Despite the name, Surfshark has nothing to do with actual surfing. They’re a VPN service provider whose goal is to protect you as you surf online, which can be pretty dangerous. The safest way to browse the internet is by doing so privately, with your own virtual private network (a VPN). One such example is Surfshark VPN.
Who are Surfshark VPN?
Surfshark VPN first launched back in 2018, and the company itself is based in the British Virgin Islands. This is because they don’t have any data restriction laws there, so they don’t store any of your personal data.
Despite being such a new company, Surfshark VPN now has over 3,200 servers in more than 65 countries worldwide, making it one of the most popular VPN providers on the market.
They’re also one of the few VPN providers that allow unlimited, unfettered access to multiple simultaneous connections. This means that you’ll be able to install and run Surfshark on as many different devices as you want- so it works great for a whole family.
In this review, we’ll guide you through Surfshark’s strongest features and whether or not their cheap price comes with a catch.
Surfshark Vpn Review
Surfshark VPN Facts
- Number of countries: 65+
- Number of servers: 3,200+
- Supported platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, Apple TV, other TVs, PlayStation, Xbox, Chrome & Firefox (browser extensions).
- Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
- Split tunneling: Yes
- Kill switch: Yes
- Supported Protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, IKEv2.
- Country of origin: British Virgin Islands
- Customer service and support: 24/7 live chat, email, knowledgebase.
Privacy
Surfshark has a lot of privacy features. All of the standard privacy safeguards are in place, including AES-256 encryption and the security protocols OpenVPN UDP and TCP, IKEv2, and WireGuard. There are, however, a number of advanced privacy features.
Surfshark uses a private DNS on all of its server servers, allowing customers to add an extra degree of security and prevent third parties from intercepting browser sessions. A VPN chaining mechanism is also used by the service. Users can route their traffic through two separate servers using this approach.
It is accessed via the MultiHop button and allows users to connect to one place and exit from another. This implies that even if a cyber thief gains access to the exit server, they will be unable to determine your IP address.
Surfshark provides 15 routes. Server one is the location of your connection, which could be in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Singapore, France, the Netherlands, India, or Australia. The second is your exit point and how it seems to anyone looking into your location.
Security and Safety
Surfshark includes a Whitelister panel that allows you to establish whitelists of apps, IP addresses, and websites that you can use to bypass the VPN. This procedure is similar to split-tunneling, and if you discover that the VPN is interfering with an app or site, whitelisting it should resolve the issue.
You may also use the Whitelister to ensure that only your favorite apps and websites are routed through Surfshark. We put it to the test, and it worked well. We were relieved to find this option in a desktop app, as many VPN services only give it to mobile customers.
The kill switch is one of the most critical security elements on Surfshark. This allows you to automatically exit from the internet if your VPN connection is lost. However, there is no in-between.
Unless you are linked to a VPN, the kill switch completely stops internet access. In other words, you won't be able to access the internet unless Surfshark is operating in the background.
Customer Service and Support
Surfshark's online Help Centre is jam-packed with useful material, such as feature explanations, tutorials, setup and installation guidelines, and a decent FAQ page.
We like that they have a wide number of guides available and that we were able to employ numerous tutorials successfully during this review. They are all in-depth without being unnecessarily complex.
If you can't find the answers you're looking for on the internet, Surfshark provides 24/7 live chat help, as well as a ticketing system and email assistance. Every time you liaise with Surfshark, you'll get fast, professional, and helpful responses.
If you have any problems, we recommend taking advantage of their live chat feature as you’ll usually get a response within seconds. The support team will remain available in the chat window until they’ve found a solution to your problem.
Will Surfshark log my online activity?
No- Thankfully, Surfshark operates with a “no-logs” policy. They have made every attempt to require as little personal information from you as possible in order for your VPN to function properly.
This is not to say that they do not require any information. They will need your email address to open an account and payment details to complete your payments, much like most other suppliers.
Also, Surfshark, like most VPNs, requires specific information in order to monitor its service. For example, they use anonymized data to monitor how busy their servers are and whether there are any connectivity issues.
These problems cannot be traced back to an individual user and only affect how their systems and services are used in general.
Furthermore, Surfshark just transitioned to a RAM-only server network, which implies that no data is stored on physical servers. This type of storage also ensures that data is destroyed automatically when you unplug.
As a result, your data will only be saved momentarily and will not be able to be found later. Because RAM-only servers offer more privacy, many VPN providers are transitioning to them.
Additionally, Surfshark is one of the first VPNs to provide two-factor authentication (2FA). This implies that logging in takes two steps, which is an efficient technique to defend oneself from all types of online threats.
Is Surfshark easy to use?
Yes! The Surfshark website is well-organized, not overly busy, and contains all of the necessary information. The 'My Account’ area of the website has been made as simple as possible.
There are a few download options for software for various devices and operating systems. You can also see when your subscription will expire, as well as a button for changing your password and one for signing out. This makes managing your account a breeze.
Also, Surfshark installation is quite straightforward. You can get the VPN app for your mobile device from the App Store or Google Play. Simply click the relevant symbol on the website, whether on a Mac or a PC.
The design and ease of use of Surfshark's software may be among the VPN's best qualities. You won't be overwhelmed by a lot of options and settings once you've logged in.
Instead, you have only been shown the information that is relevant to the average VPN user. All options and settings are clearly described, and all menus are simple to use.
How much does Surfshark cost?
Surfshark is relatively inexpensive. It is one of the most affordable VPNs out there. When you join for a longer amount of time, you receive a discount, as with most other VPNs. A monthly subscription costs $12.95, a 6-month subscription costs $6.49, and a 2-year subscription is only $2.49 each month.
These plans do save you money, but we still recommend starting with the shortest subscription available to check if it works for you, and then moving to longer subscription options if you find you like the service.
These prices are also available on their website in euros, Australian/Canadian dollars, Chinese yuan, and British pounds. Surfshark also provides the opportunity to buy two extra privacy features for an additional $0.99 per month. Surfshark Alert and Surfshark Search are two of them.
Also, Users who have not violated the Terms of Service are entitled to a 30-day money-back guarantee from Surfshark. You can also use the membership on an unlimited number of devices.
Surfshark's seven-day free trial for Android, iOS and Mac provides you enough time to try out the service. We'd prefer something longer, with Windows support, but it seems unreasonable to complain when many suppliers don't offer any trials at all.
Surfshark goes above and beyond with its payment options, which include credit cards, PayPal, cryptocurrency, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, and Ali Pay.
Verdict
Surfshark, like any other VPN, has its drawbacks, but they are minor, and the benefits easily outweigh the costs, both financial and otherwise. Surfshark is a fantastic fit for most people who want to hide their web traffic because it has military-grade encryption, an impressive privacy policy, and fairly affordable subscription fees.
Surfshark users on Android and Windows clearly get the better deal in terms of feature set, receiving access to the Whitelister, and stuff like GPS spoofing and tiny packets, but it works effectively regardless of the OS you access the VPN on. With such a low price tag, we'd recommend Surfshark to anyone wanting a straightforward VPN that unblocks region-locked content.
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