Surfshark is a European VPN service and digital privacy tool founded in Lithuania.[1][2] It also offers other services such as data leak detection, a private search tool, an antivirus and an automated personal data removal system.[3][4][5][6]
In 2021, Surfshark merged with Nord Security. However, both companies still operate independently.[7]
Surfshark’s headquarter is in Amsterdam, the Netherlands,[8] with additional offices in Lithuania, Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom.[9]
In 2024, the Financial Times ranked Surfshark as the 47th fastest-growing European company.[10]
History
Surfshark was launched in 2018 when it introduced its first VPN application for iOS devices.[11]
In 2019, Surfshark launched Surfshark Alert and Surfshark Search and started their research activities, releasing the first Digital Quality of Life (DQL) index.[12] Later, in October 2019, Surfshark became one of the first ten VPN packages to receive an official seal of approval granted by an independent IT-Security Institute AV-TEST.[13]
In 2020, Surfshark moved to 100% RAM-only servers, introduced WireGuard, and became a founding member of the VPN Trust Initiative.[14] Later in 2020, Surfshark was named the best VPN of 2020 by CNN.[12][15]
In 2021, Surfshark was named Best VPN by the Trusted Reviews Awards.[16] In the same year, Surfshark launched Surfshark Antivirus and Incogni.[17] Surfshark also won the PCMag Editors Choice award and successfully passed an external audit by Cure53.[18]
In mid-2021, Surfshark began the process of merging with Nord Security, the parent company of the popular NordVPN. The merger was finalized in early 2022, with both brands continuing to operate independently.[19]
In August 2022, Surfshark exclusively partnered with digital rights watchdog NetBlocks for greater reporting on internet shutdowns.[20]
Later in 2022, Surfshark closed its physical servers in India in response to the CERT-In's order for VPN companies to store consumers' personal data for a period of five years.[21][22] That same year, Surfshark released Surfshark Nexus, together with Nord Security gained the Unicorn status, released Linux GUI, reached 100 different server country locations, and was included in CNET's 2022 Best Overall VPN list.[23][24]
Technology
In December 2019, Surfshark implemented GPS-Spoofing for Android, allowing users to hide their device’s physical geolocation by changing it to one of the server’s locations.[25] In its applications, Surfshark uses IKEv2 and OpenVPN protocols. All data transferred via Surfshark servers is encrypted using an AES-256-GCM encryption standard.[26] That same year, Surfshark launched Surfshark Alert and Surfshark Search.[27]
In 2021, Surfshark launched Surfshark Antivirus and Incogni.[28] That same year, Surfshark also launched a cookie pop-up blocker, an in-app notification center, new browser extensions, a macOS app, and started moving their servers to 10Gbps.[29]
In February 2022, Surfshark released the Surfshark Nexus technology.[30]
In May 2022, Surfshark announced Linux GUI, added real-time protection to Surfshark Antivirus and added a pause feature to the VPN app.[31]
In August 2022, Surfshark added a manual WireGuard connection feature.[32]
Surfshark accepts anonymous payment methods, has servers, has no bandwidth limitations, and operates under a strict no-logs policy. Surfshark offers OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard connection protocols (for apps and manual setups) to connect to the VPN servers safely.[34]
Other Surfshark VPN service features include: Kill Switch, Pause VPN, Dynamic MultiHop (customizable double VPN), Obfuscation, IP rotator, GPS spoofing, smart DNS, and Bypasser (split tunneling).[35]
It also offers an ad and malware prevention feature, CleanWeb, that blocks ads on a DNS level.[36] Surfshark also allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
Research
In 2020 Surfshark conducted research evaluating the digital quality of life and wellbeing of online users.[37] The research is updated quarterly, selecting the best-performing countries based on internet affordability, quality, electronic infrastructure, security, and government.
Aside from the DQL research, Surfshark investigates worldwide social media censorship, internet shutdowns, and government surveillance.[38] New data is added as soon as the internet connection gets disrupted in any of the countries, or strict government surveillance invades the privacy of the internet users.
During the years, Surfshark collected information about internet regulations, global data breaches, or data vulnerabilities.[39]
Partnerships
Surfshark is one of the founding members of the VPN Trust Initiative, which was established in 2020. All members must follow the VTI principles, ensuring that member companies are secure, trusted, and transparent to their users.[40]
In August 2022, Surfshark joined forces with an internet monitoring organization — NetBlocks.[41] The partnership started as a natural alignment of the organizations’ visions and common goals — bringing awareness and gaining more routes to spread the news of worldwide internet disruptions.[38]
That same year, Surfshark joined The Global Encryption Coalition (GEC) to promote strong encryption.[42]
Surfshark also collaborated with The Internet Society to spread awareness about Splinternet and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to discuss surveillance technologies.[43]
Reception
Audits
In November 2018, Surfshark’s Chrome and Firefox browser extensions underwent an external audit by a German cybersecurity firm, Cure53.[44] Following the extension audits, in April 2021, Surfshark’s server infrastructure was audited, again by Cure53.[45] In January 2023, Surfshark underwent an independent assurance procedure by Deloitte where they verified Surfshark’s "no-logs" statement.[46]
Awards
VPN Solution of the Year at the CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards 2022[47]
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