VPNs are designed to keep you safe online by encrypting your internet traffic and hiding your IP address, but if a VPN provider is keeping logs of your online activity, then your privacy and security are at risk.
That's where no-logs VPNs come in: they promise not to keep any logs of your internet activity or personal information. But until a few years ago, you just had to take their word for it.
With the introduction of third-party audits, that’s no longer the case. In this post, we’ll take a look at the audits of PureVPN’s no-logs policy – and what it means for you.
'PureVPN No-Logs Audit' contents (select to expand)
What’s an Audit Do?
In previous years, nearly every major VPN provider claimed they weren’t keeping logs. But there was no way for users to verify those claims.
As it turned out, many of these VPNs weren’t telling the truth. They were, in fact, keeping logs, and this was revealed when they turned those logs over to the authorities.
Just imagine paying for a VPN, thinking you’re safe, and then they turn around and hand over all your data.
Fortunately, you no longer have to trust your provider to tell the truth: you just have to check their audit.
These audits use third-party firms to analyze a VPN’s security on the back end, to verify that they don’t keep logs or have any other security weaknesses.
For more info on these audits, check out our list of Best No Logs VPNs.
What Does This Mean for PureVPN?
PureVPN had their own logging controversy in the past. In 2017, the company was caught logging user data and providing it to the FBI, which led to a lot of negative press and mistrust from the VPN community. However, the company eventually came under new ownership, and they were determined to earn back trust.
So, in 2018, they underwent their first audit, courtesy of Altius IT, who concluded:
“[We] did not find any evidence of system configurations and/or system/service log files that independently, or collectively, could lead to identifying a specific person and/or the person’s activity when using the PureVPN service.”
This was a promising start for PureVPN in their quest to become a truly no-logs VPN.
But they didn't stop there.
They submitted to another audit, this time by KPMG, one of the "Big Four" accounting firms. KPMG's audit focused on PureVPN's privacy policy, data protection practices, and server infrastructure.
That audit concluded that PureVPN had implemented the necessary controls and measures to maintain their no-logs policy and safeguard users' privacy.
And now PureVPN have partnered with KPMG to establish something they’re calling an “Always-On Audit” policy, which means they can be audited at any time, without notice.
This is a strong indication that PureVPN is a truly “zero-logs” VPN, committed to maintaining their no-logs policy and ensuring the privacy and security of their users.
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Remember, not all VPN providers undergo third-party audits of their no-logs policies. Some may claim to have a no-logs policy, but without independent verification, it can be difficult to know for sure.
The fact that PureVPN has undergone multiple third-party audits and has an ongoing auditing arrangement with KPMG shows that PureVPN has come a long way.
Wrap-Up
In conclusion, PureVPN has taken important steps to ensure that their no-logs policy is verifiable and trustworthy. With two successful audits and an "Always-On Audit" policy in place, users can be confident that their online activity is not being tracked or monitored in any way.
This, combined with their strong encryption and other security features, makes PureVPN an excellent choice for users who prioritize online security and privacy.