Who owns Express VPN, Nord, Surfshark? VPN relationships explained (2024) (windscribe.com)

Article summary

The article explores the relationships between VPN companies, media companies, and affiliate programs, revealing a complex web of ownership and paid relationships. It highlights the corporate structures behind popular VPNs such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark, and discusses the implications for user data and online security. The article also touches on the VPN industry's estimated worth and the tactics used by corporate VPNs to promote their services. The author provides a map visualizing these relationships and invites contributions to improve its accuracy.

Main themes

• VPN industry ownership
• Corporate relationships
• Affiliate marketing
• Online security
• Data privacy
• VPN usage

What commenters say

• Some commenters express concern over the complexity and opacity of VPN company relationships, highlighting potential risks to user data and online security.
• Others argue that using a VPN is primarily for avoiding IP-based issues, rather than achieving true privacy or security.
• There is disagreement over the effectiveness of VPNs in protecting user data, with some arguing that encryption only applies to data in transit, and others pointing out the importance of additional security features.
• A few commenters suggest that using a personal server with WireGuard or Tailscale may be a more secure and reliable alternative to commercial VPNs.
• Some commenters criticize the use of affiliate marketing by VPN companies, arguing that it can lead to biased reviews and recommendations.
• Others defend certain VPN providers, such as Mullvad and Proton, for their commitment to user privacy and security, despite some limitations and controversies.
• There is also discussion about the limitations and potential drawbacks of using VPNs, including the risk of being blocked by certain services or experiencing network issues.