Honest Surfshark VPN Review – Is It Worth It in 2021? [Tested]
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Surfshark is an affordable and feature-packed VPN service. It’s secure, works with Netflix, and is great for torrenting.
Moreover, it also offers very decent speeds! With features like a kill switch, leak protection, private DNS, camouflage mode, and the ability to bypass geo-blocking, this is one of the best options out there.
Here’s what we also found out while searching for a Surfshark VPN review:
Surfshark Features
Here’s our 2021 review of Surfshark’s features:
CleanWeb
Working with anti-malware technologies that use heuristics, sandboxing and removal, this technology allows you to browse in cyberspace free of malware, ads, blockers, and phishing attempts. CleanWeb Safety Features Work by advanced malware detection technology. It ignores suspicious links, saves your mobile data, and blocks intrusive ads.
Unlimited devices
Connect and use all V2 enabled devices with Surfshark. One account can accommodate Unlimited devices. It ensures that all your devices such as mobile phone, computer, TV and smart watch are all protected at all times.
kill switch
The kill switch constantly polls the VPN servers and monitors your network connection. If the recommended Surfshark server is down, or the connection drops, a kill switch blocks your access to the Internet until the VPN tunnel is restored. This technology prevents accidental exposure of sensitive data to hackers. It’s a great security addition to Surfshark’s encryption. The kill switch also works by synchronizing the internet connection across all devices if there is network latency. In this way, all devices connected to the network are prevented from accessing unsecured networks. It worked flawlessly during our tests.
However, there are some Surfshark VPN reviews that report some issues with the kill switch.
Whitelister
Whitelister allows you to access public network, LAN and WAN to bypass VPN tunnel. Also known as split tunneling, the main advantage of this feature is that it saves bandwidth, prevents bottlenecks, and allows you to choose which applications go through the VPN tunnel.
Multi Shop
Also called a dual VPN, it provides an extra layer of security by connecting across multiple countries. You can use two different servers located in different parts of the world that are used to make a connection. This technology hides the real location of your IP address from cybercriminals, trackers, and your ISP. It improves your online privacy and also ensures that your network traffic is not subject to intrusion. You can safely browse and access any site from China or North Korea to Australia or the United Kingdom.
NoBorders mode
NoBorders Mode is a VPN obfuscation that hides VPN traffic. OpenVPN over IPSec is the default protocol used; But while securing the data, a distinct signature is added to the traffic. The advanced traffic monitoring detection software can detect this signature and disallow access. NoBorders bypasses government censorship in countries like China, for example, preventing ISP throttling, evading network blocking, and masking your identity. It enables you to enjoy content from all over the world, access any website, and use any application in any part of the world. No need to worry about geo-blocking!
It was one of our favorite discoveries when writing a Surfshark VPN review.
IP anonymization
Users’ personally identifiable information is hidden to allow Tor Anonymous web browsing network. Anonymous software that uses onion routing via obfuscated VPN is used along with proxy servers and VPN to implement this. Generic traffic analysis software on routers is denied any access to traffic information by Surfshark’s traffic encryption algorithms. Anonymous web servers that act as a proxy are placed between your network and the target network. This way you can bypass government restrictions on domains and access any information source. Hiding your IP address prevents attackers from retrieving your IP address and network credentials. Surfshark reviews indicate how users are able to use their free will when using the service.
Secure VPN Tunnels Protocols
IKEv2, Open VPN, and Shadowsocks are some of the VPN tunneling technologies used. These are current industry protocols that offer superior speed and security over legacy protocols such as L2TP or PPTP. Surfshark’s VPN protocols are available on macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Fire TV, and Linux.
private DNS
On each server, the private DNS service ensures that DNS requests are not sent to the public ISP’s DNS but to a private server, which resolves the network address and directs the traffic to the appropriate destination. Using the IPv4 stack, this leak protection mode ensures high levels of security.
Surfshark advanced features
In addition to the many features packed into Surfshark VPN, it also offers military-grade encryption and a camouflage mode.
VPN encryption
The symmetric key encryption used is AES-256. It is understood that Surfshark’s implementation of this algorithm cannot be hacked through side attacks or brute force attacks. There have been no known cases of hacking of this encryption technology. Surfshark’s VPN encryption is performed in multiple modes such as asymmetric key exchange, symmetric key exchange, cipher algorithm, and integration algorithm. According to user reviews of Surfshark, there were no issues with the encryption protocol.
camouflage mode
The main purpose of this mode is to circumvent network blocking by masking OpenVPN traffic. Using pluggable transport software, which is an independent program that accepts client requests and routes them to the server, obfuscation is achieved. No trace of the OpenVPN signature can be logged by network elements. Ensures that network traffic is not decrypted. Camouflage mode is enabled by default when connecting to Surfshark servers using TCP and UDP protocols.
Surfshark VPN Locations and Servers
There are over 3,200 Surfshark servers located in 65 countries. There is a private DNS on each one. They all support peer-to-peer data transfers and are subject to strict no-logs policies; No data retention is required. Servers are located in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. Surfshark allows you to choose a server, allowing your network traffic to become untraceable to any of your network monitors.
Surfshark VPN Speed
What is Surfshark’s speed?
Surfshark speeds are very decent. Not the fastest on the market, but it definitely covers expectations. It is fast enough for streaming and torrenting activities. The speeds are fairly consistent and they work similarly, regardless of which server you chose. During our Surfshark review tests, we didn’t see any significant drop in speed.
Surfshark VPN Privacy and Jurisdiction
The company operates under the jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands. There is no law requiring any VPN service providers to store logs. Therefore, no logs are kept. Furthermore, the BVI is not part of the Fourteen Eyes Alliance.
Surfshark has not been involved in any scandals yet. There have not been any cases of data breaches or data being sold by the VPN service provider.
Surfshark uses the IPSec tunneling protocol. Authentication headers, encapsulation of security payloads, and security assemblies are implemented as part of this protocol; All of this cumulatively establishes a strong VPN privacy.
Surfshark VPN Security and Protocols
- IKEV2 Surfshark uses the IKEV2 protocols, the x.509 strong authentication mechanism, and the Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol via private DNS servers to create shared secret network sessions. In the case of P2P sharing and streaming, the security policy of each peer is also maintained.
- OpenVPN Surfshark uses 256-bit AES encryption and the SSL and TLS protocols of the OpenSSL stack that underpins OpenVPN use. The ciphers are encrypted using a key hash message authentication token that secures the data packets. By using pre-shared keys, peer authentication is achieved during torrent transfers. The VPN tunneling protocols, which run on UDP and TCP protocols, have 256-bit encryption and are also extended by third-party plug-ins or add-ons for increased security.
- Shadowsocks It is mainly used to bypass censorship so that VPN service users can visit blocked websites. Based on the SOCKS5 web proxy, this is a lightweight protocol that is used in conjunction with pluggable transport mechanisms.
Surfshark VPN Leak Test Results
Before using a VPN service, it is a good idea to test DNS and IPv6 protection. IP and DNS leak tests are an important aspect because they prevent the browser extension from directing your requests through your ISP instead of your VPN service. This vulnerability scan is especially necessary on networks that use split tunneling technology.
So, of course, we did when writing this Surfshark review.
We tested the service for DNS and IP leaks, and Surfshark passed them. No leaks were detected.
Surfshark VPN and Streaming Services
With over 3,200 servers in over 63 countries, Surfshark is optimized for no buffering, simultaneous connections on multiple devices, High definition streaming.
Surfshark is great for unblocking Netflix. You can also access other popular streaming services like Disney+, HBO Now, Prime Video, Hulu, DAZN, Sky Go, Hotstar, AbernaTV, YLE Areena, BBC iPlayer, etc.
With NoBorders mode you can unblock websites and start streaming content from any service provider. This is achieved by bypassing geo-restrictions that allow P2P sharing and streaming.
How good is Surfshark VPN for torrenting?
Surfshark is designed to work seamlessly with torrent engines like uTorrent, BitTorrent, qBittorent, Vuze, Deluge and many other P2P torrent clients. When you torrent download or post, the traffic is private, unrestricted and fast. Zero throttle allows for high speeds. While some service providers choose to slow down the speed based on the content being downloaded, this VPN service does not apply any such restrictions.
Furthermore, Surfshark offers Dedicated torrent serversOptimized for better speed.
While we ran torrent speed tests, Surfshark performed very well. However, Surfshark’s speed for torrenting is on par with the best in the industry.
Can Surfshark VPN Bypass Geoblocks?
Surfshark offers unlimited bandwidth and military-grade security with all of its servers spread across 60+ countries. A VPN service can bypass geo-blocking, geo-controlled website content, or any kind of censorship. It allows users to access all types of content in any geographic location. All Surfshark VPN plans offer this feature.
Ease of use
Getting started with Surfshark is easy. After downloading and installing the client, the installer allows subscription and payment without the need to use any third-party browser extension.
The user interface is very easy to navigate. You have everything you need right in front of you. There is no clutter and no need to read long brochures on how to use the software.
However, novice users may find it somewhat difficult to configure the OpenVPN protocol.
Customer Support
Surfshark offers 24/7 chat assistance. It is not a chatbot, but an actor who answers your questions via chat.
However, despite their speed and friendliness, the delegates are not helpful if you encounter any serious problems with the service.
Most inquiries have answers on the FAQ page. If you have concerns about anything, check the knowledge base – there is a good chance there will be relevant information.
Surfshark VPN Price
So, how much does Surfshark cost?
Well like the most popular VPN services out there if you pay up front for a longer period, you get a good deal.
- one month – $12.95
- 6 months – $6.49/month
- 24 …
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