Virtual private network software includes Surf Shark VPN. With the help of SurfShark, users may surf the web anonymously and securely join a private network. Including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, the app is accessible on all popular operating systems. To make it difficult for other parties to follow or hack users, it encrypts internet traffic and hides users’ IP addresses. It has a lot of features, such as a kill switch, DNS leak prevention, and a no-logs policy. Additionally, it strictly adheres to the no-logs policy, which prohibits it from maintaining any logs of user activity. A cybersecurity business called Surfshark is dedicated to creating solutions for humanized privacy and security. Their products now include a VPN, Antivirus, Alert (a system for detecting data leaks), Search (a private search engine), Incogni (an automatic method for removing personal data), and many more. The finest VPN companies are increasingly offering more complete suites of cybersecurity services, sometimes packaged with the basic VPN product, as the business develops and enters the mainstream. Surf Shark is one of the newest VPN service providers to achieve this. It’s already a great option for anyone trying to protect their online privacy on a budget because it’s the best inexpensive VPN, and the new Surf Shark One plan aims to improve that.
OVERVIEW
Contents
Ever since its launch in 2018, Surfshark has been growing. At VPN Overview, what began as a simple and easy VPN swiftly rose to the top of the list of all-time favorites. The AV-Test has officially endorsed this VPN service for the first time in history. It is also the only VPN to have had its initial independent audit in the same year that it was introduced. Today, one of the most well-known and dependable VPN companies worldwide is Surf Shark VPN. One of the most affordable, high-quality VPN services available right now on Surf Shark. Amazingly, they provide top-notch features and services, and with a payment plan that costs less than $2 per month for an unlimited number of devices, you truly get a lot for your money. This VPN provider has its headquarters in the British Virgin Islands, which are outside of the purview and where users’ privacy is still appreciated and respected. They do not gather any user data or online behavior, which is fantastic if their Privacy Policy is to be believed. All of Surfshark’s features are skillfully designed to meet the demands of various users. Surf Shark is useful for torrenting, gamers, and those who enjoy streaming videos that are typically not available where they live.
What about the security of Surfshark VPN?
We discovered Surf Shark to be a very safe VPN service. Surfshark aced every test, from hiding your real IP to encrypting your traffic to not logging personal information.
The following security elements need special mention:
- Wireguard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN are all supported by Surf Shark VPN.
- It does not maintain any harmful logs.
- It has an automated kill switch built in.
- With its many features, Surfshark can block advertisements, whitelist websites, and provide higher levels of security.
- A GPS-Spoofing feature, a NoBorders Mode for locations with severe restrictions, and a Camouflage Mode that hides your VPN use from your ISP are all available in Surf Shark.
You simply need to provide your email address and payment information to register.
The following features of Surf Shark makes sure of your security:
Protocols
AES-256-bit encryption is used by Surfshark, which also uses WireGuard and OpenVPN, two of the most secure VPN protocols currently available. They obviously won’t give up when it comes to the security of their users.
An open-source tunneling protocol is called OpenVPN. On all popular operating systems, Surfshark provides choices for UDP or TCP. All users of Android, Windows, iOS, macOS, and Linux can use the more recent WireGuard protocol. It is extremely quick and uses the ChaCha20 encryption method. While OpenVPN contains more than 400,000 lines of code, WireGuard has less than 4,000, which decreases loading times and potential security holes. In reality, WireGuard is the foundation of NordVPN’s unique NordLynx protocol. In Beginning, Surfshark no longer provided Shadowsocks, an encrypted proxy created especially to get around Chinese restrictions. Its NoBorders option can instead support users in constrained areas. The IKEv2 protocol is no longer supported by Surfshark on Windows due to a decline in its use. For mobile users, this protocol is still available. In conclusion, Surf Shark provides flawless forward secrecy regardless of the protocol you use. In the event of a compromise, the stolen encryption keys become worthless the moment your VPN has turned off thanks to forwarding secrecy, which often changes encryption keys.
Privacy and logging
For their VPN to function, Surfshark has a “no-logs” policy and makes every attempt to record as little personal information as possible. They do require your email address to establish an account, much like the majority of other providers, in addition to your payment information. Additionally, Surfshark, like the majority of VPNs, needs certain data to monitor its service and stop misuse. For instance, they utilize anonymized data to monitor how busy their servers are and check for connection problems. These problems only affect how their servers and VPN service are used in general and cannot be linked to a single user. Additionally, it doesn’t seem like Surfshark is maintaining any logs. Independent security audits conducted in 2018 and 2021 supported their stringent “no-logs” policy. Due to this, Surfshark has earned a spot in the list of the top no-log VPNs. Additionally, because Surfshark runs on a network of servers that only consume RAM, no data is now kept on any hard drives. With every server reset, the technology makes sure that data is automatically wiped. The information cannot thus be recovered afterward. RAM-only servers are becoming more and more popular among VPN companies since they enable greater secrecy. Additionally, one of the first VPNs to enable two-factor authentication is Surfshark (2FA). This implies that you log in twice, which is a reliable method of security against many online threats. This two-step authentication is required for Surfshark Alert users, but it is optional for “regular” Surfshark users who want an extra layer of security. More information about two-factor authentication is available here.
Kill switch
Any VPN must have a kill switch as a basic security element. As the term implies, if your VPN stops functioning for whatever reason, it immediately “kills” your internet connection. This stops information from leaking (such as your true IP address) and keeps you safe when your VPN malfunctions. The kill switch is available in Surfshark for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. By accessing the settings on the Surfshark app, you may enable it.
Surf shack Nexus
The most recent enhancement to the VPN’s security and the user interface is called Surfshark Nexus. Using software-defined networking (SDN) technologies, Nexus is a new invention. Instead of only connecting to one server, the upgrade links the user to the VPN’s complete network (or subgroup of servers). Surfshark appears to be managing it successfully despite the possibility of latency or security issues arising from connecting every user to the whole network and shifting their traffic around. Although the entire set of functionality will be gradually introduced over the course of the next year or so, the Nexus infrastructure has already been included in the current version of Surfshark VPN. Since Nexus hasn’t been thoroughly tested yet, we can’t say for sure, but users haven’t detected any speed differences thus far. Users of Surf Shark will be able to switch between servers without losing their VPN connection with Nexus, which will shield their true IP address from prying eyes at all times.
Surf Shark browser extension
A recent update to Surfshark’s software gives users access to information about the history of the websites they visit. This new feature will examine all websites users visit if they are linked to Surf Shark and have the Surf Shark browser extension installed. A thin red line will be seen at the top of the screen if they are visiting a website that has a history of data breaches. If you are unsure of which websites you can trust with your data, this is a fantastic security advantage.
Bypasser, MultiHop, and CleanWeb
When we tested them for this Surfshark review, each of these functions worked as intended. Even the adverts that managed to bypass our standard ad blockers were successfully blocked by CleanWeb. Although the MultiHop option increases security a little, it slows down your internet connection. After all, instead of using a single VPN server, your traffic must pass through two.
MultiHop Surf Shark screenshot
Bypasser lets you connect to particular apps and websites you trust using your IP address rather than the one on the VPN server (split tunneling). This can come in quite handy in various circumstances. Surfshark Alert and Surfshark Search are two further recent additions to the service. When your email or passwords may be in danger of being stolen, Surfshark Alert will let you know. Surfshark Search is the company’s response to DuckDuckGo, an anonymous search engine.
Extra Options for Surf Shark Search and Alert
However, keep in mind that both Surf Shark Alert and Surf Shark Search are paid extensions to the standard Surfshack membership. They are a part of the Surfshark One package, which adds $1.49 to your existing subscription.
Camouflage Mode with NoBorders
In addition to its standard VPN service, Surf Shark offers two more VPN options. These are the NoBorders Mode and the Camouflage Mode. Obfuscation technology is what Surfshark refers to as Camouflage Mode. Its main purpose is to mask your VPN traffic so that it can get over any content filters and make it more difficult for someone to keep tabs on you. When you select OpenVPN (TCP or UDP) as their protocol, it starts up automatically. NoBorders Mode enables unrestricted internet access even if you’re in an area where it’s prohibited. Surfshark automatically activates the NoBorders mode when it detects any limitations on your network. This provides you with a well-curated list of servers that operate effectively despite network blocking.
GPS Spoofing
A GPS spoofing feature has just been introduced to Surfshark’s service. Even when your virtual position isn’t determined by your IP address, GPS spoofing enables you to modify it. The GPS spoofing feature of Surfshark is now only accessible on Android.
How to get started with Surfshark?
The Surf Shark website is quite well-structured, not overly crowded, and has all the essential information at your fingertips. The “My Account” area of the website has been made as easy as possible. For downloading software for certain hardware and operating systems, there are a few buttons. There are buttons for resetting your password and logging out, and you can also check when your membership expires. So it’s really simple to manage your Surfshark account. Surf Shark is really simple and quick to install. The Surfshark VPN app is available for download from the App Store or Play Store for mobile devices. Simply click the relevant icon on your account dashboard on a Mac or PC.
An instruction manual for installing Surfshark is provided below:
Just follow these steps to utilize the Surf Shark app VPN on Windows 11/10/8/7. Before downloading it, you must, however, sign up for the finest, most economical VPN Surf Shark membership.
Step 1: Download – Go to the Surfshark official website and choose VPN from the top of the left-hand navigation bar. Click on the download button at the bottom of the same window once a new one appears.
Step 2: Install – To install the Surf Shark program for Windows after downloading it, click the downloaded file. You will be prompted by a pop-up window to confirm your want to let the app make modifications. For it to be installed, you must click “Yes.” The software will immediately open after a successful installation.
Step 3: Login – If you already have a relevant account, log in with it when the app has launched. Alternatively, you may create one by using the “Create account” option.
Step 4: Connect – Now that you have successfully logged in, you will see the VPN’s main window. By selecting the ‘Connect’ option at this point, you may establish a VPN connection. The server you have connected to will display the status of your connection. By selecting the “Disconnect” button, you may also disconnect it.
Step 5: Manage — By clicking the arrow to reveal the secret menu, you can now manage the VPN. By selecting Location from the left menu bar, you may modify server location as well as shortlist your favorite servers.
What is Surfshark One?
Surf shark is an internet security package provided by one of the most well-known VPN providers. Its basic concept is that users may utilize four distinct cybersecurity products simultaneously while benefiting from enhanced digital protection with only one subscription.
- Surf Shark VPN.
This provider has long been a favorite of ours and consistently ranks as one of the top inexpensive VPNs. Surf Shark is a reputable and safe VPN service with more than 3,000 servers spread over an amazing 160 locations in 65 countries. Government censorship may be avoided with the use of features like NoBorders and its Camouflage Mode (opens in a new tab). One of the finest streaming VPNs, the service also unblocks all the popular streaming services including US Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu. It is also one of the most secure VPNs available thanks to other privacy-friendly features including a strict no-logs policy, military-grade encryption techniques, and a kill switch. Additionally, Nexus’s brand-new amazing technology aims to “revolutionize” the VPN business even more by including more privacy-focused technologies.
- Surf Shark Antivirus
A VPN does not protect your device from viruses and spyware, but it does safeguard your online activity by hiding your true IP address and encrypting your data. More established antivirus programs should handle this. To work in combination with your VPN service, Surfshark created its antivirus. Your devices will be shielded from malware, viruses, and privacy-invading programs in this way, making it impossible for them to act without your consent. For your safety when you download, install, or utilize applications and data, it provides real-time security. Additionally, with regularly scheduled scans, whether they be comprehensive or only focused on frequently used folders, you can always stay on top of your devices’ digital hygiene. Surfshark One is available for a variety of devices. Surfshark Search only utilizes the greatest search algorithms, such as Bing API and DuckDuckGo’s
- Surf Shark Search
This private, ad-free search engine tool is a part of Surfshark One. It guarantees never to record your data or monitor your search history while preventing web trackers from spying on you and interfering with your surfing. By giving you the option to switch between areas, Surfshark Search may also help you obtain better overall search results. You can select the region you want and receive results that are pertinent to that area. Additionally, you receive natural search results that are unaffected by prior searches or your actual location.
- Surf Shark Alert
Surfshark’s data leak monitoring technology warns you in real-time of any breaches involving your personal information. It protects your email accounts by notifying you when they are breached online databases, checks the vulnerability of your passwords by looking at how many times they have been leaked, prevents identity theft by checking the status of your identification number, and protects your credit cards by notifying you when such information appears online.
Features of Surfshark
Surf Shark warrant canary
The company keeps a warrant canary to keep its users aware of government efforts to force Surf Shark to provide personal data about its users. Surf Shark is devoted to transparency and full control over the service. The users’ private information has never been divulged or seized, and they have never been compromised or experienced a data breach. There aren’t many services that keep a warrant canary like this. It gives you a bit more peace of mind that Surf Shark is still safe.
Encryption
Depending on the VPN protocol you use, Surfshark uses a variety of encryption techniques. Surfshark supports the following VPN protocols: AES-256-GCM encryption is used by the OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols. AES-256 is so powerful that the US government uses it to safeguard Top Secret information. ChaCha20 encryption is used by the WireGuard protocol. ChaCha20 is likewise quite powerful. It has the extra benefit of being simple to calculate on the types of general-purpose processors available in modern phones and laptops. Surfshark makes it simple to switch VPN protocols.
The network speed is really fast.
Surfshark has established a strong network. It is quick and dependable, with constant speeds throughout. The addition of WireGuard accelerated the entire system. Surfshark was tested using a wired (not WiFi) connection at 500 Mbps.
P2P activity
All the servers in the network are P2P-friendly. Surf Shark has a dedicated set of secure servers that manage all P2P activity. But you don’t have to be concerned about connecting to the correct one. You may use any VPN server you wish. When you run a P2P program, such as BitTorrent or PopcornTime, the VPN servers detect this and link you to one of the specific P2P servers.
CleanWeb
The Surfshark applications come with a robust internet filter called CleanWeb. Ads are blocked by this feature. However, it goes far further than that, blocking “suspect links” that have been blacklisted as well as trackers, malware, and phishing domains. CleanWeb stops all of this junk before it reaches your device, protecting it from any malicious techniques used. By preventing this trash from reaching your device, you can speed up your online browsing and stop wasting mobile data. Go to the Connectivity section of Settings and switch on CleanWeb there. Visits to numerous websites with plenty of advertising proved CleanWeb’s usefulness. The VPN applications for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS support CleanWeb.
Support for WireGuard for improved performance
The performance of Surfshark just increased significantly. By including compatibility with the WireGuard VPN protocol, they achieved their goal. A relatively recent VPN protocol is called WireGuard. It has a straightforward architecture and the most recent encryption techniques. New levels of speed and security are the outcome. Even OpenVPN, the protocol that the great majority of VPN providers employ, is outperformed by it. Surfshark adopted a strategy from NordVPN to address this. They put a double NAT fix in place to address the privacy issue. User’s IP addresses are not saved on the VPN server when double NAT is used.
Private DNS
Each VPN server operated by Surfshark has its private DNS. Your device’s DNS requests are encrypted before they leave your device and go to the private DNS on the server while Surfshark is connected. On the server, the request’s results are encrypted before being sent to your device. Your ISP is unaware of the websites you are accessing since it cannot see the DNS queries. When utilizing Surfshark, your privacy is considerably increased as a result.
Available on a variety of platforms
Surfshark, like other reputable service providers, has made its service available for several platforms, allowing you to utilize it with practically any device on the market. Their simple program supports popular platforms such as Windows and iOS. You may also install it on your gaming devices or smart gadgets such as smart TVs. Surf Shark may also be utilized on routers for those who don’t mind a slower connection. However, owing to encryption, router-installed VPN services may be substantially slower. Encryption requires processing power, which most routers lack, resulting in a slower connection. A massive and ever-expanding server network
Surfshark’s server network has more than doubled in the last year. This network presently has over 1700 servers distributed across 63 countries. This means you won’t get a congested server, and you’ll always be able to find a server near you. All Surf Shark servers are P2P compatible, which is uncommon nowadays.
Cons of Surfshark
A little pricey
Surfshark is not one of the most affordable VPNs on the market, especially for those who just need a VPN for a short period of time. This can be justified, however, by the VPN’s service quality. Consider the yearly or two-year plan for a reasonable value.
P2P can be time-consuming.
While Surfshark does an excellent job of permitting P2P on all of its servers, some of them can be pretty sluggish. It may take some trial and error to discover a torrent server that works flawlessly.
PRICING OF SURFSHARK
Surfshark is one of the newcomers that promises a more secure digital existence if you’re looking for a decent VPN service. So, let’s learn more about Surfshark’s pricing and the options it provides to its users.
- SurfShark provides a 30-day money-back guarantee. The 30-day money-back guarantee also applies to six-month and one-month programs. The 24-month Surfshark package saves you 81%.
- If you are unsure about subscribing to one of their programs, you may sample their 7-day SurfShark free trial. The trial, however, is only accessible for iOS, Android, and macOS. From any of the devices, you may sign up for a free trial.
- After activating the trial, you may use it on your PC with the same account. To utilize the trial account, you do not need to make any adjustments or alterations. That is the most effective method for obtaining a free Surfshark account for seven days.
SURF SHARK PRICINGS
24-months (2 years): INR 191.49 per month.
Twelve months: INR 306.79 per month.
One month: INR 999.49 per month.
SurfShark also makes it simple to make payments. They accept major payment providers such as Amazon Pay, PayPal, Google Pay, Alipay, Coingate, and particular local payment systems. They accept major credit and debit cards as well. SurfShark has begun taking bitcoin as cryptocurrency becomes more popular. They accept bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.
FAQ
Is Surfshark compatible with the Firestick?
Yes, Surf Shark provides a specialized app for the Amazon Firestick and Fire TV that allows you to safeguard your viewing without buffering. It will allow you to remain private and protected while also unblocking stuff that your Firestick would not normally be able to view. It is simple to set up and may be done by installing directly from your Firestick device. If you already have a Surfshark account, simply search for ‘Surfshark’ on your Firestick device. Install it, sign in to your VPN account, and begin streaming.
Is Surfshark compatible with BBC iPlayer?
Yes, Surfshark claims to be capable of unblocking BBC iPlayer. All you need to do is connect to a server in the United Kingdom, and you should be good to go. With Surfshark on your side, you’ll be able to watch live TV, plenty of on-demand material, football games, and more. Surfshark is an ideal alternative for UK nationals traveling overseas who want to bring a bit of home with them. Or for individuals who appreciate British programs and materials but live abroad in the world.
Is torrenting permitted on Surf Shark?
Yes, Surfshark permits and supports torrenting, providing a secure and quick way to download torrents. It can keep you completely safe and secret while seeding or downloading P2P files. It further says that using its service, for this reason, would result in no substantial speed decreases. And, without a doubt, utilizing a VPN while torrenting is essential, therefore Surfshark appears to be as excellent a choice as any other VPN.
Is Surfshark compatible with the iPad?
Surf Shark has a dedicated iOS app, so it will operate flawlessly on your iPad. Not only that, but it also offers Chrome and Firefox browser extensions, so you can use it on pretty much any device that can run one or both of these browsers. This ensures that the number of devices on which Surfshark may be used extends well beyond iPhones and iPads.However, as previously said, Surf Shark already has several dedicated applications, ensuring that most of your devices are covered.
Does Surfshark provide a free trial period?
Yes, Surfshark does provide a 7-day free trial via their mobile applications. It does, however, include a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is a nice alternative and equivalent to what other top VPN services provide. This means you must pay for it immediately, but you may get your money back at any time throughout the first 30 days. Great if you decide you don’t like the VPN for any reason.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, for the majority of users, Surfshark is a fantastic VPN. It functions well for surfing, streaming material, downloading, and using torrents. It is dependable, safe, and quick, and can connect an unlimited number of devices. In addition, it has excellent features like a kill switch, ad blocking, GPS spoofing, access to different Netflix libraries, and more. Surf Shark is a no-logs VPN service provider with a multitude of amazing abilities that is headquartered in a country that values privacy. These include Whitelister and CleanWeb Every major operating system and gadget, including things like gaming consoles and smart TVs, has a desktop or mobile app. To keep you safe and secure, they use cutting-edge technologies like the WireGuard VPN protocol. Additionally, it is reasonably priced, which makes it an excellent substitute for utilizing free VPNs, which sometimes have restrictions. Despite being a relatively new player in the VPN market, Surfshark compares favorably with the best of them. It has lately launched its data eradication service called Incogni and is even pushing into the antivirus industry. In case you have problems, the company offers live chat help around-the-clock and a 30-day money-back guarantee.