Welcome to our first VPN News roundup. We plan on doing this every week so you can stay up to date with major VPN providers. Subscribe to our newsletter to get updates as they come!

SaferVPN Releases New Windows App

SaferVPN has just released a new version of their Windows app. This application has a new design which supposedly makes it easier to adjust settings, change virtual location or just contact support.

The new app also makes it so you can search global servers and favorite them for easy use upon reconnection.

For those of you who have had trouble with SaferVPN in the past, you might be glad to hear that they have a new diagnostic fixer which makes it easy to repair config files.

Lastly, SaferVPN has included a “tip of the week” which appears at the top of the app.

Check out our full SaferVPN review here!

Private Internet Access Flees Russia

Private Internet Access is pulling out of Russia since they claim that the Russian government’s new laws make privacy questionable. Is this a logical step for Private Internet Access or is it more of a PR stunt? We covered this full segment in this post.

Check out our full Private Internet Access review here!

Is Private Internet Access Broke?

We found some compelling evidence to suggest that Private Internet Access might be dealing with some internal struggles of its own.

ExpressVPN Keeps Improving

Just recently, ExpressVPN has upped their server count to 136 VPN servers in 87 countries. We’ve always found their servers to be well optimized and quite speedy.

While we covered this last month, ExpressVPN has also updated their subscription policy to include up to three simultaneous devices instead of just two. Apps are available for Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Speaking of Android, ExpressVPN 5.0 is also out now with some new features. You can now:

• Connect to your favorite locations easier by tapping on the star icon
• The ability to reconnect on Android startup
• New improved “hamburger” menu that helps with navigation

ExpressVPN for Linux has now also arrived. You can:

• Connect without having to download config files
• Connect to latest servers
• Switch between UDP and TCP

Check out our full ExpressVPN review here!

NordVPN Answers Russia Data Collection Law

NordVPN has also answered Russia’s new law that makes Internet and Telecom user data storage mandatory in Russia. In essence, this means that all calls, texts, chats, and web traffic can be monitored and will be stored by Internet and Telecom providers.

However, unlike Private Internet Access, who just pulled out, NordVPN assures its user base that it will continue to provide services in Russia. How?

NordVPN claims that new double VPN servers are now being introduced to encrypt the traffic twice and makes data even more secure. We aren’t sure if this will be enough since the new data retention laws are said to fine companies not complying with the requested information.

Check out our full NordVPN review here! If you’re interested, also check out this post which highlights how to use NordVPN with Netflix.

IPVanish Also Leaves Russia

IPVanish is another VPN provider that is no longer supporting servers in Russia. Their reasoning is similar to Private Internet Access’s thoughts on the issue. IPVanish claims that “The new data retention laws compel VPN service providers such as ourselves to 1) record the data about any user that connects to a server physically located within the surveillance nation and 2) store it for an entire year. Specifically, the Russian government would fine us (or worse) for every time we refused to provide them with the data.”

Check out our full IPVanish review here!

TotalVPN ALSO Leaves Russia

Finally, TotalVPN is also leaving the Russian VPN scene. Their response is as follows “TotalVPN cannot operate in Russia any further as they just cannot comply with the above. There are two reasons; firstly objecting to what the Russian Government is doing, TotalVPN is strong advocates for internet privacy, and secondly, TotalVPN doesn’t log anything from the moment users connect to their VPN servers. TotalVPN has no plans to change what data they record, and as a result, cannot comply with Russian Law.”

Check out our full TotalVPN review here!

Private Internet Access Ads Ad Blocker

PIA Logo

On July 8th, PIA released a new feature that blocks ads, trackers, and malware. This new integration is dubbed “MACE”. MACE allows PIA users to block ads, trackers, and malware on whatever browser they are using with the native PIA client v60.

Check out our full Private Internet Access review here!

ExpressVPN Announces New Privacy Scholarship

ExpressVPN is creating an essay content to raise student awareness of internet privacy and security. The application period of The ExpressVPN Future of Privacy Scholarship is open until August 31, 2016, 11:59 PST. Here are the topics:

We Own the Future

Picture yourself in 2050. How will the evolution of the Internet affect our social structure and the authority governments have over citizens?

Privacy Advocates

Discuss the logic of this famous quote by Edward Snowden:

“Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.”

Privacy in Real Life

As you go about your life, think of three ways privacy, or lack thereof, impacts you personally. Would you be better off or worse if the situation were reversed?

The winner of the essay will win $2,500 and the second place will win $1000–with the third place winner receiving $500. Winners will be notified by email and announced publicly at www.expressvpn.com/blog/ on October 14, 2016.

Full application details, competition guidelines, and awards information are available on the contest page.

Check out our full ExpressVPN review here!

End of VPN News Roundup 1

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