| Surfshark B.V. | |
| Type: | Private |
| Industry: | Software |
| Founded: | 2018 |
| Hq Location: | The Netherlands |
| Area Served: | Worldwide |
| Products: | Cybersecurity software |
| Services: | Computer security |
| Website: | surfshark.com |
Surfshark B.V. is a cybersecurity company established in 2018. It launched its first product, a Surfshark VPN in the same year. Surfshark also has various cybersecurity tools: a data leak detection system Surfshark Alert, a private search tool known Surfshark Search, and an antivirus named Surfshark Antivirus, a personal data removal service Incogni, a credential generator Alternative ID, and a Dedicated IP service.[1] [2] [3] [4]
In 2022, Surfshark and Nord Security merged under one holding company while still operating independently.[5]
Surfshark was launched in 2018 when it introduced its first VPN application.[6] In 2019, Surfshark launched Surfshark Alert & Surfshark Search and received an official seal of approval granted by an independent IT-Security Institute AV-TEST.[7]
In 2020, Surfshark moved to 100% RAM-only servers, introduced the WireGuard protocol, and became a founding member of the VPN Trust Initiative.[8] [9] In 2021, Surfshark was named Best VPN by the Trusted Reviews Awards,[10] as well as the PCMag Editor's Choice award. Surfshark also successfully passed an external audit by Cure53.[11] In the same year, Surfshark launched Surfshark Antivirus & Incogni.[12] In mid-2021, Surfshark began merging with Nord Security, the parent company of NordVPN. The merger was finalized in early 2022, with both brands continuing to operate independently.[13] [14]
In August 2022, Surfshark exclusively partnered with digital rights watchdog NetBlocks for greater reporting on internet shutdowns.[15] Later, in 2022, Surfshark closed its physical servers in India in response to CERT-In's (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) order for VPN companies to store consumers' personal data for five years.[16] Later that year, Surfshark released Linux GUI, and Surfshark Nexus, a technology that connects all of Surfshark's VPN servers into one network.[17] [18] In 2023, Surfshark launched its Dedicated IP[19] and Alternative ID services.[20]
In March 2024, Surfshark was ranked 47th in the Financial Times 1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies list. Surfshark also ranked 8th in the IT & Software category of the same FT-Statista annual ranking list.[21]
In December 2019, Surfshark implemented GPS-Spoofing for Android, letting users change their device's physical geolocation to one of the server's locations.[22] That same year, Surfshark launched Surfshark Alert and Surfshark Search.[23]
Surfshark uses IKEv2, OpenVPN, and WireGuard connection protocols in its applications. All data transferred via Surfshark servers is encrypted using an AES-256-GCM encryption standard.[24]
In May 2022, Surfshark announced Linux GUI, added real-time protection to Surfshark Antivirus & added a pause feature to the VPN app. In August 2022, Surfshark added a manual WireGuard connection feature.[25]
In 2019, Surfshark released the first Digital Quality of Life index, a study evaluating the digital wellbeing of countries worldwide. The research is updated yearly, and the best-performing countries are selected based on internet affordability, internet quality, electronic infrastructure, electronic security, and electronic government.[26]
Surfshark is one of the founding members of the VPN Trust Initiative (VTI), which was established in 2020.[27] In August 2022, Surfshark collaborated with an internet monitoring organization, NetBlocks, to bring awareness and spread the news of worldwide internet disruptions.[28] Surfshark also collaborated with The Internet Society to spread awareness about Splinternet and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to discuss surveillance technologies.[29]
In 2023, Surfshark launched the Emergency VPN program and provided VPN subscriptions to journalists, activists, NGO representatives, and journalists working under harsh conditions.[30]