A logless VPN is a virtual private network (VPN) service that does not keep any logs of its users’ online activities. This means that the VPN provider does not collect or store any data about what websites or online services its users access, what files they download, or any other information about their online behavior.
The primary purpose of a logless VPN is to protect users’ privacy and security by preventing anyone, including the VPN provider itself, from monitoring or tracking their online activities. By not keeping logs, a logless VPN makes it more difficult for governments, hackers, or other third parties to access sensitive information about its users.
It’s important to note that not all VPN providers offer logless services, and even those that claim to be logless may still collect some data about their users. It’s essential to carefully research and choose a reputable VPN provider that can be trusted to protect your online privacy and security.
Examples of such “no-log” VPNs collecting and sharing highly sensitive user information have been brought into light through publicized incidents of popular VPNs (PureVPN, IPVanish) collecting logs and sharing them with governmental agencies, such as the FBI.
To ease the tedious task of selecting a VPN with a robust no-log policy, we’ve compiled an article that dives into the various providers, along with the specificities of their no-logs policies.
What features make VPN Logless or zero logs?
A VPN is considered log-less or zero-logs if it does not record its users’ online activities. To ensure that a VPN is genuinely log-less, it should have the following features:
- No-logging policy: The VPN provider should have a clear and transparent no-logging policy that explicitly states that it does not collect or store information about its users’ online activities.
- Minimal user data: The VPN provider should only collect the minimal amount of data required to provide its services, such as account information, payment details, and technical data necessary for the VPN to work.
- Third-party auditing: A reputable VPN provider should undergo regular third-party audits to ensure that it is adhering to its no-logging policy and that there are no security vulnerabilities that could compromise user data.
- Jurisdiction: The VPN provider’s jurisdiction should be in a country with strong privacy laws and regulations protecting user data.
To know if a VPN is truly log-less or has zero logs, you should carefully read the VPN provider’s privacy policy and terms of service to see if they explicitly state that they do not keep logs of users’ online activities. Additionally, you can research the VPN provider’s reputation and check for any independent third-party audits or reviews to confirm that the provider is trustworthy and genuinely log-less.
NordVPN
(No Logs Reports Released)
NordVPN is considered one of the best logless VPN providers due to several key features that ensure user privacy and security:
- No-logs policy: NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy, which means that it does not store any data about its users’ online activities, including browsing history, connection timestamps, or session information.
- Strong encryption: NordVPN uses advanced encryption protocols, including AES-256-GCM, to protect user data and ensure that it cannot be intercepted or compromised.
- Large server network: NordVPN has a large network of servers located in over 60 countries, which helps to ensure fast and reliable connections for users.
- Advanced security features: NordVPN offers a range of advanced security features, including double VPN, Onion over VPN, and automatic kill switch, which help to protect user data and ensure privacy.
- Independent audits: NordVPN has undergone several independent audits by third-party security firms, which have confirmed that the company’s no-logs policy is genuine and that there are no vulnerabilities in its security systems.
Overall, NordVPN’s commitment to user privacy and security, combined with its robust encryption protocols and large server network, make it one of the best logless VPN providers on the market.
ExpressVPN
The third-party Audit report cleared everything.
ExpressVPN is considered one of the best logless VPN providers because of several reasons, including:
- Strict No-Logging Policy: ExpressVPN has a strict no-logging policy, which means they do not keep any logs of their user’s online activities, including browsing history, traffic data, and DNS queries. This policy ensures that users’ privacy is protected and their online activities cannot be tracked or monitored.
- Strong Encryption: ExpressVPN uses strong encryption protocols, including AES-256, which is considered one of the most secure encryption methods available. This ensures that users’ data is protected from hackers and other malicious actors.
- Large Server Network: ExpressVPN has a large server network spread across 94 countries, which ensures that users can connect to a server in their desired location and access content that may be restricted in their country.
- Third-Party Audit: In 2019, ExpressVPN underwent a third-party audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a leading auditing firm. The audit was conducted to verify that ExpressVPN’s no-logging policy was accurate and truthful. The audit confirmed that ExpressVPN’s servers did not store any identifying logs or data that could be used to trace back users’ activities, thereby strengthening ExpressVPN’s claim of being a logless VPN provider.
In summary, ExpressVPN is considered the best logless VPN provider due to its strict no-logging policy, strong encryption, large server network, and third-party audit. These features provide users with a high level of privacy and security when browsing the internet.
TrustedServer
To further demonstrate how seriously ExpressVPN takes its customer’s privacy is the fact it introduced a new feature in April 2019 called TrustedServer, which also underwent a third-party security audit done by PwC.
TrustedServer, saw the VPN provider upgrading all their servers being run on RAM-disk mode, which ensures that all data regarding a customer’s browsing activity is wiped off after every session.
Another incident worth mentioning in an attempt to highlight how seriously ExpressVPN is when its servers were seized by Turkish authorities, back in December 2017. According to the Turkish authorities, a suspected individual had deleted evidence of information related to the political assassination on social media via ExpressVPN.
However, after coercion hadn’t worked, Turkish police tried to physically seize ExpressVPN- to no avail, since the British Virgin Island-based VPN truly does not keep any tabs on its customers.
The incident with the Turkish police proves, that ExpressVPN genuinely cares about online privacy, along with providing customers with the best features available, that too, at an affordable price point.
Here is the complete ExpressVPN no-log audit report analysis and insights.
VyprVPN
Has thrid-party audit reports and no bad history
Based in Switzerland, VyprVPN is another common choice for users on the lookout for VPNs with a strict no-logging policy. Furthermore, VyprVPN has been around for more than a decade, and the VPN provider has always been open to modifying its features and improving security. A more detailed analysis of the Swiss VPN’s features, such as encryption and browsing.
Like most of the VPN providers on our list, VyprVPN has been a critical player in propagating the principles of accountability and trust in the VPN market since it was the first VPN provider to get a third party to audit its servers.
VyprVPN and Leviathan Security
Back in September 2018, VyprVPN collaborated with a cybersecurity firm, namely Leviathan Security group, to transition into a complete no-logs VPN service. The security audit team from Leviathan Security analyzed and scrutinized all aspects of VyprVPN’s infrastructure and identified any loopholes that revealed sensitive information that could expose the user’s identity.
After the analysis was complete, security experts from Leviathan Security worked in tandem with VyprVPN to resolve some of the issues. After the problems had been solved, a retest of the security structure revealed that the security and privacy components complied with the stated privacy policy.
VyprVPN’s transparency, combined with the quality services they offer, explains why some traditional users are hesitant to switch to more modern VPN providers, especially when there’s a VPN provider available that has consumers have been relying on for more than a decade.
Private Internet Access
Although Private Internet Access is based in a country that falls into the jurisdiction of the dreaded fourteen eyes, the U.S-based VPN provider is immaculate with its no-log policies. Aside from some minor drawbacks, PIA offers users an easy-to-understand interface, along with high browsing speeds perfect for video streaming and secure encryption protocols.
Regarding PIA’s no-log policy, the claims they’ve made in their published privacy policy shouldn’t be taken lightly since they’ve proven their integrity twice in court already.
The first instance was back in 2016, in which the official court documents revealed that, in response to a subpoena from the FBI, PIA could not provide any information to the governmental agencies simply because they did not have anything to show.
Another case of PIA VPN unintentionally proving the authenticity of their no-log claims occurred in 2018 when another subpoena was issued on the VPN provider as suspected evidence against a hacking case.
As was the case with the previous subpoena, Private Internet Access was unable to provide any information since they do not keep any logs regarding user data.
Here you can find a detailed private internet access review:
Surfshark VPN
Based on the British Virgin Islands, Surfshark is another VPN provider that takes its no-logging policies seriously. Since Surfshark is located in the British Virgin Islands, it is far away from any jurisdiction that promotes shady data retention laws or mass government surveillance.
Along with offering users with lightning-paced connections, Surfshark has a zero-knowledge DNS which keeps their user’s anonymous activity anonymous.
As far as their no-log policy is concerned, Surfshark prioritizes user privacy above everything else. Their no-logs policy explicitly states that they only collect the fundamental data needed to authenticate their users and ensure that they haven’t exceeded their device limit.
Furthermore, Surfshark is also one of the biggest contenders in the VPN industry to get a security audit, which mainly focuses on their Chrome and Firefox extensions. The security audit further reinforces the principles of security and transparency that Surfshark has followed religiously.
Which countries consider Most Secure Users Privacy and Data
The security of user data varies depending on the country and its laws and regulations regarding privacy and data protection. However, some countries are generally considered to have stronger data protection laws and are safer for user data than others. Some examples of countries that are considered to be secure for user data include:
- Switzerland: Switzerland has strong privacy laws that protect user data and has a reputation for being a safe haven for data storage and privacy.
- Iceland: Iceland is known for its strong data protection laws and has been ranked as the best country in the world for data privacy by the World Economic Forum.
- Germany: Germany has strict data protection laws that prohibit the collection and storage of personal data without the user’s consent.
- Canada: Canada has strong privacy laws that require companies to obtain user consent before collecting or storing their data and has a reputation for being a safe and secure place for data storage.
- Netherlands: The Netherlands has strong data protection laws that protect user privacy and has been ranked as one of the top countries in Europe for data protection.
It’s important to note that even in countries with strong data protection laws, it’s still essential to take necessary precautions to protect your data, such as using a reputable VPN service, avoiding public Wi-Fi networks, and regularly updating your passwords.
To Conclude
At the end of our article, we can hope that we’ve significantly eased up the process of ‘VPN hunting,’ we still feel the need to remind our users to find a VPN that suits their particular needs.
With that said, a VPN provider with a robust no-log policy is always necessary for secure browsing, which in essence, is the primary function a VPN seeks to fulfill.
