Is Surfshark Legit or Scam?

Is Surfshark Legit?

Summary

Yes, Surfshark is a legit Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider. Here’s a brief rundown of its legitimacy:

Reputation: Since its launch in 2018, Surfshark has rapidly grown in popularity and has become one of the well-recognized names in the VPN industry.
Privacy Policy: Surfshark has a strict no-logs policy, meaning they don’t store user activity or connection logs. This is crucial for those who are privacy-conscious.
Jurisdiction: Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands, a territory known for strong user privacy laws and is outside the 14 Eyes surveillance alliance.
Security: Surfshark uses industry-standard AES-256-GCM encryption. It also offers several security features like a kill switch, MultiHop (double VPN), and private DNS on each server.
Independent Audits: Surfshark’s no-logs policy has been independently audited by a third-party security firm, Cure53, which adds to its credibility.
Streaming & P2P Support: The VPN reliably unblocks major streaming platforms like Netflix, and it supports P2P/torrenting, making it functional for a range of uses.
Customer Feedback: Surfshark has received generally positive reviews from users and tech reviewers alike for its features, performance, and customer service.
Customer Support: They offer 24/7 live chat support, which is indicative of a company that stands behind its service.

However, as with any service or product, it’s essential for potential users to do their research, read user reviews, and determine if it meets their specific needs and preferences. But in terms of legitimacy, Surfshark is indeed a genuine and reputable VPN provider.

Surfshark offers a compelling package with a combination of features that make it appealing to a wide range of users. While it has some shortcomings, its pros, especially considering its price point, make it an attractive option for many looking for a reliable VPN service. As with any tool, potential users should weigh these pros and cons based on their individual needs and preferences. But Surfshark is not a scam VPN service and has been in operation for so many years without a problem.

Pros

Cost-Effective: Surfshark often offers very competitive prices, especially for longer-term plans.
Unlimited Simultaneous Connections: Unlike most VPN providers, Surfshark allows for an unlimited number of devices to be connected simultaneously under one account.
No-Logs Policy: Surfshark adheres to a strict no-logs policy, ensuring user activities aren’t recorded or stored.
Strong Encryption and Security: The VPN uses AES-256-GCM encryption, which is considered the gold standard in the industry. It also offers features like a kill switch and MultiHop (double VPN) for enhanced security.
Effective at Bypassing Geo-Restrictions: Surfshark works well with major streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu, allowing users to access content from various regions.
CleanWeb Feature: This built-in feature blocks ads, malware, and trackers, enhancing the browsing experience.
Based in a Privacy-friendly Jurisdiction: Being based in the British Virgin Islands, Surfshark is outside the 14-Eyes Alliance, which is considered advantageous for user privacy.
Audited Privacy Practices: Surfshark has undergone external audits to validate its privacy claims and practices.
Supports P2P/Torrenting: Surfshark allows for P2P file sharing and torrenting across its servers.
24/7 Customer Support: The service provides round-the-clock live chat support, offering assistance whenever needed.

Cons

Newer in the Market: Being relatively new (launched in 2018), it doesn’t have the long-standing reputation of some other established VPN providers.
Inconsistent Speeds: While many users report satisfactory speeds, some might experience inconsistent performance across servers.
Limited Advanced Features: While Surfshark covers most of the essential VPN features, certain advanced features available in other VPNs might be missing.
Desktop Client Interface: Some users find the interface less intuitive compared to other VPN clients.
Limited Server Control: While they have a broad server network, users have limited control in selecting specific cities in many countries.

Surfshark is one of the newer players in the highly competitive world of VPN services, having made its debut in 2018. In a short span of time, it has garnered a lot of attention due to its compelling features, competitive pricing, and bold claims. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of Surfshark, touching upon its features, performance, privacy policies, and overall legitimacy.

Features:

Unlimited Devices: Unlike many of its competitors, Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections. This is particularly useful for users with multiple devices or families wanting to secure all their devices under one subscription.
Whitelister: A split tunneling feature that allows users to choose specific apps or websites to bypass the VPN.
CleanWeb: An integrated tool that blocks ads, trackers, and malware.
MultiHop: This allows users to connect via two different VPN servers, adding an extra layer of security.
NoBorders Mode: Designed to work in regions with heavy internet restrictions, like China.

Performance:

Surfshark boasts of high-speed servers and in most benchmarks, it offers competitive speeds suitable for streaming, gaming, and other high-bandwidth activities. While occasional slowdowns are possible, as with any VPN, overall user feedback regarding speed and stability has been largely positive.

Privacy and Security:

Jurisdiction: Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands, a location outside the jurisdiction of the 14-Eyes Alliance, and favorable for privacy.
No-Logs Policy: Surfshark claims to have a strict no-logs policy, which means it doesn’t keep records of user activity. This is crucial for users concerned about their privacy.
Encryption: It uses the industry-standard AES-256-GCM encryption, and supports protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2, which are known for their reliability and security.
Independent Audits: To back their claims, Surfshark has undergone independent audits by Cure53, a respected security firm, which confirmed their security practices and no-logs policy.

Price:

Surfshark is competitively priced, often undercutting many of its rivals. With frequent promotions, users can get long-term plans for a fraction of the cost of some other VPNs.

Customer Support:

Support is an important factor in the legitimacy of a company. Surfshark offers 24/7 live chat support, a comprehensive knowledge base, and email support. Feedback on their customer service is generally positive with prompt and helpful responses.

Streaming and Torrenting:

Surfshark works well with popular streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu, bypassing geo-restrictions effectively. It also supports P2P activities, making it suitable for torrenting.

Potential Drawbacks:

While it offers a broad range of features, certain advanced features available in older, more established VPNs might be missing.
The desktop client interface could be more intuitive.

So is Surfshark Legit?

Based on the information found from various sources, it is clear that Surfshark is considered a legitimate and reliable VPN service.

According to Security.org’s review, Surfshark is one of the best VPN services, offering features such as AES-256 bit encryption, a kill switch, split tunneling, and compatibility with Netflix.

US News also rates Surfshark positively, placing it at No. 10 in their rating of the Best VPNs of 2023.

However, some users on Reddit have reported that Surfshark can be unreliable at times and that customer support can be difficult when trying to secure a refund.

PCMag mentions that despite its expensive monthly plan, Surfshark still offers good value due to its large and expanding collection of servers.

VPN Mentor recommends Surfshark for its great value, with signups starting from $2.73/month, while Tom’s Guide praises it for being a fast, powerful VPN that’s great for streaming and maintaining privacy.

Techradar describes Surfshark as one of the best VPN services, highlighting its range of features and impressive download speeds.

Finally, Forbes states that Surfshark VPN is a solid choice for a fast and reliable virtual private network, allowing an unlimited number of connections.

In conclusion, despite some user-reported issues, most professional reviews praise Surfshark for its speed, privacy features, and overall value, confirming its legitimacy as a VPN provider.

Conclusion:

Based on features, performance, and policies, Surfshark appears to be a legit VPN provider. They are transparent about their practices, have undergone third-party audits, and offer robust security features. As with any service, potential users should consider their individual needs, but for those seeking a balanced VPN at a competitive price, Surfshark is certainly worth consideration.