| VPN | ProtonVPN |
| Based in | Switzerland |
| Logs | No logs |
| Price | $4.00/mo. + |
| Support | |
| Refund | 30 days |
| Website | ProtonVPN.com |
ProtonVPN is a newer VPN service from the makers of ProtonMail, a Switzerland-based email service.
In this new and updated review, I put ProtonVPN through extensive testing to examine all aspects of the service:
- How fast is ProtonVPN with servers throughout the network?
- Do all the features work correctly?
- Does ProtonVPN have any problems with IP address leaks or DNS leaks?
- How responsive is the ProtonVPN support staff?
- Does ProtonVPN unblock Netflix?
All of these questions are answered in this ProtonVPN review, with screenshots posted below for verification.
Overall ProtonVPN has made huge improvements in a number of different areas since the last review, but there are still a few drawbacks we’ll cover below.
ProtonVPN overview
Here is a brief overview of my test results and research findings for this ProtonVPN review:
Pros of ProtonVPN:
- Useful privacy features (no leaks)
- Secure server network (secure core)
- Good privacy jurisdiction and data protection policies
- User-friendly VPN apps
- Works well with Netflix
- Responsive and professional support (via email)
- Transparent company with a good track record
Cons of ProtonVPN:
- Variable speeds with some servers
- Prices are above average (for access to all servers and features)
Additional research findings:
- Payment options and refund policy
- Does ProtonVPN work for torrenting?
- Does ProtonVPN work in China?
Pros of ProtonVPN
Here are the Pros that I found for this ProtonVPN review.
1. Useful privacy features (and no leaks)
ProtonVPN has some useful privacy and security features.
First, it offers good leak protection settings with the Windows and Mac OS apps I tested. In addition to the kill switch and DNS leak protection, both the Windows and Android clients also offer a split tunneling feature. This allows you to route traffic for certain applications outside of the VPN tunnel.
ProtonVPN also offers different settings for auto connect, protocol selection (UDP or TCP), and startup options. Regarding the kill switch and leak protection settings, everything worked well in testing for this review.
I ran the Windows and Mac OS apps through some basic VPN tests to identify potential leaks or flaws. Everything checked out (no leaks):
The screenshot above is with the ProtonVPN Windows client. The Mac OS client also did not have any leaks that I could find.
ProtonVPN encryption and VPN protocols
The ProtonVPN Windows client and Linux script utilizes the OpenVPN protocol. The Mac OS, Android, and iOS apps utilize the IKEv2 protocol. You can see my comparison of OpenVPN vs IKEv2 here – both are considered to be secure VPN protocols.
For the data channel, ProtonVPN uses an AES-256-CBC cipher together with HMAC SHA-512 authentication.
2. Secure server network (Secure Core)
ProtonVPN runs its entire network on dedicated bare-metal servers. This is advantageous from a security and performance standpoint over virtual servers.
Currently, ProtonVPN has 568 servers in 43 different countries. This isn’t too bad for geographic diversity, but is definitely smaller than some of the larger VPNs, such as NordVPN.
One unique aspect of ProtonVPN is their implementation of Secure Core.
What is Secure Core?
The Secure Core feature is basically a double-hop VPN server configuration routed through ProtonVPN servers in Switzerland, Sweden, or Iceland. In other words, your traffic will first get routed through one of the Secure Core servers before going to the second VPN server and exiting the encrypted tunnel.
The main advantage of the Secure Core servers is that it provides an additional layer of protection. This protects against a compromised server in a third-party data center, for example. ProtonVPN has gone to great lengths to ensure the security of these “core” servers:
We have also gone to extraordinary lengths to defend our Secure Core servers. First, servers are located in countries selected specifically for their strong privacy laws (Iceland, Switzerland, and Sweden). We also placed our Secure Core servers in high-security data centers to ensure strong physical security. ProtonVPN infrastructure in Switzerland and Sweden is housed in underground data centers, while our Iceland servers are on a former military base. Furthermore, Secure Core servers are wholly owned and provisioned by us(shipped on-site directly from our offices). Finally, Secure Core servers are connected to the Internet using our own dedicated network with IP addresses that are owned and operated by our own Local Internet Registry (LIR).
In addition to ProtonVPN, there are also other VPN providers that offer multi-hop VPN configurations. Unlike with ProtonVPN, however, these other providers do not have the same physical security infrastructure in place.
To use the Secure Core servers, you will need to have a “Plus” or “Visionary” subscription. (We’ll examine the subscription levels more below.) Within the ProtonVPN client, you can toggle the Secure Core servers off/on and then connect to the one you want.
I found the secure core servers to work well, although some were down for maintenance when working on this ProtonVPN review.
Are Secure Core servers slow?
Secure Core servers will generally be slower, simply because traffic is getting routed across two encrypted VPN servers. This adds more encryption and latency. Nonetheless, I still found the Secure Core servers to offer pretty good speeds.
Here is a nearby secure core configuration via Sweden > France: 94 Mbps
Some of the secure core servers I tested with longer distances (higher latency) were slower, but still not horrible.
ProtonVPN’s secure core is slower than other servers, but that’s understandable with the added distance and encryption. Overall the performance was good.
Lastly, ProtonVPN also offers Tor-over-VPN servers. I did test these servers for the review, simply because I knew they would be slow (due to the slow Tor network).
3. Good privacy jurisdiction and data protection policies
ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland under the company ProtonVPN AG. Switzerland is a good privacy jurisdiction and is not part of the five eyes, nine eyes, or 14 eyes surveillance alliances. As noted on the ProtonVPN website:
We are headquartered in Switzerland which has some of the world’s strongest privacy laws. Switzerland is also outside of EU and US jurisdiction and is not a member of the fourteen eyes surveillance network.
From a business standpoint, ProtonVPN is a separate entity from ProtonMail. However, it still falls under the same parent organization, Proton Technologies AG, based in Geneva, Switzerland.
As we’ve covered before, Switzerland is a great jurisdiction for both VPN services and secure email providers.
ProtonVPN logs policy
ProtonVPN describes itself as a no-logs VPN provider. The one thing they store is timestamps, as explained on their support page:
ProtonVPN respects its users’ privacy and enforces a no-logs policy. This means your VPN connections remain private and we do not store information about your connections or the websites you visit.
For the purpose of securing your account and making sure it’s you who is signing in, we store a single timestamp of your accounts most recent login. Again, we do not store any information about where you signed in from or how long you were logged in.
The ProtonVPN privacy policy offers further clarification on the timestamp issue:
Each time a user connects to the Service, we only monitor the timestamp of the last successful login attempt. This gets overwritten each time you successfully log in. This timestamp does not contain any identifying information, such as your IP address or your location; it only contains the time and date of the login.
We retain this limited information to protect user accounts from password brute force attacks. This is necessary to identify password guessing attempts targeting specific user accounts and to take action to protect those accounts.
This is definitely not concerning given that it’s a single timestamp. ProtonVPN also explains in this blog post how they are fully compliant with GDPR privacy protections and do not share data with third parties.
There are also a few no-logs VPN providers that have been verified and audited.
4. User-friendly VPN apps
ProtonVPN has a very nice lineup of apps that are user-friendly and fully-featured.
The layout and design are great, and I also like the dark-mode theme. Here I’m testing out one of the secure core configurations on the ProtonVPN Windows client:
In general, connections were pretty quick to establish and there weren’t any major issues.
ProtonVPN offers dedicated clients (apps) for all major devices and operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you can use ProtonVPN through a client or natively, such as with the IKEv2 protocol on iOS. ProtonVPN does not currently support the WireGuard VPN protocol, which is still under development.
There are also various startup and notification preferences you can customize within the ProtonVPN client.
ProtonVPN also has a command line tool for Linux. If you need a VPN for Mac, you can use the ProtonVPN Mac OS client or natively with IKEv2.
Overall ProtonVPN has a nice lineup of VPN apps, which have improved significantly since I first tested out ProtonVPN when it was released in 2017.
5. ProtonVPN works with Netflix
ProtonVPN also works with different Netflix regions. As they state on the ProtonVPN website:
ProtonVPN users can securely watch US Netflix when connected to any ProtonVPN Plus server located in the US. These servers are available for Plus and Visionary Plan subscribers. For the fastest and most reliable connection, please connect to the server that is closest to your current location.
I tested US Netflix with a ProtonVPN server in New York and did not have any problems getting through. The speeds were adequate for the short tests that I ran.
Note: ProtonVPN currently supports the following Netflix regions:
- US Netflix
- UK Netflix
- German Netflix
To see other VPN services that unblock Netflix regions around the world, check out the best VPN for Netflix guide.
Note: You will need a paid VPN plan to access Netflix (not working with ProtonVPN free plans).
6. Responsive and professional support (via email)
ProtonVPN offers support via email. Their website also has various FAQ articles and guides, which are useful for standard questions.
I used the contact form on their website to submit various inquiries to test out support’s response time.
Overall I was happy with the prompt replies. My inquiries were usually answered on the same day they were submitted.
With previous ProtonVPN reviews, I was critical of their support due to delayed response times (several days). Support with ProtonVPN has definitely improved over the past few years. There’s also an active ProtonVPN subreddit.
Some people prefer a VPN with live chat support, which is indeed useful if you want instant help. While ProtonVPN does not offer live chat, their support team seems to be on top of things.
7. Transparent company with a good track record
It’s no secret that Proton Technologies, including ProtonVPN and ProtonMail, has an excellent reputation in the privacy community. It is also a company that is very transparent and led by reputable, public-facing people.
ProtonMail was started in 2014 by a group of academics/scientists who were working at CERN in Switzerland and also MIT. On the topic of transparency, ProtonMail published an interesting blog post about the organization and leadership:
As a company, we are committed to the highest levels of transparency so you know exactly who you are trusting. Our key employees and their backgrounds are public knowledge. Where we are based, the address of our headquarters, our company statutes, and even our directors are all a matter of public record and available for inspection at the Swiss commercial register. ProtonMail’s initial financing through crowdfunding is also publicly documented, along with the identities of many of our initial 10,000 financial backers. But we go even further than that. We also meticulously document and publish information on all the law enforcement requests that we receive.
Transparency also extends to our communications. We have a published threat model for our services that explains what we can and can’t protect against, and also a very clear privacy policy. Furthermore, important updates are regularly posted on our blog and disseminated to the Proton community. We also engage in daily conversations with the Proton community on Reddit, Twitter, and other platforms.
As noted above, ProtonVPN and ProtonMail both fall under the parent company Proton Technologies AG, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The ProtonVPN arm of this business is officially registered as ProtonVPN AG, which shares the same core leadership as ProtonMail.
Andy Yen is the CEO of both ProtonMail and ProtonVPN. In 2014 he gave a good TED Talk about email privacy here.
Cons of ProtonVPN
Now we’ll take a look at some of the cons of ProtonVPN:
1. Variable speeds with some servers
While ProtonVPN has generally improved with speeds since the last review, it’s also not the fastest VPN I’ve tested.
All speed tests for this ProtonVPN review were carried out with a baseline connection speed of about 160 Mbps from my location in Western Europe, using the speed test website here.
For the first round of ProtonVPN speed tests, I examined servers in Europe.
ProtonVPN server in Switzerland: 152 Mbps
This is excellent considering my baseline speed is 160 Mbps.
Next I tested a ProtonVPN server in Italy. The speeds were not as fast at around 22 Mbps.
Next up, a server in Sweden offered speeds around 60 Mbps:
Lastly, I tested a ProtonVPN server in France, which was pretty good: 149 Mbps.
With nearby servers (around Europe) there was clearly some variability, but overall not too bad.
Next I tested servers in the US and Canada.
First I tested a server in New York and was only able to get around 29 Mbps:
This is definitely under-performing.
I was able to find a few fast servers in the US, however, such as a ProtonVPN server in Virginia at 137 Mbps.
Next I tested a ProtonVPN server in Texas, which gave me about 122 Mbps.
Finally, I tested a server in New Jersey, which was the slowest of them all at around 13 Mbps.
If you need a VPN for USA and speed is your top concern, you may want to check out some other options.
In general ProtonVPN’s speeds aren’t too bad, but there is definitely some variability as you can see. In comparison to other premium VPN providers, there is certainly room for improvement in the performance category. One of the fastest VPNs I’ve tested is ExpressVPN.
On a positive note, speeds were certainly better than the last ProtonVPN review I did, so things are improving.
2. ProtonVPN prices are above average (for full access)
ProtonVPN is an interesting case when it comes to prices. On the one hand, they offer an unlimited free VPN with pretty good speeds (for a free service). But on the other hand, to get all features and access to the entire server network, you’ll need to purchase a “Plus” or “Visionary” plan, which costs $8 to $30 per month. This makes ProtonVPN rather expensive (for all features).
The paid subscriptions are broken down into the different plans you see below. This is with “annual” payments being selected – if you choose “monthly” the plans are slightly expensive.
While this may seem rather complex, it does allow you to select the exact plan that fits your needs, whether it is the free plan or the Visionary plan.
For those wanting maximum security and privacy, I’d recommend the Plus subscription because it provides access to the Secure Core server network.
The Visionary plan is quite expensive, but it may be a good fit if you want a combined solution for VPN and secure email service, all rolled into one subscription.
Assuming you want access to the entire server network and all features, the Plus plan comes in at $8 per month. While this is certainly not a cheap VPN, it is also not the most expensive VPN I’ve seen.
See all ProtonVPN prices here.
Additional research findings
Below are additional findings from my research of ProtonVPN for this review.
ProtonVPN payment options and refund policy
To get started with ProtonVPN, you can create a free or paid account. If you opt for a paid account, you’ll have the option to pay with PayPal or a credit card. However, if you are upgrading your account, you’ll have the option to pay with:
- Credit cards
- PayPal
- Bitcoin
- Cash
Bitcoin and cash can offer more privacy, but you can also pay with a virtual credit card (such as from privacy.com) using an anonymous name and address.
ProtonVPN refund policy
ProtonVPN offers a pretty good refund policy. As they explain on their Terms and Conditions page,
You may cancel your account with a refund for any unused portion of the service period within 30 days of the initial purchase. Here, any unused portion of the service period refers to the prorated remaining full days of the subscription period. Refunds or credits beyond the 30 days window will be considered, but at the sole discretion of the Service.
This is somewhat different from other VPN services in that they do not offer a full 100% refund, but rather a prorated refund of unused time. Nonetheless, it is still generous in comparison to other free VPN services, such as Windscribe and TunnelBear, which both have more restrictive refund policies.
Does ProtonVPN work for torrenting?
Many people are looking for the best VPN for torrenting due to the risks associated with copyright infringement.
Generally speaking, ProtonVPN is a good VPN for torrenting, but with one catch. Torrenting is not supported on the free plans. This is understandable since they don’t want bandwidth being eaten up by torrents.
With paid plans, torrenting is completely supported and allowed without restrictions.
Does ProtonVPN work in China?
Unfortunately, it does not look like ProtonVPN is working in China, according to the latest support update:
As of Sept. 18, 2019, the Chinese government is blocking access to ProtonVPN as part of a larger crackdown on Internet freedom.
The Chinese government works hard to control its citizens’ access to the Internet. The Great Firewall employs a vast system of technical tools, including DNS filtering, URL filtering, and deep packet inspection, that the Chinese government uses to prevent people in China from accessing foreign websites. The government also uses these tools to detect and block VPN servers.
You can see these best VPNs for China instead.
ProtonVPN review conclusion
When I first tested out ProtonVPN in 2017 after its official launch, I was somewhat critical due to various bugs and problems I encountered. Now, two years later, it is a polished VPN service that has improved tremendously.
So is ProtonVPN recommended?
Yes.
Following the latest test results for this ProtonVPN review, I will be adding it to the best VPN services list.
ProtonVPN is a polished service that has a lot to offer:
- Useful privacy features (no leaks)
- Secure server network (secure core)
- Good privacy jurisdiction and data protection policies
- User-friendly VPN apps
- Works well with Netflix
- Responsive and professional support (via email)
- Transparent company with a good track record
ProtonVPN remains an up-and-coming service to watch. While it may not (yet) have the brand recognition of some of the bigger players competing for market share, such as ExpressVPN vs NordVPN, it is a solid contender. I’ll keep this ProtonVPN review updated with the latest news and test results.
You can get started with ProtonVPN here.
Alternatives to ProtonVPN
Click the VPN name below to read our full review – or grab the discount for the best savings. All three of these VPNs have a 30 day money-back guarantee.
You can also check out our guide on the best VPNs here for other recommendations.
If you have used ProtonVPN, feel free to share your honest review (good or bad) below.
ProtonVPN Review
-
Review
(3.5)
I’m a proton user on Debian 10. I was satisfied for a long time but during the last month I had some issues with the internet access: I can connect to the server but randomly it doesnt’ connect to the internet. Sometimes it works at the first attempt, sometimes it doesn’t.
To solve it I have to try again on different serves until I find a good one.
This is a bit frustrating, because I tried some other (famous and high rated) services but they don’t meet my needs or they are buggy. Proton is still the best for me. I also wrote a simple but effective bash script to easily handle CLI commands and it would be a pity to unsubscribe because of this problems.
I don’t even think it’s because of Linux: it’s the same distro I used when I started to use Proton.
I hope they will solve this problem that, I repeat, is random and not constant.
Is there any other user with the same troubles?
Although I knew about VPNs and have used Tor Browser for years (with my own scripts to select country/exit node) I have found more websites (using Cloudflare) are blocking Tor users. My threat model doesn’t involve nation states monitoring me. I don’t torrent or care about movies/TV. I just don’t want advertisers and stores tracking and databasing my interests. This is why I tried the free version of Proton, just to learn and gain experience.
So far, I have set up and tested 7 servers in 2 countries using Linux and NetworkManager. Seems easy and reasonably fast for my use case. All I need to do is figure out how to split tunnel so my email goes direct to my ISP and then maybe I’ll move on to another VPN to try WireGuard.
I got tracker control off of fdroid. I was on protonvpn before it. Now it seems I’m on tracker control vpn service. Should I be alarmed? Should I trust the apps on fdroid? I find your website very refreshing and informative.
I can’t seem to get into the Proton website using Chrome or Firefox. Both of them give me a security screens. This is Chrome’s:
“This site can’t be reachedThe connection was reset.
Try:
Checking the connection
Checking the proxy and the firewall
Running Windows Network Diagnostics
ERR_CONNECTION_RESET”
My Proton mobile VPN is still working but did connect quite slowly.
Is there a security problem with Proton?
I have tried all of Proton’s plans:Free,Basic and Plus.In all,without exception, the speed is slow and using Secure Core,the speed is torturously slow.It’s an application that doesn’t meet the needs of the present and the future.Nevertheless,depending on what it offers, ProtonVpn costs very expensively.
I will never forget the response of a representative of the support: “Because Switzerland is an expensive country,ProtonVpn costs expensively”.Such “diamonds” manage and serve this company.I feel compelled to suggest you stay away,very far,from ProtonVpn.
As a former user,I point out that where there is smoke there is also fire. Fire is the ProtonVPN cons.
1. ProtonVPN is located in Switzerland which is also a cooperating member of the extended Eyes security alliance.
2. Servers speeds are too slow for the price.
3. Limited device compatibility.
4. Limited torrenting available.
5. Limited protocols(OpenVPN only).
6. Irregular application development (Thunderbird Mail,Windows Mail).
I don’t recommend ProtonVpn because is cooperative with other aggressive government agencies around the world,the servers speeds were not good and the device options are limited.The pricing,even with a 20% annual discount,is still on the high end for what you’re getting in return.
There are just so many better options available,with the same connection strength,faster performance,and more devices,for far less.
“Switzerland which is also a cooperating member of the extended Eyes security alliance.”
Do you have a source for this?
Switzerland is not an official member of these surveillance alliances. I have seen references to an MLAT treaty (Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty) between Switzerland and the US that pertains to bank accounts. Nonetheless, Switzerland remains a much better jurisdiction than many other places.
This is a worldwide agreement that essentially helps government agencies to spy on each others citizens in the name of “worldwide safety.”So a Swiss-based location means you’re mostly good. Your privacy is mostly safe.The good news is that ProtonVPN doesn’t keep a lot of their customer data on file. But just keep in the back of their mind that their government might force them to cooperate.
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/06/actually-most-countries-are-increasingly-spying-on-their-citizens-the-un-says/276614/
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session23/A.HRC.23.40_EN.pdf
To each their own. GL finding your perfect VPN. Maybe it’s the one paying for your vitriol. O.o
Please when you post multiple links regarding Switzerland, make sure the word “Switzerland” is mentioned in the documents. I didn’t waste my time reading them after coming up blank on the search.
ctrl+f > Switzerland + enter 0 of 0
Yes I do use Protonmail and ProtonVPN.
Just keep in mind that logic and emotion don’t go hand in hand.
Good luck! See you,I hope not soon!
It’s clear that Switzerland is not an official cooperating member of the extended Eyes security alliance.
However,there is a secret global agreement that essentially helps government agencies spy on each other in the name of global security. Does anyone doubt?
Note that Switzerland provides some cooperation(Club of Berne)with the Alliance of Smart English-speaking Five Eyes,which may delay them with specific geopolitical concerns.
(https://web.archive.org/web/20171016163737/https://www.privacyinternational.org/node/412)
While almost every VPN claims to maintain zero user log files, none of them remain true to their word.
Should we trust VPN Providers? Without exception,none of them.
You said, “While almost every VPN claims to maintain zero user log files, none of them remain true to their word.”
This is not true. There are verified and audited no-logs VPN providers. Just because there are a few bad apples that have given up logs, it does not mean they are all doing so.
Sir, you have every right to oppose my view.
However,due to my conviction and long experience,I doubt everything.
The truth is never the only one.That’s why it doesn’t exist.
The truth has millions of faces,but there is only one truth.
What is the truth?For the majority,it’s what he reads and listens to all the time.
In all matters,it’s healthy,from time to time,to hang a question mark on things that we take for granted.
There are things known and things unknown and there are doors between them(Jim Morrison).
Paid 10 euros for the tariff, transaction confirmation is available, the tariff is not enabled!
https://blockchair.com/bitcoin/transaction/e374bedfce605b8e6222f82a6159bb015948015043926f4bc897a9d53e8ebd3b
Proton VPN is now on F -Droid.
I’m using Protonvpn and Protonmail. We are in 2020 and Protonvpn has evolved as much as you can’t imagine. I don’t think there is a better vpn on earth than Proton. Do I exaggerate? I don’t. It’s fast to very fast even with the Secure Core.Protonvpn has no adverse effect on the system,it’s like it doesn’t exist. It offers reliability and absolute protection and there is not the slightest possibility of leaks. Protonvpn works as perfectly as a Swiss watch.
I point out that Protonvpn is receiving hostile reviews from many websites and it’s not advertised as it should be. The reason is understandable. Usually when a Vpn is advertised so much by the websites,something goes wrong.
You are living in an illusion.
Or were you paid to publish this comment?
Hi Sven
ProtonVPN says it has servers dedicated to P2P. What does that mean? Is P2P allowed only on these servers? If I connect to a server that is not dedicated to P2P and receive data, then my data leaked? There is no information on Proton’s website.
Hi Peter, no you don’t have to worry about any leaks, you’ll be secure. I think the P2P servers are optimized for high bandwidth transfer and therefore are ideal for P2P downloads. Also, they are probably in locations that aren’t problematic for torrents. In the US, many data centers will ban VPN providers for copyright infringement issues (i.e. when VPN users torrent copyrighted material). So some VPN providers designate P2P servers in locations where this isn’t a problem. I’m not certain if ProtonVPN is blocking P2P traffic on non-P2P servers, that would be a question for their support department.
Thanks for the answer.
I tested a premium server closer to my country that was not dedicated to P2P. It worked without warning. I think it’s fine. I tested it on ip/dns detect and it keeps showing the server I chose.
Just tried the free version out, total POS. Wouldn’t even connect me to a single website, despite my ‘pro trial’, before demanding money. 0/10, doesn’t work and demands money for a service the free version can’t even provide the basics of.
So you are saying that websites were blocking you when connected to ProtonVPN?
Am I blind, or did you forget to mention, that ProtonVPN went Open Source ?
Yep, I will add that to the next review update.
ProtonVPN is now open source and can be downloaded from GitHub.
https://github.com/ProtonVPN/android-app/releases
Good step. Just waiting for Email now with push notifications.
I have used ProtonVPN for about 18 months and ProtonMail for a bit longer. Currently am a Plus user and satisfied, for the most part, with the product.
The advantages I experience are in line with those stated in the review.
The ProtonVPN is “pricey” but appears to be in the “…you get what you pay for…” category.
I have had four issues with ProtonVPN and a rapid response/resolution is the norm to date.
To be fair, my own inept tinkering was the root of one issue with ProtonVPN that went on for some time but when advised of this finding, their reply was gracious to a fault.
However, I express vociferous protest at ProtonVPN’s apparent refusal to provide access to their mobile product except through the Google Play Store.
In my perspective, Proton and Google are pretty close to dead opposites on the privacy/fair play spectrum. Proton’s limiting product availability to using Google is rapidly becoming a very sore point for me.
Granted, ProtonVPN says they will provide apk access on request, but that weak offering is nothing like I expected from an otherwise staunch advocate of privacy.
Given the ever increasing scope of Google’s invasive acts to remove every vestige of personal privacy, it is impossible to reconcile ProtonVPN’s position.
As I wrote this, the decision to not renew my Proton VPN subscription was solidified.
This has been my argument as well (you can see my comment below).
I have been told it is in the plans to release on F-Droid but they are not sure when.
Wish they would hurry.
I posted this in the VPN review and thought this would be a good place as well. ProtonVPN just came out with their 2.0 app for Android. It now allows the user to chose between the standard IKEv2 protocol or now it can use the OpenVPN protocol.
The information here seems to point to the OpenVPN as being more secure so I switched to it. I have been very happy with the service, the speeds and the product now for a while and while I did notice a slight slowing of speed, the service seems to continue pretty quickly, even using the Secure Core.
Their new app can either be had from the Google play store (which I do not use) or requesting the APK (which they sent to me). I was able to download and am now using their system. Couple of things to note:
1) You must sign out of and log off the old VPN app before installing the new one.
2) Before accessing the servers, you can go into the settings and chose which protocol you want to use but you cannot switch while logged in.
I, again, am happy with the service and product. I do not work for nor am I earning anything from this review but I do wish to help the site to keep up with changes that are happening.
My one complaint and continued emailed request: PUT THE APP ON F-DROID!!! Not just the VPN but also the Email. Google is such an anathema to the purpose of Proton that I see no reason to not put it on the FOSS markets. Proton, if you are read this, Please make this happen!
I’ve used many other VPNs. This is certainly the best. The secure core service works great with fast speeds. Customer service responsive. I won’t use anything else.
Sign up for Plus with no worries!
No logs is a damn lie.
https://old.reddit.com/r/ProtonVPN/comments/93pp40/protonvpn_does_keeping_logs/
The article is interesting. However, the OP was not logged as much as tracked due to broad attacks on a server.
Live tracing is not a log and I cannot blame a compny for wanting to protect their servers.
That was what they were explaining.
Now this is absolutely hilarious – that’s the second time today I’ve seen that URL. SO I’m adding my two cents:
Logging & Monitoring are two entirely separate concepts in cyber security. I could (as an example) monitor traffic on my home network all day long without any problem. HOWEVER (due to gaming, streaming, torrenting etc.) if I started LOGGING everything (keeping a ‘written’ record of all traffic monitored) I’d quite possibly run out of HDD space in a month or two.
With this said, ProtonVPN does NOT log anything you do. However, when there is suspicious activity on one of their servers, they immediately monitor the incoming and outgoing traffic. With this said, just because you’re using a VPN service does not mean that it is impossible to decipher the encrypted traffic. In fact, I’d be concerned if a VPN service DIDN’T know how to decipher their own product in the event of an emergency (and with hacking considered by most countries to be a form of terrorism) it should be quite obvious that after monitoring traffic, pinpointing the source of suspicious activity, they would (and in this case DID) decipher the information being passed through THEIR company, in order to find and ban the culprit.
FACT REMAINS that even IF ProtonVPN were to log your activity (which a long list of VPN services INCLUDING ExpressVPN DOES do) you would still be able to appeal/dispute anyone attempting to find out what the exact nature of your activities are due to the Swiss Laws regarding consumer privacy.
IN OTHER WORDS, if the NSA wanted to shove their nose where it most definitely is NOT desired, at least you’d have the option to argue your point of view in court (since you’d be notified of this) whereas other VPN services may hand over your information without you ever knowing it.
Back to my original point, monitoring traffic simply means you are looking at information being transferred on a network (which you can do yourself if you’re curious what it looks like, using WireShark which is an opensource program found on various Linux Distributions, and I believe there is also a version for Windblows, I mean Windows if I’m not mistaken). From there, albeit rather tedious and annoying, you can find out what devices are talking to each other, what information is being sent etc. in order to find suspicious activity. In fact, you don’t exactly need to understand what’s going on to get an idea – get a 50$ barely running laptop, throw Kali on it, and watch your own network for a day or two. Then use the Orbital Ion Cannon (opensource program) to launch an attack for 3 seconds (or just use many of the tools available on Kali Linux to spoof your router), and you’ll understand just how easy you can sniff out something that simply doesn’t look right.
NOTE: I do not recommend an attack longer than 3 seconds, nor do I recommend performing pentesting methods on any devices OTHER THAN YOUR OWN as this may result in damage and/or equipment malfuntion. Your ISP will (probably) already notice with a 3 second attack (however it is NOT illegal in the US to do this ON YOUR OWN PERSONAL BELONGINGS) however, you could potentially cause damage and/or other problems with a prolonged attack so do so at your own risk. I claim absolutely NO RESPONSIBILITY for someone else’s idiocy, or curiosity (and there is a very thin line between the two).
😁 ok. Winblows got me. I will have to use that. Thanks.
I had used the free version and jumped to the paid. I have really no difference in my perspective of speeds.
The thing I love is I can set the VPN for auto log. As soon as I start my system, it auto logs before anything else can start.
The speed of the Protonprogram on windows and Android is not good..
The ProtonDNS is OKay..
BUT…..
I use Proton with OpenVPN and OpenNIC(dns) and it is really really great.
Its the fastest (trusted) free VPN you can find, for sure.
And the most people that search a good VPN is to Paranoid..
Is it bether to surf over a managed server from a seychelles country, and you dont nothing over the the company or is it bether a company that exist for many years and as known as a privacy company and one of the oldest PGPmails..
You need a good Privacy Proton will do it well for sure.
When you search a VPN for streaming or torrent, u can use everyVPN, that has servers in Country where it is legal.. But you need a Company that you are your information trusted.. this is important!
Many Peoples search and want a vpn, that are a offshore company and Real nolog and ramdisk.. the question is why it must offshore, when they really not logging..
Why the servers must in ramdisk, when they not logg??
Its the same, when you want a car with no engine but a airbag must be installt..
Sorry but its true..
Only choose a country that allows your “things that you want to do”.
Simple..
I gave ProtonVPN a try with the free plan and it wasn’t too bad. In fact, the speeds were pretty good, no complaints. Assuming the Plus plan would be even better, I decided to pay for an account. But speeds with the Plus plan are pretty bad. It doesn’t matter if you are using Secure Cor or the regular servers, speeds are slow, not happy with performance. I’m going to request a refund and downgrade back to Free.
Protonmail appeared on the show Mr. Robot. That probably accounts for some of Protonvpn’s visibility. I’m slightly embarrassed to say so, but that’s how I ended up using it.
It’s the only VPN I’ve ever used, so take that into consideration.
The Windows and Android clients are definitely both buggy, and I don’t use them. The Android client will actually crash the device if left on too long. On Android I use OpenVPN (which has its own quirks but is reliable). On my PC I use my own home grown setup where I use a Linux box I have as a proxy. The Linux box connects to the VPN using openvpn. This works much better than either of Proton’s clients, although lately sometimes I’ve had to start restarting the connection after an hour or two.
I’m on the basic plan.