Cyberghost Safe

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Tressa Sibel

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Aug 4, 2024, 7:48:48 PM8/4/24

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We complete standardized hands-on tests for each VPN we review so we can put their claims to the test. This includes vigorous third-party testing by comparing our internet speed while connected to different servers, checking for DNS leaks, making sure the kill switch actually works, and more. We also make sure we can comfortably access popular streaming sites, like Netflix, and still do our day-to-day work without interruption.

Leading Protection, Even on Smart TVs and Gaming ConsolesLearn More On CyberGhost's website VPNCyberGhostSave 83%High-speed global servers offering industry-leading 256-bit AES encryption and no data logsUnlimited bandwidth, DNS and IP leak protection, and automatic kill switch available for up to 7 devicesConfigurable with your router, smart TV, Amazon Fire TV stick, or gaming consoleNo split tunneling feature on desktop

CyberGhost is a top virtual private network (VPN) provider because it hits many of the right notes for its millions of users. These include high levels of privacy due to the CyberGhost no-logs policy.

CyberGhost's parent company is Kape Technologies. Kape is a large company focused on privacy and security that has acquired multiple VPNs, including CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and ZenMate VPN.

However, closer scrutiny reveals a gap that might cause concern. CyberGhost is a subsidiary of Kape Technologies, a company headquartered in the U.K., a region with less favorable privacy laws, and a 14 Eyes intelligence alliance member. This alliance could potentially compel VPN providers to share user data among member countries.

Yet, the association with Kape Technologies injects a dose of uncertainty regarding absolute data protection. Discerning users might want to weigh this aspect when choosing CyberGhost as their VPN provider.

One downside is CyberGhost only offers split tunneling for Android. Split tunneling is a common feature that allows you to disable your VPN connection on certain apps to potentially help save on bandwidth. But CyberGhost hasn't totally forgotten about Windows users and offers an "exceptions" whitelisting workaround.

CyberGhost also uses RAM-only servers for additional security and privacy. Data is wiped after each reboot, and removing a RAM-only server (if someone were to steal one, for example) completely erases all stored data.

CyberGhost uses AES-256 encryption, which is the best encryption available. CyberGhost estimates that a normal computer would take much longer than billions of years to crack this level of encryption.

We were able to see options for IKEv2 and WireGuard when using the iPhone app, but then we were able to see options for OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard when using the Windows app. Find the different protocols in CyberGhost VPN settings.

In a realm where performance and privacy are paramount, running a gamut of tests on VPN services like CyberGhost provides an insight into their real-world performance. Our tests spanned across various domains, including internet speeds, security, and the ability to unblock geo-restricted content.

These tests are pivotal as they reflect the efficiency and reliability of the VPN and its potential impact on your daily online interactions. From our assessment, CyberGhost adeptly maneuvered through the security and unblocking tests. However, it had some noteworthy results in the speed tests.

Testing the internet speeds while using the CyberGhost VPN app was conducted on a Windows laptop. During the testing phase, platforms like Netflix were utilized to check for any lag or buffering issues. The baseline internet speed, recorded without the VPN turned on, showcased a download speed of 186.21 Mbps, an upload speed of 53.89 Mbps, and a latency of 16 ms.

However, Zoom encountered a slight delay during a US-to-EU connection, possibly due to the increased latency of 252 ms. The latency, as expected, increased as the server locations moved further away from the source.

CyberGhost is an adept companion for streaming lovers. Its extensive server network unblocks geo-restricted content on platforms like Netflix across various regions, including the U.S., U.K./EU, and Canada.

Our tests revealed a seamless streaming experience with CyberGhost in most countries we tested, enabling access to content otherwise restricted in specific geographical locales. This makes CyberGhost a compelling choice for cinephiles looking to traverse various international cinematic and television offerings.

If you want to watch Netflix with CyberGhost, you may need to try a few different servers if you find Netflix has blocked the VPN. This isn't necessarily a flaw on CyberGhost's part, as Netflix is constantly trying to find new ways to detect VPN connections and block them. But connecting to a different server might be the difference between streaming The Witcher and getting an error.

We like how CyberGhost has loads of specific servers that are optimized for streaming. This is potentially more helpful than trying random servers until you find one that works for the streaming service you want to use.

For the most part, we had success testing out different streaming services while using CyberGhost. But there were a few instances where the experience could have been much better, which has left us wondering whether another VPN might be an easier (and thus better) option for streaming.

DNS is the system that translates domain names to IP addresses, enabling browsers to load internet resources. A DNS leak test is crucial as it signifies whether your online activity is exposed to your ISP or other third parties, despite using a VPN. Passing this test reflects CyberGhost's ability to maintain your privacy by preventing any DNS leaks.

On the other hand, WebRTC is a free, open-source project that provides web browsers and mobile applications with real-time communication via simple application programming interfaces (APIs). A WebRTC leak test is significant as it checks if your actual IP address is being leaked while using WebRTC in your browser.

Our tests showed that CyberGhost effectively prevents any WebRTC leaks, ensuring that your real IP address is not exposed during your online sessions, which is crucial for maintaining privacy, especially during video calls or any real-time communication on the web.

You can access support options on the CyberGhost website, through email, and 24/7 live chat. You can also submit feedback or bugs through the CyberGhost app or website or email CyberGhost directly at sup...@cyberghost.ro.

When securing your online presence, having various options can help you find a solution that fits your needs perfectly. Below are some alternatives to CyberGhost VPN, each with unique features, pricing, and performance metrics. Comparing these alternatives against CyberGhost can provide a clearer understanding of what each service offers.

NordVPN is better than CyberGhost in our experience. It provides fast speeds and top-level security at a modest price. CyberGhost is definitely cheaper, but we experienced more connection issues with CyberGhost compared to NordVPN. However, both VPN providers offer quality products that are popular for a reason.

Crossrider offers a highly configurable method for its clients to monetize their software. The common method to infect end-users is software bundlers. The installers usually resort to browser hijacking. Targeted browsers are Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and sometimes Opera. Crossrider not only targets Windows machines but Macs as well.

The decision to rename the company, explains Erlichman was due to the strong association to the past activities of the company as well as the need to enhance the consumer facing brand for the business.

While CyberGhost focused on privacy and security from day one, Crossrider started out as a company that distributed browser extensions and developed ad tech products. Quite the opposite of what we did.

Ultimately, we learned that Crossrider produced a development platform, which was used to create legitimate apps. Unfortunately, the Crossrider platform was also being used by bad actors to spread malware. What is important to point out here is that Crossrider was never the creator or owner of the malware.

After seeing this abuse of its platform by third parties, Crossrider completely shut everything down in 2016, changed the leadership of the company, and pivoted to the privacy and security industry. Today, we can see that Kape is continuing to expand its influence in the privacy and security industry, with the latest acquisition of ExpressVPN.

Ultimately, there is no evidence (that I could find) of Crossrider or Kape ever publishing malware. Similarly, I cannot find any indication that CyberGhost VPN is doing anything shady or malicious. I also noted the same in my Private Internet Access review.

With all that being said, there have been other VPNs that were called out for bad privacy practices. I discuss this in my Hotspot Shield review, a VPN that was found to be embedding tracking libraries in its VPN apps. Similarly, malware is often hidden in free VPN services to collect your data, which is then sold by the parent company.