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Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Networks
A small number of companies control a large number of VPN brands. This highlights the consolidation and lack of transparency within the VPN market.
The Major Players:
The following companies are identified as owning 50+ VPNs combined, highlighting their dominance:
The Major Players:
The following companies are identified as owning 50+ VPNs combined, highlighting their dominance:
- AURA
- Ziff Davis
- Kape Technologies
- ActMobile Networks
- Gaditek
- NortonLifeLock
- Innovative Connecting
- SuperSoftTech
Understanding VPN Ownership: Independence vs. Corporate Control
The VPN landscape comprises two primary types of providers: independent VPNs and those owned by larger corporations. Additionally, the industry sees frequent shifts as smaller VPNs are acquired by larger entities or combine forces through mergers
.
Independent VPNs: Transparency and Trust, but Slower Pace
Independent VPNs generally offer the highest levels of transparency and the simplest, most user-friendly privacy policies. Since their revenue depends directly on user satisfaction rather than corporate interests, they are often the first to undergo independent audits, verifying the security and privacy of their systems.
Examples of truly independent VPNs are becoming increasingly rare due to industry consolidation. Mullvad VPN, based in Sweden, is a notable example. While recognized for trustworthiness, its independent status sometimes means a slower pace in implementing new features. Proton VPN, operated by Proton AG, a Swiss company, is another example of an independent provider.
Corporate-Owned VPNs: Feature-Rich and Fast-Paced, but Complex Legalities
The vast majority of VPNs you encounter online, such as IPVanish, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost VPN, are owned by larger corporations with diverse business interests beyond just VPNs. These VPNs often come with more complex legal structures; however, many still prioritize their no-logs policies and maintain a degree of transparency.
Being corporate-owned doesn’t automatically make a VPN untrustworthy. You can still find reliable providers committed to user privacy even under corporate ownership. Moreover, thanks to diverse funding sources, corporate VPNs tend to boast extensive server networks, cutting-edge technology, and rapid feature development.
VPN Mergers: Synergies and Potential Legal Complications
Some VPN providers opt to merge, combining resources and infrastructure to better compete in the saturated VPN market. Mergers can benefit users by providing access to larger server networks and enhanced features. However, they can also introduce legal complexities, potentially altering terms of service and other legal conditions.
Ivacy’s recent merger with PureVPN is one such example, with existing Ivacy users being transferred to the PureVPN platform. In this particular case, the core legal terms remained unchanged, but, as subsequent information revealed, there was evidence suggesting that Ivacy and PureVPN shared the same parent company from the beginning.
The VPN landscape comprises two primary types of providers: independent VPNs and those owned by larger corporations. Additionally, the industry sees frequent shifts as smaller VPNs are acquired by larger entities or combine forces through mergers
.
Independent VPNs: Transparency and Trust, but Slower Pace
Independent VPNs generally offer the highest levels of transparency and the simplest, most user-friendly privacy policies. Since their revenue depends directly on user satisfaction rather than corporate interests, they are often the first to undergo independent audits, verifying the security and privacy of their systems.
Examples of truly independent VPNs are becoming increasingly rare due to industry consolidation. Mullvad VPN, based in Sweden, is a notable example. While recognized for trustworthiness, its independent status sometimes means a slower pace in implementing new features. Proton VPN, operated by Proton AG, a Swiss company, is another example of an independent provider.
Corporate-Owned VPNs: Feature-Rich and Fast-Paced, but Complex Legalities
The vast majority of VPNs you encounter online, such as IPVanish, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost VPN, are owned by larger corporations with diverse business interests beyond just VPNs. These VPNs often come with more complex legal structures; however, many still prioritize their no-logs policies and maintain a degree of transparency.
Being corporate-owned doesn’t automatically make a VPN untrustworthy. You can still find reliable providers committed to user privacy even under corporate ownership. Moreover, thanks to diverse funding sources, corporate VPNs tend to boast extensive server networks, cutting-edge technology, and rapid feature development.
VPN Mergers: Synergies and Potential Legal Complications
Some VPN providers opt to merge, combining resources and infrastructure to better compete in the saturated VPN market. Mergers can benefit users by providing access to larger server networks and enhanced features. However, they can also introduce legal complexities, potentially altering terms of service and other legal conditions.
Ivacy’s recent merger with PureVPN is one such example, with existing Ivacy users being transferred to the PureVPN platform. In this particular case, the core legal terms remained unchanged, but, as subsequent information revealed, there was evidence suggesting that Ivacy and PureVPN shared the same parent company from the beginning.
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Nord Security: A Lithuanian Company with International Connections
Nord Security, originating from Lithuania, was established in 2012 by Tom Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas. While the company initially launched with its flagship product, NordVPN, a reorganization in 2017 led to the parent company being renamed Nord Security (Nordsec Ltd.). However, NordVPN’s early operational structure involved several other entities.
Specifically, Tefincom, a company registered in Panama, served as NordVPN’s initial parent organization. Panama was strategically chosen due to its privacy-friendly legal framework, allowing NordVPN to confidently assert its no-logs policy, a claim it still maintains. The president, director, and legal representative of Tefincom is Marios Papoloizou, a name that also connects to another country.
Nord Security, originating from Lithuania, was established in 2012 by Tom Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas. While the company initially launched with its flagship product, NordVPN, a reorganization in 2017 led to the parent company being renamed Nord Security (Nordsec Ltd.). However, NordVPN’s early operational structure involved several other entities.
Specifically, Tefincom, a company registered in Panama, served as NordVPN’s initial parent organization. Panama was strategically chosen due to its privacy-friendly legal framework, allowing NordVPN to confidently assert its no-logs policy, a claim it still maintains. The president, director, and legal representative of Tefincom is Marios Papoloizou, a name that also connects to another country.
Panama and Cyprus are also known as attractive jurisdictions for companies seeking to minimize their tax burden in their home countries. While we cannot definitively state that tax considerations were the reason for Nord Security’s connections to these countries, it remains a plausible factor.
Furthermore, there’s Tesonet, a Lithuanian technology company founded by Tom Okmanas to provide initial infrastructure support to NordVPN. According to Tesonet’s “About Us” page, the company is a creator or investor in over 30 global products and employs more than 3,200 people. Examining Tesonet’s portfolio reveals some intriguing details.
Furthermore, there’s Tesonet, a Lithuanian technology company founded by Tom Okmanas to provide initial infrastructure support to NordVPN. According to Tesonet’s “About Us” page, the company is a creator or investor in over 30 global products and employs more than 3,200 people. Examining Tesonet’s portfolio reveals some intriguing details.
Tesonet’s portfolio includes Nord Security and Surfshark (another widely popular VPN, discussed in more detail later), alongside digital products such as Oxylabs and Smartproxy. These latter two are proxy providers facilitating web scraping, price monitoring, AI development, brand protection, cybersecurity, and other activities. They function by enabling individuals and companies to purchase sets of proxies, or IP addresses.
In essence, Oxylabs and Smartproxy share a similar technical function with NordVPN and Surfshark, rerouting network traffic, but serve fundamentally different purposes. While NordVPN and Surfshark aim to protect user privacy through traffic encryption, Oxylabs and Smartproxy alter IP addresses to facilitate the collection of publicly accessible data. This contrasting purpose raises the question of whether these companies maintain complete operational separation.
As previously noted, Surfshark merged with Nord Security in 2022. Surfshark, initially incubated within Tesonet, had evolved into an independent company based in the British Virgin Islands. Following the merger with Nord Security, Surfshark relocated its headquarters to the Netherlands, while maintaining its operational separation from NordVPN. The merged entities affirmed that no changes were made to their respective Terms of Use, Terms of Service, or Privacy Policies.
In essence, Oxylabs and Smartproxy share a similar technical function with NordVPN and Surfshark, rerouting network traffic, but serve fundamentally different purposes. While NordVPN and Surfshark aim to protect user privacy through traffic encryption, Oxylabs and Smartproxy alter IP addresses to facilitate the collection of publicly accessible data. This contrasting purpose raises the question of whether these companies maintain complete operational separation.
As previously noted, Surfshark merged with Nord Security in 2022. Surfshark, initially incubated within Tesonet, had evolved into an independent company based in the British Virgin Islands. Following the merger with Nord Security, Surfshark relocated its headquarters to the Netherlands, while maintaining its operational separation from NordVPN. The merged entities affirmed that no changes were made to their respective Terms of Use, Terms of Service, or Privacy Policies.
In the end, we'll say that remain our top-rated vpn providers despite their complex legal backgrounds. They both go through regular independent audits by highly reputable cyber-sec companies, frequently update their offers with new features, and remain highly transparent.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Nord Security owns two VPN brands: NordVPN and Surfshark.
- NordVPN is legally based in Panama, while Surfshark is based in the Netherlands.
- Both of those VPNs have been audited multiple times in the past.
- Nord Security, despite its complex legal background, remains trustworthy
Where the Market is Heading
As this analysis demonstrates, the variety of VPN services on the market is illusory. The concentration of services in the hands of monopolistic companies like Kape and Nord has been ongoing in recent years, and this trend is likely to continue.
On the one hand, this isn’t necessarily all bad. Knowing the owners of the major brands allows us to track the reputation and reliability of not only specific VPN services but also the sister services gathered under one umbrella. And we can count on a certain stability in the quality and security of services: it’s unlikely that a company investing in the development of one brand in its portfolio would sell user data and infect users with viruses in another – because that would inevitably affect trust in all their brands.
As this analysis demonstrates, the variety of VPN services on the market is illusory. The concentration of services in the hands of monopolistic companies like Kape and Nord has been ongoing in recent years, and this trend is likely to continue.
On the one hand, this isn’t necessarily all bad. Knowing the owners of the major brands allows us to track the reputation and reliability of not only specific VPN services but also the sister services gathered under one umbrella. And we can count on a certain stability in the quality and security of services: it’s unlikely that a company investing in the development of one brand in its portfolio would sell user data and infect users with viruses in another – because that would inevitably affect trust in all their brands.
- On the other hand, a situation in which all VPN services with history and reputation are owned by a few giants does not bode well: historically, such situations have inevitably ended in cartel agreements and a radical change in the relationship with the user.
Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Networks
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