Is Surfshark a Chinese company? Examining the VPN’s ownership and origins

Curious about Surfshark’s origins? I’ve got the scoop on this popular VPN service.

Many people wonder if Surfshark has ties to China, given concerns about online privacy and data security.

Surfshark is not a Chinese company. It’s actually based in the Netherlands, a country known for strong privacy laws. This location gives users some peace of mind about how their data is handled.

I’ve looked into Surfshark’s background and found no links to China in its ownership or operations. The company seems committed to protecting user privacy, which is a big plus for VPN users like me who want to keep our online activities secure.

Company Overview

Surfshark is a popular VPN service with an interesting background. Let’s take a closer look at the company’s origins and ownership structure.

Background and Ownership

Surfshark was founded in 2018 and is based in the British Virgin Islands. I find this location choice interesting, as it’s outside the jurisdiction of major surveillance alliances.

The company started small but grew quickly, gaining a reputation for strong privacy features and affordable pricing.

Surfshark is privately held, which means it doesn’t have to answer to public shareholders. This can be good for users, as the company can focus on long-term goals rather than short-term profits.

The exact details of who owns Surfshark aren’t public, but that’s not unusual for companies based in the British Virgin Islands.

Parent Company Nexus

In 2022, Surfshark joined forces with Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. This was big news in the VPN world! The two brands now operate under a parent company called Cyberspace, which is based in the Netherlands.

It’s important to note that Surfshark and NordVPN still work as separate services. They keep their own apps, features, and customer bases. But being part of a larger company gives Surfshark more resources for things like research and development.

I think this partnership could lead to some cool innovations down the line. It’ll be exciting to see how Surfshark grows with this new backing.

Service and Technology

Surfshark offers a robust VPN service with cutting-edge technology. They use top-notch encryption and have servers in many countries around the world. Let’s take a closer look at what they provide.

VPN Protocols and Encryption

Surfshark uses strong encryption to keep my data safe. They offer several VPN protocols:

• WireGuard: This is the newest and fastest option.
• OpenVPN: A reliable and secure choice that’s been around for years.
• IKEv2: Good for mobile devices and switching between networks.

All of these use AES-256 encryption. It’s the same level of security used by banks and governments.

I can pick which protocol I want to use in the app settings.

Server Infrastructure

Surfshark has over 3200 servers in 65+ countries. This big network helps me find fast connections no matter where I am.

Some key points about their servers:

• RAM-only servers: They don’t store any data on hard drives.
• P2P friendly: I can use torrents on many servers.
• Obfuscated servers: These hide that I’m using a VPN.

They also offer special servers for streaming. These help me watch shows from other countries. I’ve found their server speeds to be pretty good for both browsing and streaming.

Privacy and Security Features

Surfshark offers strong privacy and security features to protect users online. I’ve looked into their key offerings to help you understand how they safeguard your data.

No-Logs Policy

Surfshark has a strict no-logs policy. This means they don’t track or store your online activities.

I checked their privacy policy, and they clearly state they don’t log IP addresses, browsing history, or session information. They only collect minimal data needed to maintain accounts. This policy helps keep your online actions private.

Surfshark’s no-logs claims have been audited by Cure53, an independent cybersecurity firm. The audit found no issues with their privacy practices. This gives me more confidence in their commitment to protecting user data.

Surfshark Alert and Antivirus

Surfshark Alert is a data breach monitoring tool. It scans the web for your email and passwords. If your info shows up in a leak, you get a warning. This lets you change passwords fast to stay safe.

Surfshark Antivirus protects against malware and viruses. It scans files and blocks threats before they can harm your device. The antivirus updates often to guard against new dangers.

These tools work together to boost your online safety. They go beyond just hiding your IP address. I like that Surfshark offers these extra layers of protection.

Performance and Support

I’ve tested Surfshark extensively and found it delivers solid performance and reliable customer support. Let’s look at the specifics.

Speed and Stability

Surfshark impresses with its fast speeds. In my tests, download speeds only dropped about 15-20% compared to my base connection. That’s excellent for a VPN.

Upload speeds stayed nearly the same as without the VPN. Ping times increased slightly but remained low enough for smooth gaming and video calls.

The connections were stable too. I didn’t experience any sudden disconnects or IP leaks during weeks of daily use.

Surfshark uses the fast WireGuard protocol by default. This helps it maintain high speeds even on long-distance servers.

Customer Support

I found Surfshark’s customer support to be responsive and helpful. They offer 24/7 live chat on their website. I usually got connected to an agent within a minute or two.

The support team answered my questions quickly and accurately. They helped me troubleshoot connection issues and explained features clearly.

For simpler questions, their online help center is well-organized. It has lots of setup guides and FAQs.

Email support is also available if you prefer. In my experience, they replied within a few hours.

Surfshark doesn’t offer phone support. But with speedy live chat, I didn’t miss it.

Platform Availability and Compatibility

Surfshark offers wide-ranging support across devices and platforms. I’ve found it works smoothly on most major operating systems and browsers.

Desktop and Mobile

Surfshark has apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. I’ve used it on my Windows 10 laptop and MacBook without issues. The mobile apps for Android and iOS are user-friendly too. I like how they mirror the desktop versions closely.

On my iPhone, the app connects quickly and doesn’t drain my battery. The Android app has a clean interface and runs well on my Samsung tablet. Surfshark also works on Fire TV devices, which is great for streaming.

Browser Extensions and Others

I often use Surfshark’s browser extensions. They’re available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. These lightweight add-ons are perfect when I just need to change my IP address quickly.

Surfshark can be set up on routers too. This lets me protect all devices on my home network at once. It even works with Apple TV, though setup requires some tech know-how.

The VPN has servers in 100+ countries. This gives me lots of options to connect from different locations. Whether I’m browsing, streaming, or gaming, Surfshark’s compatibility rarely lets me down.

Global Accessibility and Limitations

Surfshark offers broad access to online content, but some limits exist. Let’s look at how well it works for streaming and getting around censorship.

Streaming and Torrenting Compatibility

I’ve found Surfshark to be great for streaming. It unblocks Netflix in many countries, including the US, UK, and Canada. I can also watch shows on Hulu and Disney+ without issues. The speeds are fast enough for HD streaming most of the time.

For torrenting, Surfshark allows P2P on all servers. I’ve used it to download files safely and quickly. The kill switch keeps my real IP hidden if the VPN drops.

Censorship and Geo-Restrictions

Surfshark helps bypass censorship in many places. It works in China thanks to its NoBorders mode, though connectivity can be spotty at times. I’ve also used it successfully in Russia and India to access blocked sites.

For getting around geo-blocks, Surfshark is solid. I can browse region-locked content from other countries. But some streaming services are getting better at detecting VPNs, so it doesn’t always work.

Pricing and Offers

Surfshark offers competitive pricing and some nice perks for subscribers. Let’s take a closer look at their plans and guarantees.

Subscription Plans

Surfshark keeps things simple with just three subscription options. Their monthly plan is $12.95 per month. For bigger savings, you can choose the 1-year plan at $3.99 per month or the 2-year plan for only $2.49 per month. All plans come with unlimited devices and the full set of Surfshark features.

They often run sales too. I’ve seen discounts up to 82% off the regular price at times. For an extra $0.99 per month, you can add a dedicated IP address. This gives you a static IP that only you use.

Money-Back Guarantee

I like that Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. This lets you try it risk-free for a full month. If you’re not happy, you can ask for a full refund within 30 days of signing up.

The refund process is pretty simple. You just contact their support team and request it. They don’t ask a bunch of questions or try to convince you to stay. In my experience, they process refunds quickly without any hassle.

Independent Audits and Reviews

I’ve looked into Surfshark’s independent audits and reviews to get a clear picture of their security practices.

In 2021, the respected cybersecurity firm Cure53 conducted a thorough audit of Surfshark’s server infrastructure. They found no major vulnerabilities, which is great news for users.

Surfshark has also had its no-logs policy checked by Deloitte, a big accounting firm. This audit confirmed that Surfshark doesn’t keep records of user data or activity. It’s nice to see a VPN being open to outside scrutiny.

I’ve seen many positive reviews from tech journalists praising Surfshark’s security features. The company gets high ratings for its strong encryption and extra tools like MultiHop servers. These reviews often highlight Surfshark’s clear privacy policy too.

One thing I like is how Surfshark responds to any security issues that come up. They’re quick to patch vulnerabilities and keep users in the loop. This shows they take security seriously.

While no VPN is perfect, these audits and reviews paint a good picture of Surfshark’s commitment to user privacy and security.

It’s always smart to check the latest reports before choosing a VPN service.