ExpressVPN blows away the competition on security audits - but what do they mean?

["ExpressVPN has announced the completion of 27 independent security audits, with two new products, ExpressMailGuard and Identity Defender, passing inspection. The virtual private network service said Thursday that the latest audit, conducted by penetration testing firm Cure53, examined the source code of each product for security flaws, vulnerabilities, or hidden surprises that could cast doubt on ExpressVPN's security posture and no-logs policy.", "Cure53 assessed ExpressMailGuard, an email masking service that allows users to generate unlimited anonymous email aliases, together with Identity Defender, a monitoring service for US users that scans public records, leaked online data dumps, and the dark web for indicators of identity theft. This brings ExpressVPN's overall audit count to 27.

A full list can be found on ExpressVPN's website, with audits performed by Cure53 and KPMG.", 'Shay Peretz, COO of ExpressVPN, commented: "Independent audits matter to consumers because they are one of the strongest ways to build real trust. A VPN can say anything publicly, but an audit opens up its systems, processes, and assumptions to external scrutiny and proves those claims hold up under real-world testing. It\'s not just the VPN protocol that needs to be looked at, either.

The apps users download, the infrastructure the service runs on, and all the supporting systems a modern VPN relies on should all be subject to independent review."', "When evaluating VPN providers, it's essential to look beyond the number of audits and consider the frequency, transparent reporting, and scope of the audits. VPN-related audits don't just assess VPN software; testing can be performed across the entire security stack. Some audits focus on no-logs policies, while others extend to servers, configuration, and access.

A security audit is not a guarantee of safety, but it is a strong indicator of how a VPN organization approaches user safety and data management.", "No security solution is perfect, and there will always be ways to improve. So, if you're exploring a VPN service audit, you should take note of how the company responded, how quickly, and how transparent it is, as this often tells you more than anything else in an audit. When choosing a new VPN provider, go beyond security audits; look for vulnerability disclosure reports, a no-logs policy, and whether it has achieved security certifications, such as ISO 27001.", "VPN audits must be independent; otherwise, they are worthless.

With so many snake oil 'VPN' providers around, frequent, independent audits are one of the best ways for reputable companies to stand out from the crowd. It's also crucial to steer clear of VPNs without any transparent security reports, policies, or published audits, as they could be involved in shady practices or storing and sharing your data."]