Proton VPN

Last updated
Proton VPN
Developer(s) Proton AG
Stable release(s) [±]
Windows3.2.12 / 10 July 2024;15 days ago (2024-07-10) [1]
macOS4.1.6 / 16 February 2024;5 months ago (2024-02-16) [2]
Android5.4.47.0 / 8 July 2024;17 days ago (2024-07-08) [3]
iOS5.1.5 / 16 February 2024;5 months ago (2024-02-16) [4]
Linux (GUI)4.3.2 / 7 May 2024;2 months ago (2024-05-07) [5]
Linux (CLI)2.2.12 / 27 February 2024;4 months ago (2024-02-27) [6]
Repository
Operating system
Platform
Type Virtual private network
Website protonvpn.com

Proton VPN is a VPN service launched in 2017 [7] and operated by the Swiss company Proton AG, the company behind the email service Proton Mail. [8] [9] 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. [10]

Contents

Features

As of 18 July 2024, Proton VPN has a total of 6,349 servers, sited in 100 different nations. [11]

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. [12] [13] Its service is available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, ChromeOS and also has a command-line tool [14] for Linux and can be implemented using the IPSEC protocol. [15] Proton VPN can also be installed on a wireless router.

Proton VPN utilizes OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols with AES-256 encryption. [16] On October 11, 2022, Proton VPN released their Stealth Protocol for Android, iOS and MacOS clients, designed to disguise VPN traffic as HTTPS traffic. [17] In March 2024, Proton VPN announced that it would be bringing the Stealth Protocol to Windows in the summer. [18]

Proton VPN has a no-logs policy [19] that was independently audited by Securitum, a European security auditing company. [20] [21] [22]

In January 2020, Proton VPN released its source code on all platforms [23] and had SEC Consult conduct an independent security audit. [24]

Reception

In a January 2023 review by TechRadar , Proton VPN received 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. [13]

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. [25]

In October 2023 technology website Engadget rated Proton VPN as the "best overall" for streaming, gaming, privacy and security. [26]

In January 2024 a comparative review of 10 different VPNs by German technology magazine CHIP rated Proton VPN as their test winner. [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "Proton VPN for Windows" . Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  2. ↑ "Proton VPN for macOS" . Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  3. ↑ "Proton VPN for Android" . Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  4. ↑ "Proton VPN for iOS" . Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  5. ↑ "Proton VPN for Linux (GUI)" . Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  6. ↑ "Proton VPN for Linux (CLI)" . Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  7. ↑ "Encrypted email provider Proton Mail launches free VPN service to counter increasing online censorship". ProtonVPN. 2017-06-20. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  8. ↑ "ProtonVPN review: Underground data centers, one-click multi-hop, and more make for a great choice". PCWorld. 2018-09-04. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Proton VPN - About Us". ProtonVPN. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  10. ↑ "Privacy policy". Proton. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  11. ↑ "Proton VPN - Server Locations". ProtonVPN. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  12. ↑ "ProtonVPN - VPN Transparency Project". VPN Transparency Project. November 14, 2022.
  13. 1 2 Williams, Mike (24 January 2023). "ProtonVPN review". TechRadar . Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Freeware, Brian Nadel 2018-11-16T20:00:00Z. "ProtonVPN Free Review". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 2019-07-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ Latinoamérica, Linux (2021-04-28). "VPN gratis en Linux Debian con Proton VPN". Linux Latinoamérica (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-01.
  16. ↑ "Protect your connection with strong VPN protocols". Proton VPN. 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  17. ↑ Eddy, Max (October 11, 2022). "Proton VPN's New Stealth Feature Helps Fight Censorship in Iran and Russia". PCMag. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  18. ↑ Heinzman, Andrew (March 18, 2024). "Proton VPN Will Bring Its Stealth Protocol to Windows". How-To Geek. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Does Proton VPN keep logs?". Proton VPN. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  20. ↑ Szymczak, Maciej; Darecki, Jakub (March 24, 2022). "ProtonVPN's No-Logs policy – regarding VPN activity" . Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  21. ↑ Szymczak, Maciej; Rzepecki, Marek (May 1, 2023). "Proton VPN's No-Log policy – regarding VPN activity" . Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  22. ↑ Rzepecki, Marek; Zięba, Marcin (July 12, 2024). "Verification of Proton VPN's No-Log Policy" . Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Proton VPN goes open-source: What this means for your privacy". tomsguide.com. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  24. ↑ Osborne, Charlie. "Proton VPN apps handed to open source community in transparency push". ZDNet. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  25. ↑ Eddy, Max; Key, Kim (May 8, 2023). "Proton VPN Review". PCMag . Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  26. ↑ Malone, Katie (13 October 2023). "Proton VPN review 2023: Why it's our top-choice VPN". Engadget . Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  27. ↑ Geiger, Joerg (4 January 2024). "VPN test: The best VPN providers in comparison". Chip_(magazine) . Retrieved 5 February 2024.
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