Proton VPN explained
Proton VPN is a VPN service launched in 2017[1] and operated by the Swiss company Proton AG, the company behind the email service Proton Mail.[2] [3] According to its official website, Proton VPN and Proton Mail share the same management team, offices, and technical resources, and are operated from Proton's headquarters in Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland.[4] On June 17, 2024 the company announced that it will be transitioning to a non-profit structure under the Proton Foundation.[5]
Features
As of 23rd November 2024, Proton VPN has a total of 9,231 servers, sited in 112 different nations.[6]
Although Proton VPN owns and operates a portion of their servers, the bulk majority are owned and operated by ASNs such as M247 and Datacamp Limited.[7] Its service is available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, ChromeOS and also has a command-line tool[8] for Linux and can be implemented using the IPSEC protocol.[9] Proton VPN can also be installed on a wireless router.
Proton VPN utilizes OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), IKEv2, and WireGuard (UDP/TCP) protocols with AES-256 encryption.[10] On October 11, 2022, Proton VPN released their Stealth Protocol for Android, iOS and MacOS clients, designed to disguise VPN traffic as HTTPS traffic.[11] In August 2024, Proton VPN announced that it had also added the Stealth protocol to its Windows client.[12]
Proton VPN has a no-logs policy[13] that was independently audited by Securitum, a European security auditing company.[14] [15] [16]
In January 2020, Proton VPN released its source code on all platforms[17] and had SEC Consult conduct an independent security audit.[18]
Reception
In a January 2023 review by TechRadar, Proton VPN received 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.[19]
A May 2023 PC Magazine review gave Proton VPN a 5 star rating. Proton VPN was awarded their Editor's Choice Award in 2022 and 2023.[20]
In October 2023 technology website Engadget rated Proton VPN as the "best overall" for streaming, gaming, privacy and security.[21]
In January 2024 a comparative review of 10 different VPNs by German technology magazine CHIP rated Proton VPN as their test winner.[22]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: 2017-06-20. Encrypted email provider Proton Mail launches free VPN service to counter increasing online censorship . 2024-02-18 . ProtonVPN . en.
- Web site: 2018-09-04. ProtonVPN review: Underground data centers, one-click multi-hop, and more make for a great choice. 2021-02-24. PCWorld. en.
- Web site: Proton VPN - About Us . 2024-02-19 . ProtonVPN . en.
- Web site: Privacy policy . 2023-08-18 . Proton . en.
- Web site: Proton is transitioning towards a non-profit structure . 2024-08-27 . Proton . en.
- Web site: Proton VPN - Server Locations . 2024-10-06 . ProtonVPN . en.
- Web site: November 14, 2022 . ProtonVPN - VPN Transparency Project . VPN Transparency Project.
- Web site: ProtonVPN Free Review. Brian . Nadel . 2018-11-16 . Tom's Guide. en. 2019-07-16.
- Web site: 2021-04-28 . VPN gratis en Linux Debian con Proton VPN . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210501200304/https://linux.lat/vpn-gratis-en-linux-debian-con-protonvpn/ . 1 May 2021 . 2021-05-01 . Linux Latinoamérica . es-AR.
- Web site: 2024 . Protect your connection with strong VPN protocols . August 27, 2024 . Proton VPN.
- Web site: Eddy . Max . October 11, 2022 . Proton VPN's New Stealth Feature Helps Fight Censorship in Iran and Russia . May 16, 2023 . PCMag.
- Web site: Buria. Taras. August 6, 2024 . Proton brings its Stealth VPN protocol to Windows . August 27, 2024 . Neowin.
- Web site: Does Proton VPN keep logs? . May 16, 2023 . Proton VPN.
- Web site: Szymczak . Maciej . Darecki . Jakub . March 24, 2022 . ProtonVPN's No-Logs policy – regarding VPN activity . July 18, 2024.
- Web site: Szymczak . Maciej . Rzepecki . Marek . May 1, 2023 . Proton VPN's No-Log policy – regarding VPN activity . July 18, 2024.
- Web site: Rzepecki . Marek . Zięba . Marcin . July 12, 2024 . Verification of Proton VPN's No-Log Policy . July 18, 2024.
- Web site: 27 January 2020 . Proton VPN goes open-source: What this means for your privacy . 2020-02-04 . tomsguide.com.
- Web site: Osborne . Charlie . Proton VPN apps handed to open source community in transparency push . 2021-02-24 . ZDNet . en.
- Web site: Williams . Mike . 24 January 2023 . ProtonVPN review . 16 May 2023 . TechRadar.
- Web site: Eddy . Max . Key . Kim . May 8, 2023 . Proton VPN Review . May 16, 2023 . PCMag.
- Web site: Malone . Katie . 13 October 2023 . Proton VPN review 2023: Why it's our top-choice VPN . 18 February 2024 . Engadget.
- Web site: Geiger . Joerg . 4 January 2024 . VPN test: The best VPN providers in comparison . 5 February 2024 . Chip_(magazine).