The last 18 months has been all about awareness as Snowden’s messages hit the media.  In 2013 we saw major corporation after major corporation get hacked.  Online identity theft and fraud also received more attention.  With all the security threats online we continue to see the impact on the VPN market.  It was a year of growth and innovation that’s not likely to slow down in 2015.  Let’s take a look at the 2014 VPN year in review.

This post isn’t about the security threats that made up 2014.  There were plenty of them including Heartbleed which impacted just about everyone.  Today though we want to focus on what happened in the VPN market in 2014.  The positive impacts that VPN providers are making in helping protect the privacy of users around the world.  Their continuing efforts are helping open the market to a wider range of users than ever before.

It’s interesting, when thinking about this post I looked at our 2012 year in review and saw just how far we’ve come over the last two years.  We saw a push toward VPNs being used to unblock geographic restrictions during the 2012 Olympic Games in London.  Since then Smart DNS has grown into a market of its own.  VPN and Smart DNS companies are seeing more and more users whose primary goal is to unblock sites.

The shift toward using VPN to unblock content in other countries has been interesting to watch over the last few years.  When we started VPNSP the focus was on privacy.  The importance of using a VPN to protect your privacy and anonymity hasn’t changed.  Instead the goal of unblocking geographic restrictions has expanded the VPN market and created a new Smart DNS market.  The result has been continued growth and innovation.

We’ve been covering the personal VPN market for over five years now and have literally seen hundreds of companies join the industry.  Some have come and gone, others are building a strong business, and a few have risen to the top.  It’s interesting to look back five years and realize that some of the top VPN providers weren’t around back then.  It makes you wonder what the next five years will have in store.  Perhaps even the next year.

In 2014 we saw the continued growth and expansion of some already large VPN networks.  Providers like Hide My Ass, IPVanish and PureVPN put a lot of time, effort and funding into their networks.  Hide My Ass continues to lead the way in this area with servers spanning 140 countries.  HMA more than doubled the size of their network in 2014.  The year also saw large network expansions from IPVanish, PureVPN and ExpressVPN.

On the innovation side we saw a lot of new client and mobile app releases in 2014.  I’m a big fan of keeping things simple.  Nice interface design that’s easy to use.  The fewer clicks and less options you have to deal with the better.  I was happy to see a number of VPN services streamline their client interfaces and release cleaner UI designs.  We also saw more providers adding advanced features like customizable encryption and kill switches to protect your privacy anytime you disconnect from the VPN server.

I mentioned the growth of Smart DNS earlier.  Let me explain what that means. Smart DNS allows you to access sites in other countries as if you were physically located there.  Smart DNS doesn’t include the privacy protection and data encryption of a VPN.  It’s sole purpose is to unblock geographic restrictions.  A VPV will also unblock sites in other countries but can slow down you’re connection some for the encryption.  We saw a lot of VPN providers add Smart DNS to their offerings and expect to see that trend continue in the year to come.

More and more people are focusing on accessing content in other countries.  Along with that goal we’ve seen more users who want to enjoy services like Netflix on a wide range of devices.  Some have turned to Smart DNS since most devices will let you change DNS settings.  Others are turning to custom DD-WRT and Tomato routers.  This is an area we’ve seen grow quite a bit over the last couple years.  I think we’ll see that growth continue as more and more users realize they can use VPN or Smart DNS to get around the geographic restrictions and enjoy content in other countries.  A custom router will let you use a single VPN account on all the devices on your network.  Giving you access to streaming media and live sporting events around the world.

As you can see 2014 was an important year for VPN companies and their members.  I know there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical when it comes to the future of the Internet.  As we rely more and more on the Internet the powers that be will do everything they can to control it.  That’s even more reason to support online privacy services.  While 2014 was a great year I look forward with even more anticipation to 2015 and beyond.

You can visit vpnsp.com to learn more about VPN and follow us @VPNSP for the latest news and deals.

It’s always disappointing when a country decides to block citizens access to social networks like Instagram.  That’s exactly what China is doing right now.  They are blocking access to Instagram since protesters in Hong Kong are using the site to share images and to help spread their pro-democracy message.  Many of the Instagram images include police using tear gas and pepper spray on the crowd protesting.

If you’re currently being blocked from Instagram or any other social network I would suggest a VPN service.

How does a VPN help unblock Instagram?

Let’s see how a VPN can help you access sites like Instagram from anywhere in the world (including China):

• VPN allows you to acquire and use an IP address in the United States.
• All traffic is routed through a secure tunnel to help ensure your privacy.
• By accessing sites through the VPN server you can avoid blocks like the current Chinese Instragram block.
• A fast connection is necessary for streaming.  VPN can help you achieve the best performance.

A good privacy service will allow you to tunnel to a server in the US and enjoy social networking sites like Instagram, Facebook and YouTube from anywhere in the world.  Allowing you to view the social sites as if you were sitting in the United States.  The same is true for online services like Netflix that have geo-restrictions.

there are a number of VPN options out there.  I’d start with our top 5 VPN services and read some of the reviews.  China works hard to keep citizens from getting around the great firewall.  The VPN companies have to play a game of cat and mouse with the Chinese censors.  For that reason I would test a couple VPN providers and see which works best in your location.  You might also want to email their support with any pre-sales questions.  Some companies have separate client downloads for users in China.

This morning a friend shared a link to this article on Deep Dot Web.  The article talked about Comcast customers who were contacted by support personnel and told to stop using TOR browser or risk their service being terminated.  That’s pretty extreme, even for Comcast.  The implications could be far reaching even beyond TOR to other online privacy services.  Since then the story hit the social media and was picked up by several large technology and business sites.  The news got enough coverage for Comcast to formally respond.

Here’s the response from Comcast:

On Monday morning, a report surfaced claiming that Comcast has been discouraging customers from using the Tor Browser, a browsing program designed to allow users to surf the Internet with greater anonymity than most browsers. Monday’s report was repackaged on a number of other sites, stating that Comcast has “declared war on the Tor Browser.” The report goes on to suggest that Comcast has contacted some users telling them that they risk disconnection if they continue using Tor. The report may have generated a lot of clicks but is totally inaccurate.

Comcast is not asking customers to stop using Tor, or any other browser for that matter. We have no policy against Tor, or any other browser or software. Customers are free to use their Xfinity Internet service to visit any website, use any app, and so forth.

Here are the facts:

• Comcast doesn’t monitor our customer’s browser software, web surfing or online history.
• The anecdotal chat room evidence described in these reports is not accurate.
• We respect customer privacy and security and only investigate and disclose certain information about a customer’s account with a valid court order or other appropriate legal process, just like other ISPs. More information about these policies can be found in our Transparency Report here.
• We do not terminate customers for violating the Copyright Alert System (aka “six strikes”), which is a non-punitive, educational and voluntary copyright program. Read more here.

Our customers can use Tor at any time, as I have myself.  I’m sure many of them are using it right now.

It appears this might be a misunderstanding.  In reading the customer complaints and Comcast’s terms of service my guess is that the customers were running TOR relays.  If not and they were contacted for just using the TOR browser then Comcast decided to do a fast about face.  Their statement also says that Comcast has “no policy against Tor, or any other browser”. Their terms of service are against using Comcast to provide a proxy service or server for users outside your home network.  That would make running a TOR relay a violation.

You can visit vpnsp.com to learn more about VPN services.  Follow us @VPNSP for the latest news and deals.

CloudFlare recently announced the acquisition of CryptoSeal.  Ryan Lackey, the founder of CryptoSeal, will be joining the CloudFlare team as a project manager focused on new security projects.  Here’s some quick background for those unfamiliar with CryptoSeal.  The company started as part of the Y Combinator summer class in 2011.  The goal was to put on-premise VPN into the cloud (VPN as a service).  This seems like a good acquisition and hire for CloudFlare.  They get the technology and expertise that Mr. Lackey brings to the table.

Here’s some of what Ryan had to say in the related CloudFlare blog post:

“I’m really excited to work with CloudFlare to bring secure, easy-to-use networking to a huge number of sites and users,” Ryan told me when we were working on the deal. “CloudFlare really is the perfect company to deploy security technologies like Trusted Computing, robust cryptography, and secure networks to make the Internet a better place.”

We began the process of shutting down CryptoSeal’s service last week, shortly after the acquisition was finalized. We’ve notified current customers and expect the service to be retired completely by June 30, 2014. Ryan Lackey is joining CloudFlare’s team as a product manager focused on new security products. In the months to come, expect new product extensions that take advantage of CryptoSeal’s technology combined with our rapidly expanding network.

As you can see Ryan is excited to join the CloudFlare team and I’m sure they feel the same excitement about gaining his expertise.  CryptoSeal will shut down for good on June 30th.  At that time the  service will be retired.  If you are currently a member and would like advice on finding alternatives please take a look at our VPN provider list.  We have over 360 services for you to compare.  With hands-on reviews of several options.

Best of luck to Mr. Lackey and the CloudFlare team as they work to create new security product extensions.  With over two million web sites using CloudFlare they have quite an opportunity to extend CryptoSeal’s technology.

Follow us @VPNSP to keep up with the latest VPN news as the industry continues to heat up.

If you haven’t heard of Reset the Net then I suggest you visit their site right now before reading this post.  The Reset the Net initiative has taken months of effort and the results will begin to show on June 5th when leading websites around the world join in promoting a safer, surveillance free Internet.  No one is confused into thinking we won’t be spied on anymore but there are specific actions that we can all take to help protect our online privacy.  Since we cover the VPN industry and their efforts to ensure your online privacy on a daily basis we thought it would be a good idea to recognize those who joined the effort in support of Reset the Net.

Here’s a list of VPN services that joined in to support Reset the Net:

• Private Internet Access – sponsor for Reset the Net
• IPVanish
• CyberGhost
• Hide My Ass
• PureVPN

We will continue to update the list as we notice more VPN providers involved in this important effort.  If you notice any that aren’t already on the list let us know @VPNSP and we’ll gladly add them.  Please take note of the VPN companies participating in Reset the Net as it shows their commitment to the cause reaches beyond just business.  These services chose to stand up to promote online privacy and reset the net.

Today I’d like to ask for your help.  For the next week we are running a very short survey (13 questions) to learn what you think about online privacy and the keys to offering a great VPN experience.  Please take a minute of your time in helping make online privacy services and specifically VPNs even better.  Your answers to the survey questions will help VPN services know where to focus their efforts in the months and years to come.

What makes a good VPN service?  For me the answer would be long.  I’m looking for a company that I can trust.  That can mean a lot of research but I need assurance before trusting a company with my online privacy.  After finding a trustworthy source I want to make sure the service meets my needs.  For me that means fast, reliable service.  Beyond that I prefer companies with large networks, feature rich software and a no log policy.

That’s all well and good but the purpose of the survey is to find out what you think.  Your input will help shape our decisions moving forward and will help VPN services know where to focus efforts in the future.  Perhaps there is an area that is very important to you that providers aren’t covering all that well or aren’t focusing on at the moment.  If so this is the perfect time to share your thoughts on what can make VPN even better.

I’d like to personally thank you for sharing your thoughts and participating in the VPN survey.  I get calls and emails for survey requests all the time and turn down a vast majority of them.  Mainly because they are for topics that aren’t of interest to me.  I don’t care what TV shows are coming in the Fall or which cereal is the fruitiest.  When it comes to online privacy I care a lot and I know many of you do as well so thank you for helping.

You can visit VPNSP.com to learn more about VPN services.  Follow us @VPNSP for the latest news and deals.

We recommend VPN primarily to protect your online privacy.  There are a number of other uses for anonymous services like accessing content while in another country.  Up until now that’s worked quite well for sites like Hulu and Netflix.  For the first time we’re seeing Hulu attempt to block anonymous access to their service.  Here’s a copy of the message shown when trying to connect through a VPN.  It was posted on Reddit a few hours ago.

Hulu offers their premium streaming service to users in the United States.  Up until now you could simply go through a server in the US to access the site.  Now it appears they are trying to stop that from happening.  I understand where they’re coming from in that they don’t want anyone outside the US to access the service.  I also think Hulu could lose a number of paying customers and hurt their reputation by blocking users.

Let’s take a look at a few scenarios in which Hulu could be blocking anonymous access:

1. A user lives outside the United States and relies on a VPN or proxy to access the service.  This is likely the scenario Hulu is trying to block.
2. A user lives in the United States and is traveling abroad.  Again they are using an anonymous service to connect to a server in the US to access the site.  Hulu may agree with blocking this as well since the user isn’t currently located in the United States.
3. A user is in the United States military and is stationed abroad.  They use an anonymous service to access Hulu from a server in the US.  Again they are blocked.
4. A user lives in the United States and is accessing the site from their home.  They care about their online privacy and therefore run all traffic through a VPN service.  Perhaps through their system or even a router to protect their entire network.  It appears Hulu will block them as well.  I think this is a big mistake!  One that could damage Hulu’s reputation given the public’s focus on privacy related issues.

Hulu’s decision to block anonymous access baffles me.  The entertainment industry spends a fortune fighting online piracy.  Hulu is a legitimate way for users to pay for content.  Let’s face it they could easily find the content elsewhere.  Instead they are paying for it through Hulu.  Whether they access from an anonymous service or not shouldn’t matter.  I sincerely hope that Hulu will reconsider their decision to block anonymous access.

I should also mention that leading VPN companies are use to being blocked.  They deal with censorship issues all the time.  This is a technical game of cat and mouse and so far the VPN’s are winning.  The same will likely be true for Hulu.  I tested from a number of leading VPNs and the site is accessible.  Any IP-based blocking that Hulu had done was already circumvented.  Hopefully Hulu will discontinue blocking anonymous access.