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What does “no-logs VPN” mean?
It means that a VPN doesn’t keep usage logs. In other words, a “no-logs VPN” doesn’t log your online activity — browsing history, used bandwidth, your network traffic, your IP address, browsing history, or DNS queries.
The no-logs policy is hard to “comply with” since, in some countries, VPN services are required by law to store your data for at least some time. If you want the best data protection possible, check out VPNs that operate in jurisdictions without data collection laws.
Types of VPN logs
VPNs can keep a few types of logs. Here are the most common types and whether they should concern you:
Technical logs
These logs are all about the technical parts of your VPN connection. They include connection logs, timestamps, server and your IP addresses, used protocols, data usage, etc. These logs are the most common type to be kept by the VPN providers to ensure a smooth VPN connection. They are usually anonymous and won’t breach your safety.
Personality-related logs
These logs are your personal information, usually collected when purchasing a VPN service or creating an account. They include your email addresses, bank details, date of birth, and any other info you choose to provide. If you want to keep this info private, premium VPNs allow you to create an account anonymously.
Online activity logs
Online activity logs are about everything you do while connected to a VPN. They include your visited websites, downloaded files, used services, etc. These logs are the most personal and precious, and you should never use a VPN that collects them. The no-logs VPN services never collect or record this info about you.
Why should I use a no-logs VPN?
You should use a no-logs VPN to ensure complete online privacy and anonymity. A no-logs VPN doesn’t record your online activity, such as browsing history or downloads, so your data is hidden from your ISP and safe from possible cyberattacks.
And even if you feel like there’s nothing to hide, for a provider to store your data is still a massive breach of privacy.
In some countries, including the US, internet providers can legally sell information about your browsing habits to advertisers. Knowing exactly what you like, advertisers can place effective targeted ads. A no-logs VPN doesn’t store data, so there’s nothing to sell.
Even if your VPN provider is asked or subpoenaed to reveal your user logs, it will not work. They cannot give up information that never existed in the first place!
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How to use a no-logs VPN
Using a no-logs VPN is simple: just set up a VPN and the no-logging part is done on our end.
1. Create an account
Sign up for a Surfshark account by choosing the best subscription for you.
2. Download the app
Download Surfshark on your device or add the extension to your browser.
3. Sign in and connect
Sign in to your account, open the app, and connect to any server.
Does Surfshark keep logs?
We don’t keep logs of your online activity. That means Surfshark VPN doesn’t track your online whereabouts or actions in any way. The VPN server only keeps enough data to maintain your VPN connection, and nothing is kept after you’re done.
To prove our no-logs compliance, we have an assurance report done by Deloitte. We’ve also taken additional measures — to ensure our user anonymity, we:
- Offer a double VPN;
- Use RAM-only servers*;
- Have a warrant canary.
*RAM-based servers — all the information (encryption keys, session info, etc.) is wiped out every time the server is reset.
What non-sensitive information does Surfshark require?
Here’s what personal data we collect:
- Email address and encrypted password (we can’t see your actual password)
- Basic billing information and order history
What do we do with this information?
- We need your email to help you fix any issues you may encounter.
- We need your billing information to create your account successfully. This information includes your payment amount, currency, the date of the payment, as well as what you chose to purchase. You can also opt for total anonymity and pay with cryptocurrency.
Here’s the anonymous information we collect to keep the apps running smoothly:
- Aggregated, anonymous performance data
- The frequency of use of our services
- Crash reports on apps
- Unsuccessful connection attempts
Why Surfshark is the best VPN for online privacy
We protect all your traffic
We protect all your traffic with industry-leading AES-256-GCM encryption and ensure that your traffic doesn’t suffer any leaks.
We accept anonymous payments
We protect your identity by providing anonymous payment methods so no personal information gets logged.
We offer Camouflage mode
Camouflage mode, a.k.a. obfuscation, makes your traffic look normal so that even your internet service provider doesn’t know you use a VPN.
We use the safest protocols
WireGuard® is a default protocol on all our apps. If you want, you can change it to OpenVPN and IKEv2 — all tested, trusted, and secure.
No logs. No risks. Get Surfshark.
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FAQ
Can the police track a VPN?
If you mean, “can the police track my activity when I’m using a VPN,” then the short answer is no — there’s no way to track live, encrypted VPN traffic. If you’re interested in the longer answer, you can find it in our article Can police track your VPN activity.
Does a VPN make you completely anonymous?
A VPN won’t provide complete anonymity, but it can increase your online privacy and security. It encrypts your data, shields your IP address, and protects you from online trackers. But it’s important to understand the limits of a VPN — no internet privacy tool can completely hide your online presence.
Does a zero-logs VPN exist?
Yes, zero-logs VPNs do exist. Surfshark is one of them. It doesn’t retain and record your information and has a Deloitte certificate to prove it. However, we collect the minimum user information to be able to provide our service, keep the applications running smoothly, and fix issues.
Which is the best no-logs VPN?
We suggest picking Surfshark. We don’t log your activity and offer additional online anonymity tools to protect your online presence further — data removal from company databases, a personal detail generator, and a masked email generator, among other things.
Can I get a no-logs VPN for free?
Probably not, because most free VPNs make money by displaying ads or collecting logs and selling them to data brokers.
Are no-logs VPNs safe?
Yes, a VPN with a strict no-logs policy is the safest VPN option you can get, as it’ll keep your information private and secure.
Are no-logs VPNs legal?
Yes, no-logs VPNs are fully legal as long as they operate from a jurisdiction that doesn’t require log collection.
For example, Surfshark works from the Netherlands, where “Five,” “Nine,” and “Fourteen Eyes” groups of countries have no power over the data retention laws.
