshark support the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. Additionally, the IKEv2 protocol is supported by Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Additionally, Surfshark VPN offers a browser plugin that works as a proxy, encrypting only the traffic from your browser using TLS while still passing it via their server network.

Surfshark Servers and Server Locations

Surfshark recently announced it now has VPN servers in 100 countries, well above average and even more than the 94 countries covered by ExpressVPN and the 96 by Hotspot Shield VPN. It's a major milestone, but the company's claim(Opens in a new window) it is the "first premium commercial VPN" with access to 100 countries is a bit far-fetched. HMA VPN has long boasted having VPN servers in 190 countries, and PureVPN claims to have servers in 140 countries. (There are 195 in the world.)

What's indisputable is that Surfshark has an impressive list of server locations. With 6 locations in Africa and 12 in South America, the company has excellent coverage in two regions often completely ignored by VPN providers. We'd like to see more competitors following Surfshark's example. Having a lot of server locations across the globe to choose from means you're more likely to find one close to home or wherever you might be traveling, and it provides plenty of options for spoofing your location.

Recently, Surfshark stated that it now offers VPN servers in 100 countries, far more than the industry average and even more than the 94 countries that ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield VPN cover. It's a significant accomplishment, but the company's claim that it is the "first premium commercial VPN" with access to 100 countries (Opens in a new window) seems a little fanciful. While PureVPN boasts of having servers in 140 countries, HMA VPN has long bragged about having VPN servers in 190 countries. In the entire planet, there are 195.

There is no denying that Surfshark has a long array of server locations. With six sites in Africa and twelve in South America, the firm offers exceptional coverage in two areas that VPN services sometimes entirely overlook. To establish a VPN connection, there are several methods. Since OpenVPN's origins are in the open-source community, it has been screened for any flaws, hence we recommend it. WireGuard appears to be OpenVPN's natural successor. Like OpenVPN, WireGuard is open-source, but unlike other protocols, it purportedly runs substantially quicker. 

The Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Windows applications from Surfshark support the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. Additionally, the IKEv2 protocol is supported by Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Additionally, Surfshark VPN offers a browser plugin that works as a proxy, encrypting only the traffic from your browser using TLS while still passing it via their server network.

Is Surfshark VPN a Reliable Source?

The Privacy Policy and Terms of Service materials for Surfshark VPN are quite legible and have breakdown sections that explain subjects in simple terms. editor's choice award Similar tactics are used by TunnelBear VPN, and more businesses should follow suit. However, we found a few issues with the most recent Privacy Policy and Terms of Service that Surfshark VPN ought to fix.

Surfshark VPN emphasises in its policy papers that it does not track IP addresses, browsing histories, bandwidth use, or network data. That is the precise response you want to receive from a VPN provider. The business assured us that it only makes money by selling subscriptions—not by selling user data.

Additionally, according to the regulations, the corporation does not track connection timestamps, however this is only partially accurate. The corporation does record connection timestamps with a user ID, according to the paper, but it deletes them 15 minutes after your connection has ended. This appears to be a safeguard against someone exploiting the company's limitless simultaneous connections by chaining together an insane number of devices. That seems reasonable, however Surfshark VPN should explain this apparent discrepancy in their documentation. The business does gather certain more data, such as account information, billing history, and anonymized aggregate analytical data. Even though we appreciate that timestamps are removed, other VPNs regulate service abuse without collecting this data. Mullvad VPN, for example, gathers far less data than its competitors by offering no recurring subscription payments.

Additionally, Surfshark VPN mentions that it receives advertising IDs from other sources, using Google Play as an illustration. You can reset these identifiers on your own. The business emphasises that none of its applications contain advertisements. Surfshark VPN describes each cookie on its website and each analytics service it utilises elsewhere in its policy. Despite the overwhelming size of the list and the extent of the data, we appreciate the effort made to be transparent.

The Dutch-based Surfshark BV corporation is the owner of the Surfshark VPN service. A firm official noted that although the company was formerly formed in the British Virgin Islands, it still operates in accordance with BVI legislation for consistency's sake. In 2022, Surfshark VPN and NordVPN combined. Additionally, according to the regulations, the corporation does not track connection timestamps, however this is only partially accurate. The corporation does record connection timestamps with a user ID, according to the paper, but it deletes them 15 minutes after your connection has ended. This appears to be a safeguard against someone exploiting the company's limitless simultaneous connections by chaining together an insane number of devices. That seems reasonable, however Surfshark VPN should explain this apparent discrepancy in their documentation. The business does gather certain more data, such as account information, billing history, and anonymized aggregate analytical data. Even though we appreciate that timestamps are removed, other VPNs regulate service abuse without collecting this data. Mullvad VPN, for example, gathers far less data than its competitors by offering no recurring subscription payments.

The company has a live Warrant Canary(Opens in a new window) on its transparency report. If contacted by law enforcement for information, the company says it would be unable to identify an individual user.

Many VPN companies commission third-party audits to verify company statements about customer privacy and security. Surfshark VPN was audited twice by Cure53. The first audit, in 2018, focused on the Surfshark VPN browser extension, while the second audit(Opens in a new window), from 2021, looked at Surfshark's infrastructure and VPN configuration. Finally, in January 2023, the company completed an audit by Deloitte(Opens in a new window) that confirmed Surfshark was complying with its stated policy to not keep user activity logs. While they are imperfect tools, a commitment to audits is a valuable step a VPN can take toward establishing trust. TunnelBear VPN, for instance, has committed to annual audits of its service. We're happy to see the positive results from this new audit and hope Surfshark continues to do such audits in the future.

We spoke to Surfshark VPN about the privacy implications of its new Surfshark Nexus technology. Some of the features, such as optimized traffic routing, sound like they could erode user privacy. The company assured us that's not the case, which we appreciate. That said, we'd like to see that assurance backed up by new audits of these infrastructure changes.

Is Surfshark a Reputable VPN?

There are many positive aspects of Surfshark VPN. It has split tunnelling as well as the infrequently used multi-hop connection capability, and it has a liberal unlimited devices policy that allows you to connect as many devices as you wish. Beyond VPNs, Surfshark has incorporated a wide range of other services, including antivirus, breach detection, and the erasure of private data from data brokers. The Surfshark VPN product is consistently a winner of the Editors' Choice award. It shares a podium with Proton VPN, IVPN, Mullvad VPN, NordVPN, and TunnelBear VPN, the other category champions.

That's it for now, I hope you learned something new!