Surfshark VPN for Windows

VPN for any purpose

Surfshark VPN offers security, privacy, and speed to users when surfing the internet. This solid multipurpose VPN from Surfshark holds its ground against many other popular providers with its substantial set of features. It offers secure tunneling protocols and a wide selection of servers that you can use for fast and unlimited browsing. If you are looking for a new alternative VPN, this is worth checking out.

The app on the surface

Like any other similar app, Surfshark VPN provides you with the basic VPN services. It offers more than 3,200 servers from over 100 locations and six continents, which you can connect to if you wish for unrestricted and faster connection. The app offers a standard-looking window, with its left rail displaying the navigation options. Its primary dashboard shows you the Connected/Not Connected indicator, as well as the list of the most recent country you connected with.

To see which locations are available, you need to go to the Locations tab. However, unlike other apps, Surfshark VPN has four types of connection, namely the physical servers, virtual servers, P2P server options, and the several double-hop VPN connections. To further obfuscate your actual location, it is recommended to use the several double-hop VPN. Surfshark VPN identifies this option as Multi-Hop, which connects you via multiple countries at once to take your online footprint-masking and ID protection to the next level.

In addition to these various servers, Surfshark VPN also comes with CleanWeb, which is an ad blocker and a malware blocker. There is also the Whitelister, which is a split-tunneling feature and gives you the option to allow apps and websites to connect outside the VPN. Moreover, there is another function called NoBorders that helps you get past national firewalls of restrictive countries.

Overall, Surfshark VPN is a nicely designed app that is easy to run and navigate with a host of options available. Users must note that some of the app’s features are turned on by default, while some are not.

Privacy and anonymity

Surfshark VPN offers secure protocol and encryption to guard your data when you go online. It offers IKEv2/IPsec as its default protocol and uses the industry-leading AES-256-GCM encryption to ensure that no potential hackers can snoop into your accounts. It also has a kill switch that blocks your internet access and prevents identity leaks whenever your connection fails.

However, the app’s privacy services do not end there. Surfshark VPN has its private DNS on each server, reducing the chance of others spying on your activity. It even has a camouflage mode that you can use to further strengthen your privacy. With this mode turned on, even your internet provider can’t tell that you are using a VPN.

Like ExpressVPN, Surfshark VPN is a British Virgin Islands-based, which means that it is not required by law to keep logs of its users’ actions. The app has a strict no-logs policy, and it does not monitor, track, or store whatever you do online. The only thing that the developers keep about you is your email address and your billing information.

Speed and streaming

Surfshark VPN also ranks high when it comes to speed. The majority of the servers provide a very fast internet speed ideal for HD streaming, online gaming, and torrenting. Yes, you read it right. Surfshark VPN is a nice choice when you want to download and stream via torrent. It fully supports P2P sharing on all servers, which are optimized for torrenting. The VPN is compatible with torrent software, like BitTorrent and uTorrent, as well as streaming players, like VLC, Popcorn Time, and Ace Players.

Enhanced speed and stability

Surfshark VPN made several key updates to improve user experience. One major upgrade is the transition to 10Gbps, which was previously limited to 1Gbps. This change applies to all servers globally, resulting in faster and more stable connections. The increased speed means less congestion, allowing users to enjoy uninterrupted streaming, gaming, and browsing.

The desktop app has also been enhanced, now running on x64 architecture by default, providing smoother performance for users on 64-bit operating systems. Alongside this technical upgrade, Surfshark has revamped the onboarding process, making it more intuitive for new users. Additionally, the "Refer a Friend" program has been overhauled, likely making it more rewarding for users to share the service.

Surfshark’s dedicated IP service includes two additional locations: one in Denver, US, and another in Singapore. These dedicated IPs offer a premium VPN experience, significantly reducing the chances of being flagged by websites and minimizing CAPTCHA challenges. This is especially beneficial for users who require uninterrupted, consistent access without frequent security verifications.

Final verdict

Surfshark VPN offers an impressive service that can give its competitors a run for their money. It is a speedy and powerful VPN with an array of advanced features that not only protects your online privacy but also gives you unrestricted browsing. And while some areas need more improvement, it deserves to be on your VPN shortlist.