Why You Should Know Who Are Your VPN Owners?
Ever found yourself wondering about the owner of your VPN? Regarding VPNs, consumers must understand they may rely on their suppliers, so this is a crucial issue. Knowing who controls your VPN is crucial because millions of people all over depend on VPNs for online privacy and data protection.
In this tutorial, we will delve extensively into the ownership of well-known VPN companies. You will discover who oversees the services you rely on and how your online security suffers. By the time this post ends, you will know the finest VPN owners, empowering you with the information required to make wiser choices about your digital privacy.
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Top 5 VPN Owners
The VPN business has undergone significant consolidation recently. Several of the largest companies in the VPN market have surreptitiously bought numerous well-known VPN businesses. This tendency begs serious issues on data privacy, openness, and possible conflicts of interest.
Would the possibility for internal data processing be sufficient to discourage you from using a VPN even if it guarantees never to share data with other parties? These are crucial issues to consider particularly when one company controls more and more services.
Kape Technologies
Kape Technologies is a key participant in the VPN business. As of 2024, they have VPN services include:
- ExpressVPN
- CyberGhost.
- Private Internet Access
- ZenMate VPN
To give you an indication of the company’s magnitude, it purchased ExpressVPN for $936 million in 2023. However, you should be aware of the company’s questionable history.
Kape, formerly known as Crossrider, was linked to adware and other potentially unwanted applications. This history has sparked worries among privacy activists about the company’s commitment to protecting customer data.
This is particularly crucial given that they also control famous VPN review sites WizCase and vpnMentor, which has led to claims of biased evaluations that favor their products. While these issues are real, Kape VPNs have typically received favorable feedback for their performance and functionality.
Finally, whether or not to utilize a Kape-owned VPN depends on your degree of comfort, taking into account the company’s history and possible conflicts of interest.
Nord Security (NordSec Limited)
Nord Security has three popular services: NordVPN, Surfshark, and Atlas VPN are currently no longer available.
Nord Security, headquartered in Panama, a nation noted for its favorable privacy regulations, is a prominent champion for internet privacy and security. Nord Security amalgamated with Surfshark in February 2022, although both companies continue to operate separately, offering distinct features and pricing. This combination boosted Nord Security’s market position, giving users more alternatives.
The company’s dedication to user privacy is shown by its no-logs policy, which has been independently audited. Nord Security VPNs are popular among both consumers and organizations because to their solid security features, broad server networks, and user-friendly interfaces.
Ziff Davis
Ziff Davis, a tech media company formerly J2 Global, owns the following VPNs: IPVanish StrongVPN, Perimeter 81.
They also operate several tech blogs where their VPNs are reviewed and recommended:
- PCMag is a prominent expert on technology, providing unbiased assessments of the newest products and services.
- IGN is a significant video game review, news, and entertainment website.
- Mashable is a multinational, multiplatform media and entertainment corporation.
- Lifehacker focuses on life hacks, productivity ideas, and practical advice.
- CNET was recently bought in 2024 and is well-known for its in-depth tech reviews and news coverage.
- TechBargains: A website that offers tech bargains and goods discounts.
- ZDNet provides news, analysis, and research for business IT professionals.
FastVPN, previously Namecheap VPN, was one noteworthy example of Ziff Davis’ convoluted ownership structure, since it employed IPVanish servers in its network. This shows a frequent business practice of repackaging services under multiple names, which may mislead consumers by concealing critical information such as shared infrastructure and management teams.
Despite these drawbacks, IPVanish and StrongVPN are still popular among VPN users because of their reliable performance and features. However, while selecting a VPN, keep conflicts of interest in mind, as well as the practice of repackaging services.
Aura (Pango group)
Aura, originally Pango Group, is an Israeli software business that owns many VPNs and mobile security applications, including:
- Hotspot Shield
- VPN providers include Betternet, VPN 360, and Touch VPN.
- UltraVPN OVPN
Hotspot Shield is their main VPN, distinguished by its patented Catapult Hydra protocol, which emphasizes speed. It is also the best free VPN for 2024.
Gaditek
Gaditek, a Pakistan-based technology business, owns PureVPN. PureVPN’s popularity has grown due to its extensive feature set and worldwide server network. However, it has come under fire for its logging methods, as well as a contentious episode involving law police collaboration.
Previously, Gaditek was named as the proprietor of Ivacy VPN. However, this link is no longer obvious, since Gaditek is no longer mentioned as the parent business of Ivacy VPN on its website or in other sources. The lack of transparency raises concerns regarding the ownership and governance of Ivacy VPN.
While PureVPN remains a viable choice for those looking for a VPN with a diverse set of capabilities, its past and the mystery surrounding its link to Ivacy VPN call for caution. Before selecting a VPN service, it is critical to do thorough research and careful thought, particularly if privacy and security are important to you.
Other Significant VPN Owners
Several additional VPN businesses have significant proprietors who are worth mentioning:
- McAfee, a well-known cybersecurity business, owns TunnelBear, a famous and user-friendly VPN. While this relationship may provide some confidence about security measures, it also raises concerns about the possibility for data sharing and recording activities, given McAfee’s principal business model of security products and services.
- Hide.me: hide.me, headquartered in Malaysia, is owned by eVenture, a private corporation with a large presence in Asia-Pacific. While hide.me claims to have a strict no-logs policy, the fact that it is operated by a corporation situated in a country with less severe data protection regulations than certain Western countries may raise concerns among privacy-conscious users.
These VPN companies are not controlled by bigger corporations, which might give an edge in terms of privacy and transparency.
- Proton VPN, owned by the Swiss corporation Proton AG, is well-known for its rigorous privacy features and transparent operations. Proton VPN uses Switzerland’s strong privacy regulations to provide tight legal safeguards for customer data.
- Mullvad VPN: This Swedish corporation, owned and run by Amagicom AB, is well-known for its commitment to consumer privacy. Their dedication to anonymity is shown by their acceptance of anonymous contributions, even cash, and their policy of not requesting personal information upon enrollment.
- Windscribe, a Canadian VPN, stands out for its generous free plan, but with data limits. Their commercial edition unlocks extra functionality, addressing a larger spectrum of customer requirements.
- PrivadoVPN is a recent arrival in the VPN industry. It’s located in privacy-conscious Switzerland and prioritizes user privacy as a fundamental principle. They provide a free plan with limited data and server choices, as well as a subscription version with additional capabilities for individuals that want more complete security.
- VyprVPN, owned by Certida LLC in the United States, is well-known for its unique Chameleon protocol, which is intended to evade VPN blocking, as well as its complete network infrastructure ownership. However, some users are concerned about the recent change in ownership since it shifts from Swiss to US jurisdiction, which may have privacy issues.
Why VPN ownership matters
Knowing who controls your VPN provider is important for various reasons:
- Privacy concerns: Parent corporations may have different data handling methods than their VPN subsidiary. A parent corporation with a history of collecting and selling user data may not value the privacy of its VPN customers. To preserve your privacy, you should research the VPN service and its parent corporation.
- Conflict of interest: Certain parent corporations control VPNs and VPN review websites. This raises issues regarding the impartiality of these assessments since the parent firm may be incentivized to promote its goods. You should examine different sources to acquire a fair viewpoint on VPN evaluations.
- Competition: Consolidation in the VPN sector, with giant corporations purchasing many VPN brands, can potentially hinder competition. This may result in less innovation, fewer customer options, and higher pricing in the long term.
- Jurisdiction: The parent company’s location may substantially influence data privacy. The government may require corporations operating in countries with weaker privacy laws or government surveillance programs to provide customer data to authorities. Choosing a VPN operated by a corporation in a privacy-friendly nation may offer greater security.
- Transparency: Knowing who owns your VPN provider allows you to understand their objectives and goals. Some independent VPN companies stress consumer privacy and openness, while others may focus differently. Understanding the ownership structure might provide insight into their ideals and practices.
- Accountability: If a significant corporation runs a VPN service, holding them responsible for privacy violations or unethical actions may be more challenging. Independent VPN operators may be more sensitive to customer concerns and dedicated to upholding high ethical standards.
In Summary
Consumers need to know who has access to their data, even if the ownership of a VPN doesn’t always imply bad service or compromised security. While choosing a virtual private network (VPN), it is equally crucial to consider the parent company’s reputation, privacy rules, and the country in which it operates.
Check out our in-depth VPN evaluations to learn more about the top VPNs on the market and how they handle these and other important factors.