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ProtonVPN Passes 1 Million Users and Launches on iOS (venturebeat.com)

Posted by msmash on from the more-you-know dept.

Encrypted email service provider ProtonMail has launched its standalone VPN app for iOS devices. From a report: The announcement comes more than a year after ProtonVPN launched globally for desktop users and 10 months after it landed on Android, so the iOS launch has been a long time coming. There is, of course, no shortage of VPN apps out there already, but ProtonMail has built a solid reputation in the encrypted communications realm since it was founded out of CERN in 2013. Following the launch of its privacy-focused email service nearly three years ago, the company subsequently added two-factor authentication (2FA), Tor support, an encrypted contacts manager, and of course a VPN service.

ProtonMail offers various pricing tiers for ProtonVPN, ranging from free to $24 per month. Those who choose not to pay can access three countries' servers, with access on one device, but will have slower speeds, while the top $24/month tier offers access on 10 devices with server access in all available countries. In related news, ProtonMail said that ProtonVPN now has 1 million users globally.

32 comments

  1. It was also reported by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

    It was also reported that the feds have easy access to their network, rendering the VPN effectively useless.

    1. Re:It was also reported by Bradmont · · Score: 2

      Source?

    2. Re: It was also reported by Type44Q · · Score: 2

      Source?

      Logic. It's even reproducible... at least for some.

    3. Re: It was also reported by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      Logic

      Pun not intended.

    4. Re: It was also reported by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just baffling the marketing and user expectations for these VPN. In the end we know they all will be compromised since VPN providers have zero legal protections.

      The right thing to do is improve encryption and enable it better for end to end traffic.

    5. Re:It was also reported by Sarten-X · · Score: 2

      All "privacy-focused" VPNs are useless for normal folks.

      Sure, they can all claim to have your privacy in mind, but there's no legal basis for that claim. They can't just refuse subpoenas or gag orders, and can't obstruct a lawful investigation. Any idiot with a server can set up a VPN provider and start selling access, and invent claims of resilience for marketing purposes. When they're facing a choice between a contempt-of-court charge or sacrificing a customer, suddenly that idea of being a bastion of anarchistic freedom doesn't look so appealing.

      There are some very good reasons to have VPN technology. It's crucial for operating remotely-located network equipment or offices. For activists whose work puts them in danger from oppressive regimes, a trustworthy VPN can literally save lives. For a paranoid user who just thinks the Big Bad Gub'mint is going to persecute him for torrenting bootleg anime, a VPN is just a scam to extract money for no actual benefit.

      --
      You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
    6. Re:It was also reported by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

      For a paranoid user who just thinks the Big Bad Gub'mint is going to persecute him for torrenting bootleg anime, a VPN is just a scam to extract money for no actual benefit.

      While I don't disagree with the rest of your comment, why "paranoid", when governments really do impose harsh penalties for such simple copyright infringement?

    7. Re:It was also reported by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Can't surrender logs if they don't exist.

      Of course, without physically inspecting the host my devices spoke to, I only have allegations of protection. I'm quite aware that their servers can store whatever they like. I'd be awfully trusting if I started piping nude photos of myself through them, for example.

    8. Re:It was also reported by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is no universal government. Just choose a VPN in a country where their government doesn't care about what you're doing.

    9. Re:It was also reported by bheerssen · · Score: 1

      I'd be more worried about the Big Bad ISP cutting off access for torrenting bootleg anime.

      --
      (Score: -1, Stupid)
  2. which one ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Never heard of it. aren't there hundreds of VPN product ? why is it more relevant than others ?

    1. Re:which one ? by comodoro · · Score: 1

      Because it is free?

  3. This is news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It sounds more like an ad than anything else...

    1. Re:This is news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      *slashvertisement, newfriend

  4. Depends on who you are worried about by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It was also reported that the feds have easy access to their network, rendering the VPN effectively useless.

    Not at all useless.

    To me I don't care if my data on a VPN is easily accessed by various governments, because the hard truth is that it will be accessed by governments, one way or another.

    Since that aspect is irrelevant, all I end up caring about is - how much can a VPN help with non-state actors accessing my network traffic?

    To me it seems like ProtonVPN is a pretty good choice in that regard. My only misgiving is that the more populate a VPN is, the more desirable a target it is to break... but I feel like the (probable) quality of security that ProtonVPN offers outweighs that greater target profile.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Depends on who you are worried about by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      I'm sorry, but what makes the private mercenary better than regular army?

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    2. Re:Depends on who you are worried about by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      They're probably more likely to follow an illegal order. Also, it's easier to cover up their deaths.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    3. Re: Depends on who you are worried about by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      They're not [necessarily] supported by tax dollars. ;)

    4. Re: Depends on who you are worried about by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      ...because the hard truth is that it will be accessed by governments, one way or another.

      Bingo.

    5. Re: Depends on who you are worried about by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      That's right. They're supported by ATM fees...

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  5. How many paying users by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

    ProtonMail offers various pricing tiers for ProtonVPN, ranging from free to $24 per month. Those who choose not to pay can access three countries' servers...

    Sure they have over a million users, but those may just be people who were interested in the service and tried out the free offering. It says nothing about how many users are paying to use the service.

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    1. Re:How many paying users by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I use their services now and pay for their 2nd highest tier. I honestly wish I had copped for the highest tier so I could add all my device/PCs (<10 devices/PC combined) all the time.

      I only give out the address to people I know who use the services (paid) and are trustworthy themselves. Now, whenever I want to have a conversation about something I'm reasonably assured it's private and not being data mined by the likes of Google or Facebook.

  6. Slashvertisment by supercell · · Score: 4, Informative
    Wow, the blatant slashverisment here is pretty shocking. This is such an AD poorly disguised as a PR release its laughable.

    What would be a great article is someone that follows the money flow from a website like VentureBeat that pay to print, to SlashDot that pays to post.

  7. Super bad analogy by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

    I'm sorry, but what makes the private mercenary better than regular army?

    I think you are possibly trying for some kind of analogy?

    But honestly what you are saying makes no sense. In fact, I cannot figure out how to apply your statement to any aspect of what I said, in any way.

    To simplify my original statement (which may help you), all your network traffic can and will be access by many governments no matter what you do. So base your choice of security around anything else but that criteria, since it is irrelevant.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Super bad analogy by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Government, corporation. Please show the difference.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    2. Re:Super bad analogy by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      That's pretty easy. A government is answerable to no-one, has nearly unlimited resources with an endless cash flow, and decades of technical advances no-one else has ever seen.

      A corporation may not have any better motives to be sure, but has VASTLY less resources, and to some degree is much more vulnerable to laws. There is an element of risk consideration too where some actions COULD take down a company, whereas there is no action that could take down any of the larger (or most smaller) governments - at most a cog or two would go to jail, easily replaced.

      If you really don't think there is a mysterious difference between government and corporate ability, well son you just aren't paying attention.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    3. Re:Super bad analogy by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      A government is answerable to no-one

      Absolute nonsense. They answer to the voters, not that the voters are demanding anything at the present besides phony tax cuts and other handouts. But if the voters ever decide to take charge, you will see a response. So please, stop with the silly phony 'libertarian' bullshit.

      Now, since the voters don't give a damn, the corporation has all the government resources they could ask for. Their lobbyists write the laws and the government enforces them. The corp buys the politician through campaign contributions, the voters reelect them. If the politician doesn't do what the corp wants, that money goes elsewhere. Simple law of the jungle applies. But it's the voter who gives the final word. And they are saying, let the corporations run the government. Sorry, you're the one living in a fantasy, regurgitating 19th century propaganda.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  8. Zach Patterson/ZIP "Greatest Hits" (lol, not) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See how STUPID "ZIP" (Zach I. Patterson) CHIMP is (taking credit for what I solved before him) https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... (he needs to LEARN TO READ)!

    I even SHOW ways to do it YOURSELF https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... (he couldn't).

    Delphi/FreePascal/ObjectPascal HAS no issue w/ null-term'd string bufferoverflows - C does, C++ can UNLESS you do what I said 1st loser.

    Tell us about CODE SIGNING (which has been STOLEN & ABUSED) https://www.helpnetsecurity.co... MY METHOD CAN'T BE (upmodded +2 INTERESTING in CODING FOR DEFCON no less) https://it.slashdot.org/commen...

    "I'm a much better programmer than APK" - by Anonymous Coward ZIP on Monday October 08, 2018 @11:27PM (#57449082) FROM https://yro.slashdot.org/comme... yet nothing to show in programs. I can from registered /.ers liking/using/praising my work (& 100k users worldwide too). He can't.

    LIAR ZIP says he has no account "I don't have an account, so I don't have mod points" https://news.slashdot.org/comm...

    Yet LIAR ZIP says he downmods my posts (IMPOSSIBLE MINUS AN ACCOUNT on /.): "I down-modded a few of your post on other threads" - by Anonymous Coward "ZIP" on Thursday October 11, 2018 @11:31AM (#57461058) FROM https://yro.slashdot.org/comme...

    APK

    P.S.=> KEEP PLAYING PUSSY GAMES IMPERSONATING ME YOU CHIMP - this comes out every time, lol!... apk

    1. Re:Zach Patterson/ZIP "Greatest Hits" (lol, not) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i guess we found our next mass shooter, can someone look at the guy above?

    2. Re: Zach Patterson/ZIP "Greatest Hits" (lol, not) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sexist. Could be a woman.