I have bought a 1 year subscription to OVPN. During my first month I have encountered numerous issues with different websites, which I have signaled via support tickets. For instance, Github access was spotty and Reddit had their service flagged for security reasons so inaccessible unless logged in. Other websites had the same issue, either spotty access or blocked.

When I told them about this and how their service is detectable and possibly flagged, their response was "it happens". Every support ticket dragged on for days, even weeks and that made me exceed the 10 day limit they have on refunds.

When I asked them for a refund on the remaining time they said that they must abide by the law and cannot refund. So, even though their service was crap, I was with customer service for the entire month, now I can't even get some of my money back.

They also refused to outright delete my account. So my information is with them.

Avoid! They are not professional and they seem to be quite predatory. If they respected themselves, they should have acknowledged the fact that I had issues with their service, close my account as I asked and refund me the rest of the 1 year. But no. So I hope that my loss will be your gain and that you avoid their service, there are tons of other VPN services that do a great job. I am currently using ProtonVPN and I there are no issues with it.

Just noticed that NordVPN Black Friday deal is on already. I mean the BF itself is not until the end of the month but I see it as a benefit to have time to check around and compare the deals.

This time they’re offering 74% off on the 2-year plan plus an additional 3 months free. Since I was already comparing VPNs for myself and keeping an eye on their offers, there was no better price than the current one.Some key moments for anyone who’s looking into Nord too.

How NordVPN Black Friday deal stacks up

Although it’s a decent price cut,  I’ve been weighing a few different providers, like ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN, so here’s how they compare:

• NordVPN: I mean the price is very competitive… They’ve also been certified no-logs three times, servers seem quick. I’m thinking of getting Complete because they give you NordPass and 1TB Encrypted Cloud Storage.
• ExpressVPN: More expensive in general, even with their own Black Friday deal. Ofc a known brand but I feel like the higher cost and overall reputation nowadays is hard to justify when compared.
• ProtonVPN: Their Black Friday discount is okay, but the overall package feels a bit limited unless you go for their higher-priced plans.

Dropping a pricing comparison for convenience:

Although they already have a BF deal, I scrolled through Reddit for some community discounts. Succeeded in finding code “forum” for NordVPN, yet not much for other brands. So I guess it’s a friendly tip that you can make that NordVPN Black Friday deal even better than the default.

Is anyone else planning to grab this deal?

For those that don’t know, Egypt deploys the Chinese Great Firewall with Deep Packet Inspection. Their goals are 1) block every VPN possible, via both protocol blocking and DPI of suspected VPNs running on Port 443, 2) block any website that can be bad for the admin and not cause too much uproar (e.g., archive.org, archive.is, several news papers, etc.), 3) block websites like gambling, and more.

Almost all VoIP is blocked in Egypt, including Skype, WhatsApp calls, Telegram, the entire SIP Protocol used by US and EU residential VoIPs, etc. Even Discord VoIP. There are only three VoIP solutions I know that work without a VPN in Egypt: Google Voice, Slack and MS Teams.

UDP VPNs are universally blocked, as are non-obfuscated OpenVPN, PPP and IKEv2. As of mid-2023, they fully banned all but the most-obfuscated Wireguard servers, too.

Cisco AnyConnect to a corporate VPN will spin and spin and spin and usually won’t connect. This used to work for me as late as July 2023, but as of January 2024, I have had no success. What I do now is 1) connect to a VPN that works. 2) log into / connect to the Cisco AnyConnect VPN. Some internal sites will work, external websites will not. 3) Disconnect from the first VPN. Surprisingly, when AnyConnect reconnects, the login mechanism isn’t triggered, and I think this confuses the Egyptian Firewall’s DPI and the VPN reconnects successfully using your Egyptian IP.

• NordVPN: Doesn’t work (at all).
  • The website won’t load (blocked), my.nordaccount.com will load, but ISPs will monitor you.
  • The Android and iPhone apps aren’t available in Egypt app stores.
  • The Windows software is blocked from downloading. You would have to use shady thirdparties.
  • Once installed, you can’t actually log into your Nord account via the Windows or Linux apps due to the specific login URLs being blocked. You have to use another VPN or log in outside of Egypt, but don’t bother.
  • As of 2024, nothing will log in except for Obfuscated servers, via TCP, about 20% of the time, and not many servers will work.
  • Usually, the connection will only last 5 to 30 minutes and then you’ll end up with a dead connection. The DPI has detected your TCP OpenVPN connection.
• PIA: Doesn’t work. Could never get a connection. Can’t login. Blocked website.
• Torguard:
  • Everything seems to work.
  • Not even https://torguard.net/ is blocked.
  • No problems logging in via the VPN. No problems connecting.
  • With the default settings, dead-but-still-connected connections happen about every 30-45 minutes.
  • With the obfuscated servers, no problems.
  • Only works via obfuscated servers on Egyptian cellular (tested via Vodafone and Orange and We) and then excruciatingly slowly (1-2 kb/sec).
• ExpressVPN
  • Website is blocked.
  • Logging in works if you DO have your Access Key written down somewhere. If not, logging in from inside Egypt without a VPN is terribly difficult.
  • The app just works, everywhere I’ve tried it.
  • Connects to all servers and stays alive indefinitely. Can’t remember a DPI-kill once.
  • Works flawlessly on Egyptian cellular networks (tested via Vodafone and Orange and We).
  • Works extremely well via OpenWRT routers -and- especially the ExpressVPN routers, which I personally use.
  • Downside: CAPTCHA hell, especially on CloudFlare and Google (which seems to outright block most US servers). Now I switch to bing.com which doesn’t block anything.
• ProtonVPN:
  • I could login and I use Proton Mail daily.
  • I could not download the Linux or Windows apps. They both timed out when using Egyptian home internet without another VPN.
  • Because of this, I was never actually able to test it.
• Mullvad VPN:
  • The website is not blocked.
  • The app is available in app stores.
  • When you hit connect, it will spin and spin and try four to seven different servers and different types, but after less than a minute, it will connect.
  • Speeds are much, much better than ExpressVPN.
  • Google is hardly never blocked.
  • Much less CAPTCHA hell, but still exists.
  • I’ve never experienced a DPI connection kill.
  • Works on some Egyptian cellular (We).
  • Doesn’t work on most Egyptian cellular (Vodafone, Orange).
  • It is one of the few that you can register, pay for, log in, and setup 100% while in Egypt, without needing another VPN.
• Surfshark: Completely blocked. 100% of their supported protocols are completely blocked by the Firewall and DPI.

Personally, I use both ExpressVPN and Mullvad. I default to ExpressVPN and Mullvad for streaming and Google search and work-related.

I was looking for a VPN to use for a few days. Other VPNs immediately tried to get me into their 'ecosystem'. "Take our $14 subscription!", "Subscribe for 2 years!", "Give us your e-mail so we can spam you!".

Mullvad was a breath of fresh air. Within 2 minutes of finding their website I was connected to their VPN, costing $5 for 30 days. They support iDeal, and no unsubscribing was required.

Hey, VPN users. I’ve been using both Private Internet Access (PIA) and NordVPN for a while now, and I thought it would be helpful to compare them head-to-head. Here's a breakdown of all the important aspects, from pricing to security, to, hopefully, help you decide which one suits your needs better.

Table of contents

• Summary of findings
• Pros and cons of both providers
• Pricing
• Technical details (servers, protocols, speed, encryption)
• Conclusion

Summary of findings

Pros and Cons of NordVPN vs. PIA

When comparing these two VPNs, NordVPN stands out for its fast and consistent speeds, making it ideal for activities like streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Its advanced security features, including Double VPN and CyberSec, along with its Panama-based headquarters, offer strong privacy protection for those concerned about data security. 

On the other hand, Private Internet Access (PIA) offers a budget-friendly alternative with reliable encryption and a no-logs policy that has been proven in court, making it a great choice for users who want solid privacy without the extra frills. However, PIA’s inconsistent speeds and less reliable streaming capabilities might make it less appealing for power users, especially those looking for smooth international content unblocking.

Pricing

Both VPN providers offer competitive pricing, but PIA comes in as the more affordable option. However, NordVPN frequently runs major discounts, making it more accessible for users who want the extra features and performance it offers.

Private Internet Access pricing

PIA’s pricing is highly attractive for budget-conscious users. You can get a great deal, especially on their long-term plans.

• PIA coupon code: 3Y4M (85% off)

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN is slightly more expensive but is packed with features that surely justify the higher cost. On top, their longer-term plans offer better value.

• NordVPN discount code: redditoffer (87% off)

Technical Aspects

Conclusion for NordVPN vs PIA: NordVPN stood out

While Private Internet Access (PIA) is a budget-friendly option for users who need basic protection and privacy, NordVPN comes out as the clear winner. Its faster speeds, larger server network, advanced security features, and streaming reliability make it the better overall choice, especially for those who prioritize speed, privacy, and access to geo-blocked content. On top, if you take use of existing discount codes, it will cost almost the same!

My results so far are not so satisfying. Testing on appletv and firestick

IPLAYER

1. Expressvpn works but quality is very poor
2. Surfshark don't always works on live tv. If it does work quality is really good
3. CyberGhost works very good

ITVX

1. Expressvpn works but quality is not always good
2. Surfshark works but quality is sometimes poor
3. Cyberghost good quality, some rare buffer

NOWTV

1. Expressvpn perfect quality but extra channels like sport + won't work
2. Surfshark works perfectly but abruptly stops and need to restart app (both appletv and firestick)
3. CyberGhost doesn't always works, if it does work it's flawless

DISCOVERY +

1. Expressvpn quality good most of the times
2. Surfshark doesn't always work, quality not very stable
3. Cyberghost only works on pc

CHANNEL 4

Only works on appletv so no cyberghost (there's no app). Working fine with Expressvpn and Surfshark

OTHER CHANNELS STREAMING APPS

Can't find any problem with other apps

I’ve been using StarVPN’s free tier for a while, and it’s one of the better options out there. It allows access to servers in several countries, which is awesome for a free service. While there is a daily data cap, it’s more than enough for casual browsing and even streaming in small doses. The app itself is really simple to use, with an easy setup and quick connection times. If you’re looking for a basic VPN that offers decent features without paying upfront, StarVPN is a solid choice. It’s especially handy for maintaining privacy and unblocking region-locked content!

Hey everyone, just wanted to drop my two cents on Surfshark and make a Surfshark VPN review, as I've been using it for a while now. I've hopped between a bunch of VPNs in the past and here's why I think Surfshark is a solid pick. Spoiler: I’m renewing it.

The good stuff:

1. Affordable AF: straight up, Surfshark offers a really good price-to-feature ratio. It's probably the most budget-friendly premium VPN I’ve tried that still holds up on performance. Unlimited devices, tons of server locations, and smooth apps, plus it costs way less than a lot of the competition is what got me initially. Pro tip: if you're looking to save even more, check out the discount codes on r/surfshark.

2. Server locations: they’ve got a ton of servers (around 3200), and honestly, none of the places I needed were missing. Whether I’m connecting from Europe or hopping over to the US, it's all there. Plus, they’re upfront about which ones are virtual.

3. Unlimited devices: the whole "connect as many devices as you want" thing is a HUGE plus. I’ve got it running on five devices at home, and I share my account with a friend’s family - no issues at all.

4. Streaming: if you're all about Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+, Surfshark does a pretty solid job. I mostly use it on my laptop and Fire Stick, and no buffering, no issues with streaming quality. Works on all my go-to platforms, and that’s more than I can say for some other VPNs I’ve tried.

5. Solid security: multi-hop, rotating IP, kill switch, split tunneling - it’s packed with all the good stuff you’d expect. Plus, WireGuard is available on pretty much all servers, which helps keep things speedy.

The ”meh” moments:

1. Speeds: They're not terrible either - I'm usually around 155 Mbps, which is fine for me, but if you’re expecting to max out your gigabit connection, you might be left wanting more. It's not the fastest VPN on the block, but it’s reliable enough for daily browsing, streaming, and casual downloads.
2. CleanWeb: Their ad-blocking feature, CleanWeb, is okay but not perfect. It breaks some websites for me, so I just leave it off most of the time.

Verdict:

For the price you’re paying for Surfshark, you’re getting a pretty robust set of features, solid streaming support, and the freedom to connect all the devices you want. If you’re after an affordable, no-nonsense VPN that covers most of the bases, I’d say this Surfshark VPN review should make it clear that Surfshark is definitely worth trying out IMO.

Been on NordVPN and ExpressVPN for a while now, and after some testing, I thought I’d share my findings to help you decide which VPN is the right fit for your needs as they both have their pros and cons. Let’s dive into the key differences between these two popular VPN providers: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN.

Pricing

I’ll just get straight to the wallet talk. If you're looking for a short-term commitment, ExpressVPN and NordVPN are pretty much neck and neck, with ExpressVPN starting at $12.95/month and NordVPN at $12.99/month. However, you really start saving when you opt for a longer plan.

NordVPN stands out in this area, offering a 1-year plan at just $4.99/month. Their best deal, however, is the 2-year plan, which slashes the price to a mere $3.09/month. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, has its longest plan (12 months) priced at $6.67/month. So, if you're playing the long game, NordVPN offers a much better deal overall.

Plus, NordVPN often has additional promotions and discounts available - use the coupon code "savings" for extra savings. ExpressVPN, unfortunately, doesn’t offer many promotions, making it harder to get a better deal.

As you can see, NordVPN vs ExpressVPN shows clear advantages for NordVPN, especially when it comes to long-term savings.

Privacy and security

Both VPNs take your privacy seriously. If you compare NordVPN vs ExpressVPN, they both use the industry-standard AES-256 encryption and secure tunneling protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2. Neither provider is based in a 14-Eyes Alliance country, which is great news for anyone serious about privacy.

However, there’s a slight edge for NordVPN here. They’ve undergone four external audits of their no-logs policy (PwC in 2018 & 2020, Deloitte in 2022 & 2024), whereas ExpressVPN has had two (KPMG in 2022 & 2023). 

During my own tests, neither showed any signs of DNS leaks, so you're in good hands with both. But if we’re nitpicking, NordVPN’s audit track record is a bit more robust.

Speed

Speed can make or break a VPN experience, especially if you're into streaming or gaming. In my NordVPN vs ExpressVPN tests, NordVPN edged out ExpressVPN in terms of download speed retention rates. For instance, on UK servers, NordVPN clocked an average download speed of 475 Mbit/s, while ExpressVPN lagged slightly behind at 460 Mbit/s.

Both services delivered similar results for ping and upload speeds, but if you’re all about the download speeds, NordVPN takes the win here too.

Server locations & features

Server numbers

• NordVPN: 6,400+ servers in 111 countries
• ExpressVPN: Servers in 105 countries with exact number of servers undisclosed

Common Features between NordVPN and ExpressVPN

• RAM-only servers
• Split tunneling
• Smart DNS
• Stealth VPN
• No-logs policy audited

Exclusive Features

• NordVPN:
  • Meshnet feature
  • Dedicated IP options
  • Supports WireGuard protocol
• ExpressVPN:
  • Router applet

Devices Count

• NordVPN: 10 simultaneous connections
• ExpressVPN: 8 simultaneous connections

So, if you compare ExpressVPN vs NordVPN in terms of features and flexibility, NordVPN offers more options, especially for users looking to connect more devices or use additional features like dedicated IP.

Summary

Final Thoughts

Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN are solid choices, but NordVPN clearly comes out as the winner here. With its better long-term pricing options, additional features, and excellent speed performance, it offers more value overall.

That said, if you prefer a VPN with a polished, user-friendly experience and don’t mind the higher price for a shorter commitment, ExpressVPN might still be a good choice.

That’s my take on both of these. As with anything, the best VPN choice may be different for everyone but I believe this is something that many will agree on.

Hey Reddit. I've spent around 6 years trialing everything from freebies to premium VPN offerings. In this journey, I've used services like ExpressVPN, which I dropped following the acquisition by Kape Technologies, and ProtonVPN (I’ll share a review on this one later, there’s much to say).

Yet for the past three years, my go-to has been NordVPN. So here's my honest NordVPN review - a deep dive into my experience, moving beyond the surface-level praise.

NordVPN Review: Cost Overview

Before we dive into the pricing details, it's important to note that NordVPN frequently offers discounts and promotions. So, instead of buying it for full price, be sure to use a coupon code like redditoffer (this one is taken from the Best VPN List on this subreddit) for additional savings.

Overall, NordVPN's pricing structure is straightforward, featuring three primary plans: Standard, Plus, and Ultimate. Costs vary based on the length of your subscription, with longer plans offering better savings. For instance:

• Basic: $3.09/month for 2-year, $4.99/month for 1-year, $12.99/month for 1-month plan.
• Plus: $3.99/month for 2-year, $5.99/month for 1-year, $13.99/month for 1-month plan.
• Ultimate: $5.99/month for 2-year, $7.99/month for 1-year, and $15.99/month for 1-month plan.

NordVPN Review: Key Elements

• NordVPN No-Logs Statement: The company’s commitment to security is evident. NordVPN's no-logs policy has been audited four times (2018, 2020, 2022, 2024), each time reaffirming their commitment to user privacy.
• Security Strengths: NordVPN's security framework is robust, anchored by AES-256 encryption - the standard in the industry. This level of encryption ensures that your data is virtually impenetrable. My personal extensive tests found no DNS leaks.
• NordVPN Speed Test Results: Performance is a high point with good speeds across various global servers. Even on servers located far from my physical location, I experienced minimal speed loss, which is essential for activities like streaming, gaming, and large file downloads. Basically, NordVPN delivers high performance with minimal latency.
• Ease of Use: The interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy for beginners to navigate while still offering advanced options for seasoned VPN users. Features like the Quick Connect button, which instantly connects you to the fastest server, make it user-friendly. The settings are straightforward to adjust, and the app provides helpful tips, enhancing the overall user experience.
• Global Reach: One of NordVPN's standout features is its vast server network. With over 6,400 servers spread across 111 countries, it offers a wide range of geographical options.
• Customer Support: NordVPN's customer service is exemplary. Available 24/7, the support team can be reached via live chat or email. In my interactions, I found them to be accessible, knowledgeable, and professional. They provide prompt and efficient solutions, ensuring that any issues are resolved quickly.

NordVPN Protocols

• OpenVPN: Great for all-around security.
• IKEv2/IPsec: Best suited for mobile devices.
• NordLynx (adaptation of WireGuard): The top choice overall for speed and security.

NordVPN: Pros and Cons

Concluding Thoughts

Despite the minor cons, NordVPN is still a top-tier choice for those seeking reliable, fast, and secure VPN services. The quality and range of features justify the pricing it offers.

Would I Recommend NordVPN? Yes indeed. It’s a well-rounded service that checks most boxes for VPN needs. That’s my in-depth NordVPN review, but I’m eager to hear about your experiences!

tl/dr: Wallpunch is a tool to get around internet censorship. We have completed a major update and will provide free test accounts for those interested (only iOS/Mac for now). PM me or email support@wallpunch.net.

***BACKGROUND***

One year ago we released Wallpunch, a new type of VPN for getting around internet censorship. So far the results have been promising: over the past 12 months the only downtime users have experienced has been due to bugs in the Wallpunch system itself. There have been no reported occurrences of the protocol being blocked, either locally or widespread, even during politically sensitive periods where other VPNs experienced issues. We also successfully mitigated several sustained DDOS attacks on the service.

That said, the original implementation has lots of room for improvement, including:

• It can become quite inefficient when connections have high packet loss, as is the case for users in China.
• It relies exclusively on TCP connections, missing out on the potential performance benefits of UDP.
• Most importantly, the particular circumvention strategy it uses is not easy to update in response to changing censorship conditions. The current strategy works well now, but more users will eventually draw more attention from censors, requiring increasingly frequent updates and diverse circumvention methods.

For several months now we’ve been rebuilding the protocol from the ground up to fix these issues. Specifically:

• Tunnel overhead has been reduced significantly and the algorithm for resending data on high packet loss connections is much more precise.
• Both TCP and UDP (as well as IPv6 in addition to v4) can be used when available.
• A modular approach to circumvention, similar to Tor's pluggable transports, makes it extremely easy to update strategies, and a single VPN tunnel can use any number of strategies simultaneously.

***BETA***

Now that Version 2.0 is finally complete and has been thoroughly tested in "laboratory conditions", we are looking for people to try it out in the real world. The main goals of this round of testing are:

• Fine-tune the different strategy parameters and the rules for automatically selecting the best combination of strategies.
• Find and eliminate rare bugs or bugs that only occur in unusual network environments.
• Collect general quality-of-life/usability feedback.

If you are interested shoot me a PM here or send an email to support@wallpunch.net. We have limited server bandwidth available for testers, so if there is a lot of interest we will prioritize people in countries with strict internet censorship (China, Iran, Russia etc.). Right now v2.0 is only available for iOS/Mac via TestFlight, but Android and Windows versions will be ready soon.

A few months ago, I installed Tuxler VPN to try out their Residential IP addresses. I only used it for a few days, and forgot to uninstall it on my computer.

So today, I go to look at my data usage in Windows and notice something a bit fishy, I see a little over 1000 GB of data usage in the past 30 days, and I've never used that much before, I normally only use 300-400 GB, and I see that the app I installed for Tuxler had used 800 GB!

Now, I have an app called Glasswire, and I check to see what Hosts/Domains the Tuxler app is accessing, and its a bunch of domains that I've never even been to before! They waited a few months and then secretly in the background turned my computer into a VPN server for their customers to access!

If you were thinking about getting Tuxler, or currently use it I would cancel your subscription, and avoid using Tuxler at all!

Surfshark tried to refund money to the wrong network, even though I specified the right one. As a result, I cancelled the refund and asked them to repeat the process using the correct network. It has been 25 days since then, and I am still waiting. Support says the refund is delayed.

Request number: 6084971

If Surfshark checks this Reddit: I have already written an email to miles@…, but all it does is forward messages to the general support.

Upd: received the refund on the 38th day

Hello r/vpnreviews!

Jumping in here to remind you about an exciting new opportunity – if you're passionate about cybersecurity, data security, and online privacy, check out and join the NordVPN Community Council. 

As a member of this council, you’ll have the chance to:

• Be the first to try out beta features and new products, providing invaluable feedback directly to our development team.
• Participate in exclusive Q&A sessions with senior members of NordVPN.
• Help shape the future of online privacy and security tools, making the internet a safer place for everyone.
• Receive fair compensation for your time and contributions.

Sign-up if you are either:

• Moderators of cybersecurity, technology, or privacy-focused subreddits.
• Individuals who are passionate about advancing online privacy.
• Community voices who are eager to represent anyone that is interested in cybersecurity.

Application Details:

• Apply via Google Forms [HERE].
• The application window is open until September 5th.
• Selected members will be notified through Reddit messages within 2 weeks of the deadline.

We're stepping into uncharted territory here, but we believe in joint force power. So let's do this together! 

_________________________________________

If you have any questions, feel free to send us a message via Reddit. Good luck and catch up soon!

As a moderator of r/vpnreviews, I’ve seen how challenging it can be to choose the best VPN With so many choices, finding the tool to suit your needs can be overwhelming. That’s why we wanted to highlight the comprehensive Best VPNs list, evaluating various providers across key criteria like speed, security features, pricing, and more.

• Best VPNs list - VPN comparison table in Google Sheets

This table isn’t our creation; it’s a resource put together by the members of the r/VPN community. It reflects a collective effort to simplify the decision-making process and help you find the best VPN according to Reddit.

What makes a VPN the best in 2024?

Here are some of the critical factors the table considers

1. Speed: The comparison table ranks VPNs based on their speed performance, considering both local and international servers.

2. Security and Privacy: The table highlights VPNs with strong encryption, a solid no-logs policy, and advanced security features like kill switches and DNS leak protection.

3. Ease of Use: The table compares VPNs based on the simplicity of their interfaces and the availability of apps for various devices.

4. Support & Reliability: The comparison table evaluates the availability and quality of support, including 24/7 live chat, email support, and helpful resources.

5. Value for Money**:** Pricing is an important factor, and the table provides a clear view of the cost of each VPN, including the value offered in relation to the features provided.

To help you find the best VPN for your needs, I encourage you to check out the VPN comparison table. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the leading VPN services, allowing you to compare them across various critical factors. Whether you’re looking for the fastest VPN, the most secure option, the best VPN for Mac, iPhone, PC, or Android device, or simply the best value for your money, this table will guide you to the right choice.

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Have you found a particular VPN to be especially effective? Are there features you consider essential that the table might not have covered? Let’s discuss and continue to refine this guide, making it as helpful as possible for everyone looking for the best VPN in 2024.

I got tempted into a life-time sub with this VPN. Seemed like a good deal to begin with.

But nothing seems to work. Their Windows app looks good. But it doesn't do most of the things it features. Split-tunneling doesn't work, for me. Most of the times, it says it is connected to a server, but turns out it is not.

At first, I just thought it was a buggy VPN app.

Then I installed their extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. They all say I'm logged on to some server. My IP always remains the same; the one given to me by my own ISP. Their extensions do nothing.

Then I made the mistake of purchasing a dedicated IP there. That does work. But I get speeds under 1mbit. up and down. Useless.

Contacting their support only seems doable through their 'chat'. This is a complete nightmare. I'm either talking to a bots, or people who know very little about IT.

I'm om day three now, awaiting their 'solution' to my slow speed issue. I don't think I'll ever hear from them again.

I then did a search here on Reddit, for FastestVPN, and came across this thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/FastestVPN/comments/mjwoc9/nothing_works_fastestvpn_is_a_scam/

Every positive comment is a bot...

So, naturally, now I'm thinking the whole company is a scam...
Any non-bots here with actual experience with FastestVPN?

I signed up for a NordVPN account last August for a one year subscription. They charged me $68 on August 20, 2023. I was reviewing my visa statement and noticed they charged me $219 on August 6 (2 weeks prior to my one year subscription expiring). I only had signed up for the basic service and the $219 did not include any additional features. I’m disgusted by this type of behaviour of companies trying to sneak charges past you in the hopes you don’t check your statements. This is fraud. I have cancelled my subscription. Is there another VPN service out there that someone can recommend? Please check your Visa card statements if you have a recurring NordVPN subscription.

I'm not usually one to leave reviews, but I had to share my experience with PremierVPN. As someone who's not tech-savvy and typically goes for mainstream providers, I was pleasantly surprised by how well PremierVPN suited my needs as a Mac OS and iOS user.

I usually sign up for VPNs during those never-ending sales from big-name companies, but this time, I took a chance and tried something different. Living in Turkey for half the year and the UK for the other half, I face a lot of geo-blocks on services I use. Even my son's Roblox was blocked!

Setting it up on my router was a easy but I did need directions and remote help initially, now I know, what really impressed me was how seamlessly it works on my iOS and Mac devices. It runs quietly in the background without a hiccup, maintaining solid connections for hours and even days.

For someone like me who isn't a tech expert, finding a VPN that just works without hassle is a relief tbh. PremierVPN is now my favorite, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for reliable VPN service.

GD

Hello r/vpnreviews !

The NordVPN team is excited to introduce a new initiative – NordVPN Community Council! Why now? What exactly it is and why should you consider being a part of it? 

Over the years, we've noticed that some of our most engaged community members are here, on Reddit. The insights we gain from subreddit are precious to us. It pushes our limits and helps us build better cybersecurity tools for everyone. 

And now, we’re ready to expand the scope of information gathering beyond the confines of our community. We feel enthusiastic about collaborating with other bright, privacy-oriented minds and communities to help us grow in the right direction.

Join if any of these apply:

• You are a moderator of cybersecurity, technology, or online privacy subreddits.
• You are concerned and willing to advance online privacy by assisting the NordVPN team.
• You are ready to represent the cybersecurity-conscious in your community.
• You want to work with us— we want you!

Why should you join?

• You will be among the first to receive beta features and/or new products to test and give feedback.
• You will be able to join online Q&A sessions with our senior members of the NordVPN development team.
• You will be one of the people whose efforts and insights could help create a radically better internet.
• You will get a fair compensation for your time. 

Participation in selection and other important details:

• Submit your application via Google Forms HERE.
• Submission period - June 20th - September 1st (may be extended).
• Selected members will receive their confirmation through Reddit messages within 2 weeks after the deadline.

We hope you already feel the excitement like we do! We're stepping into uncharted territory here, and we honestly don't know how it will go. However, we believe in joint force power, so let's do this together! 

_______________________________________

If you have any questions, feel free to send us a message via Reddit. Good luck and catch up soon!

Hey howdy,

So I’m new to the VPN space but wanting to get one, however I’ve noticed a lot of the companies are like… So whack. Like Proton was funding HK and Express is owned by an Israeli company, who I don’t support (please don’t get political, I just think they own enough lol).

I know that getting a vpn lowkey defeats the purpose of being ethical but does anyone know if there’s any companies who aren’t like, funding police brutality or any whack shit like that? Or do they just not exist??

Thanks heaps!

Note: again, please no political comments or whack comments, I’m genuinely asking as I’m trying to be more ethical in my consumption especially with how many companies are connected to terrible things like genocides and shiz.

Second note: for those of you who swear by Mullvad, what do you think about them not complying with the EU regulation preventing child abuse online? On one hand I’m like that’s whack, but also complying would defeat the whole purpose of the company? Just an interesting discussion!!

This is hardly a rant. The evidence is provided below and people can draw their own conclusions. I bought a "lifetime" subscription from Ivacy in 2018 which they now refuse to honor. The readers here should know about this.

Ivacy VPN (IVACY VPN)

Jun 8, 2024, 02:15 GMT+5

Dear Esteemed Customer,
 
Thank you for bringing up your inquiry regarding the terminology used in relation to our "lifetime" subscription offering through affiliate partners. Allow me to provide some context and clarity on this matter.
 
 
In the technology industry, the term "lifetime" typically denotes the life cycle or supported period for a given software product or service. This duration can vary across different types of technologies, but for cloud-based services like ours, a standard "lifetime" window is often around 5 years.
 
 
While this practice is widely accepted within tech circles, I understand how it can lead to confusion and even be perceived as misleading advertising when presented to general consumers who may not be familiar with this context. When you purchase a "lifetime" subscription from us or our partners, it's reasonable to expect permanent access for your own lifetime as an individual.
 
 
Allow me to directly address this discrepancy. Our intention was not to deliberately misrepresent or deceive, but rather to align with the common industry language used by our affiliates and partners. However, we acknowledge that we failed to adequately define and disclose these parameters in our customer-facing materials.
 

Moving forward, we will be taking the following actions:
We can offer an additional 24 months as compensation if you choose to resubscribe to the 5-year plan.
 
We appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention, as it gives us the opportunity to enhance our disclosures and business practices. While our terminology is rooted in industry norms, we understand your perspective and are committed to setting proper expectations through transparent and ethical communication.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or concerns.
 
Sincerely,
Mason

Ivacy Customer Success Team

I lived in China where VPN is necessary. I purchased 6 months Panda VPN for 47USD. It stopped working in 3 days & I requested refund. They ignored my email but the story did not stop there, I just found out that they kept charging me over the years ~200USD.

I wrote them asking for refund but again no response.

Anyone else has been the victim of Panda VPN's scam?

We need to find out where are they based and take legal action while also writing to Apple support demanding investigation of an app promoted on their App Store scamming people. Let's report Panda VPN with google play and every forum available.

Hey everyone. So I used Speedify for 3 years, I figured I'd leave a detailed review here.
Summary: its a less-than-mediocre VPN, but a great bonding service.

The good:

1. This is an amazing bonding service. The original reason why I found and bought Speedify is because I lived in an apartment complex that offered free internet with my rent. However, they throttled the service down. I noticed that however many devices were independently connected would get the exact same speed. So I did some research and found speedify, a bonding service. How it would work for me is that I would have a few different wifi antennas that would get their own connection to the service. Speedify would bond these into a single stream and boost my internet speeds. It could handle 3 different connections at once which was nice! When I moved, and wasn't being throttled, I could bond my cell phone data and my internet for an even faster speed.
2. They had a trial period from what I remember. If they still do, I recommend before you start, make a list of critical websites/apps you MUST use and try to use them while behind the VPN and on your nearest server where you live/spend most of your life. (see the ugly below).
3. They have periodic meetings where you can literally join in on the developers and talk with them directly.
4. Their android app is amazing! It has app specific work arounds (will allow non-vpn traffic through for that particular app) which is very nice.
5. Their support team response very quickly.
6. There are servers all over the world. I did some traveling and didn't have much lag.
7. download speeds are great, never had any issues with some rare exceptions (see below).

The bad:

1. The bonding didn't ALWAYS result in higher speeds. Or if it did, sometimes it was only marginal. I think this was MOSTLY due to the fact that where I was bonding had marginal cell phone service. But the vast majority of times (like 75%) when you bonded, you got much faster download speeds. I would say if your first source was 10 MBps, and your second sources was 8 MBps, you'd end up getting a d/l speed around 15MBps or so on average.

2. Their windows app needs work. It offers "work around" for specific services (even if those services aren't on your computer) but doesn't offer actual app specific work arounds. I once even tried to tell the developers this and they basically didn't want to help. I mean they referred me to the support team. I reached out to the support team, but they basically said "no" in so many words.

3. auto start on android doesn't always work. I have my phone set up to automatically restart once a week. I've noticed sometimes that I have to manually open speedify app to actually connect; not always though.

4. No way to quickly turn on/off kill switch. Okay so "quickly" is a loose term here. I mean within a swipe and a tap vs digging in the menu/settings which only takes a few seconds. Here is the situation. I have kill switch on, there is a website that won't allow my traffic (see ugly point 1 below). So I need to turn my VPN connection off momentarily; I turn it off, and the kill switch activates, disabling my internet. So the app (android and windows) offers 3 options: reconnect (now, in 1 hr, 2 hrs etc), turn off kill switch, or stay disconnected. I WISH it had a "turn off killswitch for 1 hour 2hurs etc) option. However, this could also be solved with simply having servers that don't constantly require human verification.

5. There were some (mostly very recently) bad "hiccups" with certain servers. I've noticed sometimes my internet was so slow, or not even working. I switched servers and it fixed it. I wish the app would detect these things and try to find a better server on its own.

6. pretty much every streaming service detects you're using a VPN so, can't use speedify while streaming a video from amazon/netflix etc.

The ugly:

1. So I think a large part of why there is ugly, is because they built speedify as a bonding service first and a VPN second. As I moved, I realized I needed a VPN more than a bonding service; especially with these problems listed below.
2. Some of their servers force me to CONSTANTLY prove I am human or outright won't even work on certain websites; ultimately this is why I am leaving Speedify. I have noticed that connecting to some servers (unfortunately one of them near me) make it almost impossible to get anything done with particular websites. There are four flavors of sites. Remember this is server dependent; so other servers (slower) don't have this problem as much (different ratios). The below is for the server closest to me.
   1. The best, are the ones that simply work I would say this is about 60% of the websites I visit.
   2. The second flavor of websites continually vet with an infinite vetting loop that I can never get past. I would say this is about 5% of the websites.
   3. Some website straight up denying access. I estimate about 10% of the websites; but some very critical ones.
      1. THIS ugly problem is especially a problem with particular apps and businesses. August smart lock actually "banned" me (name/address/email/phone number) from buying their products, and I am 99.99% sure it is b/c they have an algorithm that says my ip address (with my VPN ) was suspect. But since I didn't know it at the time I tried like 50 times to buy a product and they eventually told me to try again in a week, and then when I tried again they said come back in a month.
      2. I had a person I know and trust buy the locks for me, and gave them to me. When I went to set up the locks, there were issues. Eventually I turned off speedify VPN and after a few minutes it worked.
   4. And a large quantity of websites asking you to prove you're human many times, but do let you progress. About 25% of the websites
3. I'm pretty sure they log everything. I remember reading/seeing it somewhere, but too lazy to get the references.

Does anyone have any comment regarding this? https://restoreprivacy.com/protonmail-discloses-user-data-leading-to-arrest-in-spain/

I opted for the trial option
After 7 days, I cancelled my account and deleted their services from my PC

3 months later, I happened to check my account and I see ExpressVPN charges

Apparently, they said the system didn't acknowledge the cancellation request. But I kept a screenshots of the cancelations

Now, they won't refund my $$$ because their system didn't acknowdlege my request.

Beware of companies like this

We are developing a brand new VPN application and while the app is in the early stages of development we're looking for beta-testers that will gain an exclusive early access to the application and will be able to use it absolutely for free during the whole period of the development.

Currently we have a beta version of the app for Windows (x86 and x64) and we're building up a team of beta-testers who will be using the app for whatever needs they have and all we ask in return is to write 350 characters weekly report about a personal experience with the application: any problems, any issues, any suggestions, any other feedback to share.

If you feel like you could be the one to enroll into the program and would like to receive an early access to PlainVPN application, please follow these steps in order to become a part of beta-testing team:

1. Go to https://plain-vpn.net/invite to get yourself an active invite and copy it.
2. Follow the instructions on the next page.
3. Get early access to PlainVPN app and start using it leaving reports every week.

We will be informing you about new features including new server locations, application updates (you will see an in-app notification about an update availability), new platforms (MacOS and iOS coming in the next few months, Android coming after that) and much more.

P.S. For those asking, this is not a job offering. This is us providing a free VPN service while in response you write us a couple of sentences of feedback weekly.

Exciting news for all Apple TV users - Surfshark is on Apple TV now! This is a game-changer because there will be no need to go through the hassle of setting up a VPN via a Wi-Fi router which was the only thing holding me back from purchasing a VPN before.

In my opinion, their native VPN app specifically for Apple TV now directly addresses one of the biggest gaps - access to geo-restricted content. And Surfshark is also one of the top budget-friendly options - win-win situation.

From what I see people speaking so far, Surfshark on Apple TV works just the way it’s intended to so far. If only they’ll be able to make it work with MLB.tv (maybe it already does, has anyone tried?), this will be groundbreaking for me…

I checked for some discounts but noticed they have an offer “redditspecial” on this sub, so will let you know in the thread whether I’ll succeed!

What are your first impressions?

As the title suggest, this review is for people whom intend to watch India Live streams on Android TV. Mainly on 2 websites; Hotstar and SonyLiv. The overall review of this vpn on reddit seems really positive, but it ended with me gotten a refund, since it's way below expectation.

Pros:

-Depend on your local country, buying through playstore will be 10-30% cheaper than website. But this comes with a cons, read this below

-When I posted my issue on this community, the mod did mentioned that they will add into their developments. I appreciate such customer service

Cons:

-Its Android TV app is a very strip down version of the mobile/pc, which allows you to only select country and report a bug. The TV app does not have basic functions to select regions or protocol. Eg. India has Mumbai and Delhi servers, but on the app you can only select India and not knowing which region/protocol you are on or choose

-Most live streams did not work on SonyLiv. Hotstar works but will stop and buffer every 5mins

-Purchase via playstore, refund will have to go through playstore and its refund policy is significantly shorter

Hi, in the last 6 months, I've been targeted, stealing my data, passwords, social media accounts, and they stole my Facebook which I am still not able to recover, and yesterday the same hacker from Brazil stole my credit card details, good thing my bank stopped the $200 transaction and notified me, they canceled it until I get a new one.

He is the same hacker, still on my back for 6 months straight.

I've been told it's a mistake not to use any VPN, and that it would be more safe and secured.

Does anyone know if HMA! (Hide my as$) VPN good? On G2A website, there is a good offer, $20 for two years.

I download music and torrents daily, should I go ahead and buy it?

I am posting this also over at r/hacking.

For several weeks, my accounts and computers have been under attack. 

Hackers successfully hacked my Microsoft and Google Accounts and my Apple ID. In doing so, they successfully pass by F2A.

They always follow the same process:

1. They gain access to the system via a CyberGhost. I surf to a malicious website with CyberGhost activated and am then infected. This happens without me engaging in "risky" activities. I did not install a "necessary plugin" or "adblocker". I simply surf and get infected.
2. The hackers deactivate running antivirus processes
3. They produce a screen on my device that invites me to enter my password and F2A. These screens look indistinguishable from regular login screens. It is possible that they will use an MFA bypassing phishing kit for this (see article here). After entering my credentials, I am logged into my account, presumably simultaneously with the hackers.
4. They add their own devices as trusted devices to your accounts. These devices cannot be located. They can either have random PC names, be designated as VM ware machines, or they can even be known device duplicates.
5. The hackers then access the password managers of the accounts, hacking all other accounts. So far, they have sold my Spotify account and my ea.com account. Furthermore, they have used one of my email addresses to send spam. They also had access to all files on my OneDrive and Google Drive, including all family photos, but it is still being determined whether they did anything with that.

The following are indications that you have been infected:

• You receive requests to enter your password and F2A credentials at unexpected times
• The windows within these credentials are entered do not display the full URL path
• There is more latency in the login procedures than usual. You cannot point your finger at it because all seems legitimate, yet it still seems slightly "off".
• You remove trusted devices from your account and change your password, only to find hostile devices added back in immediately after you log in the next time.
• Your antivirus program is not running, although it should

I have taken the following steps, and they seem to work well so far:

1. Install an Antivirus program. Quarantine or delete the infected exploit (hiding in the cyberghost cache). Scan not only your hard drive but also your cloud drives.
2. Uninstall Cyberghost
3. Remove all trusted devices, log out of all active sessions, and change all passwords (in that sequence, one account after another, starting with your most important accounts). Activate F2A everywhere. If you have, you still need to do so. Activate Passkeys where possible. Even better, use Yubikey.
4. Reinstall Windows (this is a windows specific CyberGhost exploit)
5. Install Antivirus software, rerun the scan
6. Hate cyberghost forever 
7. Progressively change all passwords in the Google Password Manager, Microsoft Wallet and Apple Keychain. Afterwards, delete them and save them in a dedicated third-party password manager.
8. Live wiih the fact that it takes the hackers only minutes to sell your account details on the dark web and that it will take you weeks to change passwords / retrieve them
9. Activate quad9 or similar

Based on the above experience, I cannot recommend anyone continue using cyberghost. I will now let the remaining two years of my subscription expire unused.

My accounts continue to be under attack with at least 10 login attempts per hour on my core accounts. Always from different geographies.