The Good Tech Companies - SafePaper Exposes Hidden VPN Ties Behind “Best VPN” Rankings

Starting point is 00:00:00 This audio is presented by Hacker Noon, where anyone can learn anything about any technology. Safe Paper exposes hidden VPN ties behind BestVPN rankings by Alex Cole. Adapted from the original research by Page West, Safe Paper, I-O, San Francisco, California, August 26, 2025. A&N-N-N-T-A new report by Safe Paper finds that many BestVPN lists are shaped by hidden business ties and affiliate deals. not just product quality. SafePapers report authored by Page West uncovers a tangled web of relationships among Mahor VPN providers and even the supposedly independent review sites that rank them. Key findings. Same few VPNS everywhere the top spots in Best VPN. Lists almost always go to just a handful of names notably NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN. Shared owners behind the

Starting point is 00:00:57 scenes many leading VPN brands are owned by the same parent companies. For example, NordVPN and SurfShark merged under common ownership in 2022, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and private internet access are all owned by Cape Technologies. Media and VPNS under one roof some VPN companies also own popular, independent tech review websites. Cape ExpressVPN's owner runs VPN mentor and Whiskace, while Zip Davis, which owns IP Vanish, also runs tech publishers like PCMag and CNET. In other cases, VPN review sites may not be owned outright, but they make money from the very VPNs they recommend. Affiliate marketing influence most VPN review articles include affiliate links, earning commissions from subscriptions. This creates a strong incentive to recommend the VPNs that

Starting point is 00:01:47 pay the most, not necessarily the best. Overlooked independence independent VPNs like Mulvod or Winscribe often get ignored, not because they like quality, but because they don't run large affiliate programs. Many VPN recommendation lists are essentially paid advertisements in disguise, says page west of safe paper. VPN industry relationships. Nord Security and Tessonet NordVPN's parent company, Nord Security, was initially incubated by Tessonet, a Lithuanian tech accelerator that also helped launch Surfshark. NordVPN and SURF shark now share the same owner after emerging, and Nord Security even acquired Atlas VPN, which was shut down in 2024 with its users moved to Nord VPN. CAPE's VPN Empire Cape Technologies, which acquired ExpressVPN in 2021,

Starting point is 00:02:37 also owns CyberGhost, Pia, and Zenmate. Not only that, Cape owns VPN review sites like VPN mentor and whiskace through a subsidiary. This means one company controls several top VPN brands and some of the major outlets reviewing those brands. Zip Davis Connections Digital Media Giant Ziff Davis, owner of PCMag, CNET, MASHable, etc. Bot IP vanish in 2019. It even offers a white-label VPN platform used by other brands. For instance, Pornhub's VPN hub was powered by Zipf Davis's infrastructure. In short, a company known for tech reviews is also directly in the VPN business.

Starting point is 00:03:17 Point Wild, Pango, networked the parent company behind lesser-known total VPN, recently rebranded under Point Wild, isn't so small after all. It runs the popular review site Comparatec and provides VPN technology for brands. This kind of integration means a review site could be promoting products from its own corporate family. Security Suite VPNs traditional antivirus makers have joined the VPN fray too. When Norton Lifelock, Symantec, merged with a vast, Norton secure VPN, and Hide My Ass, they came under one roof, general digital. These security suite VPNs share resources and ownership, though under different names. With so much consolidation behind the scenes, it's no wonder the same VPNs keep popping up at the top of

Starting point is 00:04:04 best VPN lists across the web. The competition you see might be an illusion. Often, it's a handful of big players controlling multiple brands. How to choose a VPN wisely. Rather than trusting every top 5 VPN list, consider actual merits before subscribing. Encryption look for strong, industry standard encryption. No logs policy does it have a strict no logs policy, verified by independent audits, so your data isn't stored, performance is it fast and reliable for the things you want to do, streaming, video calls, gaming? Does it have plenty of servers worldwide to avoid congestion?

Starting point is 00:04:41 Security features what extra protections are offered, kill switch, DNS leak protection, that show the provider is serious about privacy, most importantly, know who you're buying from. If a VPN consistently ranks number one everywhere, ask why. It might be excellent, or it might be because its parent company spends millions on marketing and affiliate deals. Checking a provider's background can tell you a lot. Full report, VPN relationship, how hidden ties hype up VPN brands, is available on safe paper. I owe for those who want to dive into the detailed finding sand ownership maps. Safe paper prides itself on independent, hands-on testing to help consumers cut through the VPN hype and find services that truly meet their privacy needs. About Safe Paper.

Starting point is 00:05:27 Safe Paper is an independent content site focused on cybersecurity and online privacy. We're dedicated to helping you navigate today's complex digital landscape by offering practical how-to guides, top security tool recommendations, analysis of trending events, and clear explanations of technical concepts. Connect person. Page West email. Support at Safe Paper. I.O. Source. Thank you for listening to this Hackernoon story, read by artificial intelligence. Visit hackernoon.com to read, write, learn and publish.

The Good Tech Companies - SafePaper Exposes Hidden VPN Ties Behind “Best VPN” Rankings

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