News
The VPN market moves fast: new features, audits, price drops, outages and the occasional privacy controversy. Our news section tracks what matters — the deals worth grabbing, the security developments worth knowing, and the industry shifts that affect which VPN is the smart pick right now.
We focus on substance over hype: what changed, whether a "lifetime" or seasonal deal is genuinely good value, and what a new audit or feature means for your privacy in practice. Time-sensitive offers are flagged with their real terms so you can decide quickly.
Whether you're hunting a deal or keeping an eye on the providers you trust, this is the place. Below you'll find the latest VPN news, deals and analysis.
Surfshark Adds Scam Text Protection: SMS Scams Flagged Before You Can Tap Them
Surfshark's newest feature targets the scam channel most people still trust too much: text messages. On iOS, suspected scam texts are silently moved to spam; on Android, you get an alert plus an explanation of why the message was flagged.
ExpressVPN Back to Campus Sale: 28 Months from $2.99/Month (Up to 80% Off)
ExpressVPN's Back to Campus sale runs until September 9, 2026: 24-month plans with 4 bonus months on top, starting at $2.99/month for Basic — one of the lowest prices we've seen on this VPN all year.
Surfshark's End-of-Summer Deal: The Full One Bundle for the Price of Starter
From August 17 to September 7, Surfshark sells its full One bundle — VPN, antivirus, ad blocker and breach alerts — at the entry Starter price: $2.49/month on the 24-month plan.
What teardowns of free VPN apps actually found — and why download counts told you nothing
An analysis of 281 Android VPN apps reported that more than 80% contacted advertising or tracking domains, some leaked traffic outside the tunnel, and some sent their own data unencrypted. Several had over 100 million installs. Here is what the research measured, what it did not, and which trust signals survive it.
Proton Pass fixed the autofill problem — including the one inside iframes
Proton says an upgrade to how Pass detects login forms clears 80% of the autofill issues users had reported, including forms inside iframes that banks and shopping sites rely on. Plus 2FA codes that copy themselves, and an installer IT teams can actually deploy.
Your Phone Is Wrong About VPN Battery Drain — New Testing Puts It Under 2%
West Coast Labs measured NordVPN's real battery cost at 1.4% on Android and 1.8% on iOS over 24 hours, while the phone's own battery screen blamed it for 49% of a streaming session. Here's why the two numbers differ so wildly — and what actually saves battery.
NordVPN's HangUp Is a Free Android Call Blocker — No Subscription Needed
HangUp identifies incoming calls, categorises them and blocks whole categories like scam and telemarketing, free with a Nord account. Why category blocking beats blacklisting numbers, whose statistics are whose, and the trade you make installing it.
NordLabs Launches NordBot: An AI Scam Checker That Lives in Your DMs
NordBot checks suspicious texts, links and images from inside WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Messenger and X, free and without a subscription. The placement is smarter than the AI — and there's a reason to be careful with a “Safe” verdict.
IPVanish Brings WireGuard and OpenVPN to Apple TV — Two Days Before the MLS All-Star Game
IPVanish added WireGuard and OpenVPN with Scramble to its Apple TV app on July 27. The MLS All-Star Game streams on MLS Season Pass in that same app on July 29. What actually changed, how far the "only VPN" claim really goes, and which protocol to pick for a live match.
Webshare Restocks USA Dedicated ISP Proxies and Adds Colombia (From $0.45/IP)
Webshare has USA Dedicated ISP proxies back in stock with limited capacity, and has added Colombia to its static residential lineup from $0.45/IP. Why ISP stock-outs happen, what dedicated really costs, and what to check before a yearly commitment.
ExpressVPN+ Gets a Redesigned Dashboard — With Passkey Sign-In as the Real Upgrade
ExpressVPN redesigned its ExpressVPN+ dashboard, unifying account, privacy and security management - and added phishing-resistant passkey sign-in, a one-stop hub, and built-in travel eSIMs. What actually matters for your security, plus new research on how UK kids really use VPNs.
The UK Won't Ban VPNs - and the Reason Is Technical, Not Political
After months of speculation around its under-16 social media ban, the UK has ruled out banning VPNs. The real obstacle isn't politics - it's that VPNs are core internet infrastructure you can't simply switch off. Here's why bans don't work.
CyberGhost's Summer 2026 Deal: 83% Off Plus 2 Extra Months
CyberGhost's Summer Campaign 2026 runs July 20-August 11: 24+2 months at $2.19/mo (83% off) or EUR2.19/mo, with a 45-day money-back guarantee and up to 7 devices. The deal, the fine print on the upfront term and renewal, and whether CyberGhost fits you.
PIA's Summer 2026 Deal: 82% Off Plus 2 Bonus Months for Travel Privacy
Private Internet Access's Summer Campaign 2026 runs July 20-August 11: 24+2 months at $2.19/mo (82% off) or EUR1.99/mo, with unlimited devices and a 30-day guarantee. The deal, the fine print on the upfront term and renewal, and whether PIA is worth it for summer travel.
Surfshark News: Free Trial Test Launches July 20, Plus Faster macOS Speeds
Surfshark is testing a free trial from July 20 and adding new FastTrack speed locations for macOS. What both updates mean for you — plus the caveats: the trial is a gradual A/B test, and the speed boost is Mac-only for now.
Russia's VPN Crackdown Is Starting to Hurt Online Shopping
Russia's 2026 campaign against VPNs and foreign platforms is breaking more than access to news. It is snagging the checkout flows, fraud checks, and cross-border access online retail depends on.
IPVanish Turns On OpenVPN High-Speed Mode (DCO) on Windows — Up to 196% Faster
IPVanish has enabled OpenVPN High-Speed Mode (DCO) in its Windows client, promising up to 196% faster OpenVPN speeds with the same audited security. Here's what DCO does, the measured gains, how to turn it on, and the caveats — it's Windows-only and won't run with Scramble.
Webshare Adds a Brazil Residential Proxy Location (Plans From $0.45/IP)
Webshare has added Brazil to its static residential proxy network — add it from your dashboard at the provider's usual budget pricing (from $0.45/IP), with 30% off on a yearly plan. What's new, who it's for, and what to check before committing.
Win an iPhone 17 Pro: ExpressVPN's Summer Tech Competition (30 Up for Grabs)
ExpressVPN's Summer Tech Competition is giving away 30 iPhone 17 Pro from 11 July to 9 August 2026. Enter by subscribing to an eligible plan, or take the free no-purchase route. Here's how it works, the dates, and what to check before you buy.
FastestPass 5-Year Deal: A Password Manager for $7 (Code Inside)
FastestVPN's password manager FastestPass is running a 5-year deal — Premium for $7 or Family for $9 with code FAMILYPLUS, until 31 July 2026. Encrypted vault, unlimited passwords, sync, autofill and secure family sharing. Here's what you get and whether it's worth locking in.
Will the UK Ban VPNs? What the Under-16 Social Media Debate Really Means
The UK has banned social media for under-16s and is studying children's VPN use, but it has not banned VPNs. We separate realistic enforcement pressure from clickbait.
hide.me VPN Summer Deal 2026: 27 Months for $/€/£ 2.59 a Month
hide.me's summer offer (21 July – 30 August 2026): 27 months — 24 plus 3 bonus — for $/€/£ 2.59/month, total 69.99. Plus a Price Guarantee so your renewal stays the same. Here's the deal and what you get.
ExpressVPN's Biggest Network Expansion: 214 Locations Across 113 Countries
ExpressVPN just rolled out its largest network expansion yet — 214 server locations across 113 countries, from Nuuk to Lagos, with all 50 US states and every server still on RAM-only TrustedServer hardware. Here's what actually changes for you.
ExpressKeys Update: Passkeys, Secure Sharing, and a New Cure53 Audit
ExpressVPN password manager ExpressKeys adds passkeys, controlled secure sharing, easy imports, iOS card scanning and a 30-day recovery bin — plus a new Cure53 audit with no high or critical issues.
VPN Streaming in 2026: Why Unblocking Still Changes Every Month
If your VPN unblocks a library one week and fails the next, it is by design. We explain the cat-and-mouse of IP blocklists, DNS and WebRTC leaks, speed, and smart DNS, and how to choose a streaming VPN that recovers fast.
Proton Drive Just Got a CLI and Uploads Up to 4× Faster
Proton Drive added a command-line interface for Windows, macOS, and Linux and made uploads up to 4× faster — closing the two gaps people used to cite for sticking with less private cloud storage.
Post-Quantum VPN Encryption: What It Means and Which Providers Are Moving First
Quantum-safe is the newest VPN buzzword. We explain the NIST 2024 standards, the harvest-now-decrypt-later threat, and how to tell a genuine hybrid post-quantum upgrade from marketing hype.
FastestVPN Summer Lifetime Deal: One Payment, VPN for Good
FastestVPN is running its summer lifetime offer, a one-time payment that replaces the usual recurring subscription with permanent access. The headline tier lands around $35 paid once and bundles a generous device count plus a password manager. It is aimed at cost-conscious users who would rather buy a VPN outright than renew every year. Below is what the deal actually includes and where the trade-offs sit.
CyberGhost World Cup Deal: Up to 88% Off, 45-Day Refund
CyberGhost is leaning into the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a steep discount on its longest plan, dropping the effective monthly price to a couple of dollars. The offer pairs a large server network with a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is unusually long for the category. It is pitched at fans who want to stream matches across regions without committing blind. Here is how the terms break down and whether the headline number holds up.
PIA World Cup Deal: 89% Off, $1.33/mo, Unlimited Devices
Private Internet Access has timed a deep discount to the 2026 World Cup, cutting its two-year plan by around 89% to about $1.33 per month with two extra months free. The draw is rock-bottom pricing, unlimited simultaneous connections, and a long-standing open-source, no-logs reputation. It targets value hunters who want to cover every device in the house during the tournament. Here is what the offer includes and where to be careful.
Proton's Gmail Easy Switch Meets Its World Cup VPN Push
Proton is having a busy 2026: it rolled out an Easy Switch tool that lets you link a Gmail account inside Proton Mail, while Proton VPN is pitching its network for streaming the FIFA World Cup from anywhere. The two stories share a theme of pulling more of your digital life under Proton's privacy umbrella. This piece covers what the Gmail integration does, what Proton VPN brings to World Cup viewing, and who each is for. Neither is a paid event exclusive, but both matter for Proton users this summer.
ExpressVPN, Official FIFA World Cup 2026 VPN: 80% Off + Tickets
ExpressVPN has signed on as an official supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026, its biggest sports tie-up yet, and is marking it with an 80%-off promotion and a ticket giveaway. The long plan drops to around $2.49 per month, and purchases during the promo window enter a draw for tournament tickets. It is aimed at fans who want a premium, official-partner VPN for streaming the event. Here is the full picture of terms and what to watch.
PureVPN's World Cup Pitch: Cheap Plans, 31-Day Refund
PureVPN is courting football fans for the 2026 World Cup with steeply discounted long-term plans and guides for reaching region-locked broadcasters and Arabic commentary feeds. The draw is a low effective monthly price, a 31-day money-back guarantee, and a large server network across dozens of countries. It is aimed at budget viewers who want geo-flexibility during the tournament. Here is what the offer really includes and where expectations should sit.