Surfshark

Surfshark is a brand of VPN services offered by a Netherlands-based company[1] of the same name.

Developer(s)Surfshark
Initial release2018
Operating system
Platform
Available inEnglish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish.
TypeVirtual private network
LicenseProprietary software
Websitesurfshark.com

The service includes data leak detection, private search, antivirus, and personal data removal tools.[2][3][4]

In 2022 Surfshark merged with Nord Security. However, both companies still operate independently.[5]

History

Surfshark was launched in 2018 by introducing its first VPN application for iOS devices.[6][7] In 2018, a browser extension for the service was satisfactorily audited by Cure53.[8]

In September 2019 Surfshark launched Trust DNS, a DNS resolver app for Android.[9]

In July 2020, Surfshark announced its entire server network is running on RAM-only servers, introduced WireGuard, and became a founding member of the VPN Trust Initiative.[10][11]

In mid-2021, Surfshark began the process to merge with their competitor Nord Security, parent company of the popular NordVPN.[12] The merger was finalised in early 2022, with both brands continuing to operate independently.[13][14]

In August 2022, Surfshark exclusively partnered with digital rights watchdog NetBlocks for greater reporting on internet shutdowns.[15] Later 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.[16]

That same year, Surfshark released Surfshark Nexus, together with Nord Security gained the Unicorn status, released Linux GUI, reached 100 different server country locations.[17]

Technology

In December 2019, Surfshark implemented GPS-Spoofing for Android, allowing users to hide their device’s physical geo-location by changing it to one of the server’s locations.[18] In its applications, Surfshark uses IKEv2, OpenVPN and WireGuard tunneling protocols.[19] All data transferred via Surfshark servers is encrypted using an AES-256-GCM encryption standard.[20] That same year, Surfshark launched “Surfshark Alert” & “Surfshark Search.”[21]

Surfshark also added a manual WireGuard connection feature in August.[22]

Surfshark VPN service features include: Kill Switch, MultiHop, and Bypasser.[23] It also offers an ad and malware prevention feature, CleanWeb that blocks ads on the DNS level.[24]

In May 2022, Surfshark announced Linux GUI, added real-time protection to Surfshark Antivirus & added a pause feature to the VPN app.[25]

In August 2022, Surfshark added a manual WireGuard connection feature.[26]

References
  1. "Where is Surfshark located?".
  2. Williams, Mike (24 October 2022). "Surfshark VPN review". TechRadar.
  3. "Surfshark VPN Review". PCMag.
  4. "Surfshark Review: 7 Pros & 2 Cons, Speed Test Results". WHSR. 2020-07-29. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  5. "Nord Security joins forces with Surfshark | NordVPN". nordvpn.com. 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  6. "Surfshark Launches Lightweight VPN App for iOS Devices". Dark Reading. 2018-08-21. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  7. "What is Surfshark: About Us, Our Product, & Our Story". Surfshark. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  8. "Surfshark VPN Review". IGN. 18 June 2020.
  9. Spadafora, Anthony (20 September 2019). "Surfshark launches free Trust DNS app". TechRadar.
  10. Spadafora, Anthony (16 July 2020). "Surfshark boosts VPN security by going completely diskless". TechRadar.
  11. Martin, Jim. "Surfshark scraps hard disks & is now 100% RAM in its VPN servers". Tech Advisor.
  12. "Nord Security joins forces with Surfshark | NordVPN". nordvpn.com. 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  13. "NordVPN and Surfshark are merging, continuing VPN consolidation trend". CNET. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  14. "NordVPN and Surfshark announce merger". ZDNET. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  15. "NetBlocks and Surfshark join forces for greater reporting on internet freedom". NetBlocks. August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  16. Vaughan O'Grady (June 7, 2022). "India says goodbye to another VPN provider as Surfshark pulls its servers". Developing Telecoms. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  17. "Lithuania's Nord Security raises $100 mln at $1.6 bln valuation". Reuters. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  18. Spadafora, Anthony (18 December 2019). "This Android VPN is now able to disguise your GPS location". TechRadar.
  19. Chiara Castro (August 18, 2022). "Surfshark now offers manual WireGuard connections". Tech Radar. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  20. "6 VPNs for Your Business or Side Hustle, on Sale Today". Entrepreneur. 29 December 2020.
  21. "Surfshark One Review". PCMag. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  22. Chiara Castro (August 18, 2022). "'Surfshark now offers manual WireGuard connections". TechRadar. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  23. Parker, Jacob (18 May 2021). "Surfshark review: can a VPN this cheap really be good?". T3.
  24. Hodge, Rae. "Surfshark VPN review: Competitive pricing and blazing speeds from this upstart service". CNET.
  25. "Surfshark's new Linux app has a graphical interface". Tech Advisor. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  26. Chiara Castro (2022-08-18). "Surfshark now offers manual WireGuard connections". TechRadar. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
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