Part 7/12:
Trust in a VPN hinges on several critical factors. Padfield emphasizes the importance of third-party audits, noting that only 11 of the leading VPNs have undergone recent comprehensive audits to verify their no-logs policies. This is vital since, technically, a VPN can see and log everything you do online if it chooses.
Corporate ownership is another concern. For instance, NordVPN and Surfshark are owned by Nord Security, which Padfield finds trustworthy. Conversely, companies like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access are owned by Cape Technologies, an Israeli firm with ties to Unit 8200, an Israeli intelligence agency, and a controversial history involving malware-laden browser extensions. These associations raise red flags for some privacy advocates.