Cyberghost review

Looking for a candid CyberGhost review that reveals its actual performance and security features? Our scrutiny of CyberGhost VPN focuses on its real-world effectiveness in safeguarding your digital presence, handling high-speed tasks, and providing ease of use—all central to a solid VPN experience. We’ll unveil the strengths and weaknesses to help you gauge if it’s the ultimate VPN choice for you.

Key Takeaways

• CyberGhost provides strong privacy features from its AES-256 encryption and kill switch, to its no logs policy verified by Deloitte in Romania, aiming to safeguard user data and online activities.

• With over 7,000 servers in 91 countries, CyberGhost offers a broad and diverse server network, including NoSpy servers and specialized servers for streaming and gaming, ensuring low latency and unblocked access to content.

• CyberGhost offers cross-platform support with robust customer service, diverse subscription plans with generous discounts, and unique features like its Security Suite which includes extra protection like ad-blocking and HTTPS Protection.

Exploring CyberGhost VPN: An In-Depth Analysis

CyberGhost, a brainchild of two IT specialists, Robert Knapp and Silviu Sirbu, started its journey back in 2011 in Romania. The choice of Romania as its base was no accident. Not being a part of international surveillance alliances like Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes, Romania supports CyberGhost’s privacy-oriented policies.

In 2017, CyberGhost’s trajectory changed dramatically when it was bought by Kape Technologies. This company invested heavily in expanding the VPN’s reach and capabilities. With this acquisition, CyberGhost evolved into one of the best VPN apps available. Today, it operates in 91 countries and boasts a user base of over 38 million people, a testament to its growth and popularity.

Unveiling How CyberGhost Safeguards Your Online Presence

CyberGhost is not just about quantity; it’s about quality too. It incorporates the best-in-class security protocols, including WireGuard®, IKEv2, and OpenVPN, to provide users with high-speed and secure VPN connections.

You might wonder how CyberGhost manages to keep your online activities both secure and private. Let’s break down its robust security measures.

The Encryption Fortress: AES-256 and Its Impenetrability

At the heart of CyberGhost’s security measures is the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with a 256-bit key. Having won the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) competition in 2000, this encryption standard guarantees that all user traffic receives the highest possible level of encryption.

AES-256 encryption boasts a robust multi-round data transformation process, making it practically unbreakable without the encryption key. The encryption process includes four core operations:

1. Byte substitution

2. Row shifting

3. Column mixing

4. Adding round keys

Each operation contributes to the security and integrity of the encrypted data, ensuring your private data remains just that - private.

But CyberGhost doesn’t stop there. It fortifies its encryption capability by implementing Perfect Forward Secrecy. This feature regularly changes the encryption keys, ensuring a small portion of user data is at risk even if a key is compromised.

The Shielding Mechanism: How Kill Switch Works

Even the most reliable VPN connections can experience occasional drops. In such events, CyberGhost has an automatic kill switch that disconnects you from the internet, preventing any unsecured simultaneous connections. In the event of a VPN connection hiccup, the kill switch steps in, halting all traffic for 120 seconds while it works to reestablish a secure link, thus preventing data leaks.

The kill switch feature comes standard on CyberGhost apps across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It does not require users to manually activate it, thereby streamlining the protection process. While the kill switch is always on by default, users can test its functionality and seek customer support if they encounter any issues.

Concealing Footprints: CyberGhost's No Logs Policy

While encryption and kill switches protect your data, there’s another crucial aspect of online privacy - data logging. CyberGhost asserts its strong commitment to user privacy and data protection with a clear stance of not monitoring, recording, logging, or storing users’ traffic data, browsing history, or search preferences. This no logs policy extends to various user activities, ensuring that no browsing, gaming, torrenting, or other online actions are recorded.

When using NoSpy servers, your internet history and data are automatically deleted. So, whether you’re streaming your favorite show or shopping online, CyberGhost ensures your digital footprints vanish without a trace. In fact, CyberGhost’s adherence to their no logs policy has been independently verified by Deloitte Romania, confirming that the company does not track users’ online activities. This commitment further underscores the reliability of CyberGhost in safeguarding your online presence.

Navigating CyberGhost's User Interface

When it comes to a VPN’s user interface, simplicity and intuitiveness are vital. CyberGhost excels in both these areas. The installation and setup process of the CyberGhost app is simple and quick on both desktop and mobile platforms.

On Windows, CyberGhost offers a minimalistic and intuitive interface, with straightforward options making it accessible even for beginners. The macOS version mirrors the Windows app design but adds unique elements like data compression for reduced download sizes. The mobile apps for iOS and Android maintain a consistent user experience across devices with their clean design.

Once installed, users can quickly connect to CyberGhost VPN with the one-click connection feature. Changing VPN locations is simplified via a pulldown menu beneath the connection button, allowing users to switch servers with ease.

CyberGhost's Global Reach: Server Network and Locations

The strength of a VPN service lies in its server network, and CyberGhost possesses an impressive network. It offers over 7,000 VPN servers spread across 91 countries. This vast server count ensures a wider global reach, granting users a diverse range of VPN connection options.

CyberGhost caters to diverse user needs by offering dedicated cyberghost servers. These include servers for P2P activities, streaming-optimized servers that support sports and live events, and gaming-optimized servers in key locations for low latency. To ensure the highest performance, CyberGhost strategically places servers in key locations, offers unlimited bandwidth on popular streaming servers, and directly owns and manages a portion of its server network.

This extensive server network is not just about numbers. The servers are housed in third-party data centers to serve diverse regional IP needs, enhancing security and reliability. With a wide range of server locations, whether you’re in Europe, Asia, or the Americas, CyberGhost has you covered.

Speed Trials: Assessing CyberGhost's Connection Performance

Speed is a key performance indicator for a VPN, and in this regard, CyberGhost does not disappoint. When connected to servers in the U.S., U.K., and Australia, speed tests demonstrated a significant decrease in download speeds ranging from 31% to 74%, as well as a notable drop in upload speeds, which ranged from 15% to 78%. However, the drop in speed did not significantly impact the user experience, with streaming on platforms like Netflix remaining smooth without notable lag.

On average, CyberGhost VPN achieved a download speed of 548 Mbps across all tested locations and times, with a noted 49% average speed loss. Despite this speed loss, CyberGhost’s performance was consistent, with satisfactory results for high-bandwidth activities around the world without significant speed drops.

CyberGhost offers the following features:

• Supports high-bandwidth activities such as streaming in 4K UHD and online gaming

• Enhances internet speed and performance by bypassing ISP throttling, particularly useful for maintaining low latency in online gaming

• Passed many speed tests, although its performance was not as flawless as other VPNs, suggesting room for improvement in some areas.

CyberGhost Pricing Strategy: Plans and Value Proposition

CyberGhost offers various pricing plans to suit different user needs. It offers a 1-month subscription at €11.99 per month and a 6-month option at €6.99 per month, with the 6-month plan being billed every six months. The longer the subscription period, the lower the per-month cost, resulting in higher overall savings.

In addition to these regular plans, CyberGhost is known to offer:

• Discounts of up to 83% on longer subscription plans

• Special discounts during events such as Cyber Monday and Black Friday

• Additional promotional offers such as extra months of service at no additional cost

These offers provide significant savings and enhance the value proposition for new subscribers.

What’s more, CyberGhost stands behind its service by offering a 45-day money-back guarantee for longer-term plans, surpassing the typical 30-day guarantee offered by many competitors. The monthly plan guarantees 14 days for refunding. So, with CyberGhost, you not only get a top-notch VPN service but also a risk-free investment.

Multi-Device Harmony: CyberGhost Across Platforms

Cross-platform compatibility is a significant advantage of a VPN service, and CyberGhost excels in this area, providing compatibility with a range of platforms including:

• PC

• macOS

• Android

• iOS

• Linux

• Amazon Fire TV Stick

• Selected Smart TVs

It even extends support to gaming platforms, making it a comprehensive VPN solution.

Seamless Integration: CyberGhost on Windows and Mac

Regardless of whether you prefer Windows or are fond of Mac, CyberGhost caters to your needs. The CyberGhost Security Suite for Windows offers an integrated approach to digital privacy and system security, combining VPN services with additional security features. It includes advanced anti-malware and antivirus capabilities, powered by Intego, providing behavior analysis and protection against a comprehensive range of threats.

The suite is compatible with all versions of Windows from Windows 7 (SP2) to Windows 11, requiring a .NET 4.6 compatible PC, 1 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM, and 1GB free hard drive space. Despite offering a multitude of features, it is designed for minimal impact on system resources to maintain optimal performance during usage.

For Mac users, CyberGhost offers the following features:

• Mirrors the design of the Windows app

• Includes unique elements like data compression for reduced download sizes

• Features a secure software updater tool to manage and keep apps updated, mitigating the risk of security vulnerabilities.

On-the-Go Security: CyberGhost Apps for Mobile Devices

Given the prominence of mobile devices in our lives, it’s imperative for a VPN service to provide strong mobile apps. CyberGhost meets this requirement successfully. Its mobile apps offer unique features like:

• Wi-Fi protection, which activates the VPN when connecting to unsecured networks

• Split tunneling (for Android users)

• Content blocker

• Customizable MTU size

• Protocol selection

• Random port connections

• Domain Fronting

Interestingly, the CyberGhost mobile clients tend to perform better on mobile devices than their desktop counterparts. For example, CyberGhost offers OpenVPN and WireGuard for Android, and WireGuard along with IKEv2 for iOS, with iOS users potentially experiencing better speeds with WireGuard implementation.

Despite offering a smooth performance on Android devices, CyberGhost has some quirks on iOS, which are being addressed by the developers to improve the user experience. The Android app of CyberGhost requests location permission to read the Wi-Fi hotspot’s name as a feature to enhance user security.

Specialized Features for Enhanced Privacy

Beyond offering basic VPN features, CyberGhost provides specialized features to boost user privacy. One of these is the NoSpy servers, located in a private data center in Romania and personally overseen by CyberGhost staff, which reduces risks of interference and exposure to third parties.

These specialized servers provide enhanced security features, including:

• Protection against man-in-the-middle attacks

• Dedicated IP addresses that allow users to enjoy a consistent and private IP that remains unchanged

• Streamlined whitelist processes

• Enhanced reliability for activities including streaming and seeding torrents

These features make CyberGhost’s dedicated IP addresses, including your unique ip address, particularly suited for high-security activities such as activism and secure torrenting.

Moreover, CyberGhost’s Security Suite comes equipped with malware and ads blocking to enhance online protection, as well as HTTPS Protection that encrypts data and secures web pages. These additional features offer an extra layer of security, making CyberGhost a comprehensive solution for all your online privacy needs.

Customer Care: CyberGhost's Support System

Robust customer support is integral to any service, and CyberGhost makes sure help is always available for its users. It offers 24/7 customer support available through their live chat and email system, ensuring professional and prompt responses to user queries.

In addition to direct support, CyberGhost provides a comprehensive customer support portal with FAQs and a vast selection of tutorials geared towards helping new VPN users navigate their service. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced VPN user, CyberGhost’s support system ensures you can resolve any issues quickly and efficiently.

User testimonials further underscore the effectiveness of CyberGhost’s customer support. Users have expressed satisfaction with the prompt and helpful responses from the support team while navigating minor technical issues. This proactive and supportive approach helps maintain a strong bond of trust between CyberGhost and its users.

Streaming and Gaming: CyberGhost in Action

Given that streaming and gaming constitute a major portion of our online activities nowadays, CyberGhost guarantees a seamless experience for both. It reliably unblocks popular streaming services such as:

• Netflix

• HBO Max

• Paramount+

• Disney+

• Hulu

This allows users to enjoy their favorite shows without geographical restrictions.

Specialized server categories simplify the process of selecting an optimized server for streaming or gaming. CyberGhost ensures these servers maintain effectiveness by regularly updating their IP addresses. Whether you’re catching up on your favorite series or battling it out in an online game, CyberGhost ensures you have a seamless experience.

Gamers will particularly appreciate CyberGhost’s gaming servers, designed to provide low latency for an enhanced gaming experience. The service has introduced upgrades to infrastructure to support stable connections and strong encryption for gaming, ensuring you can game on without worrying about lags or security threats.

Privacy Policies and Ownership Transparency

CyberGhost’s policies clearly demonstrate its commitment to transparency and privacy. Its privacy policy is transparent about the types of user data collected, which includes an explicit statement that the service is not intended for children under sixteen without parental consent.

While CyberGhost publishes an annual transparency report detailing requests like subpoenas, it has not undergone an independent third-party audit since 2012. This lack of recent independent verification is a potential area of concern for some users.

Further, CyberGhost’s parent company, Kape Technologies, has a controversial past under its former name Crossrider. Despite rebranding to focus on cybersecurity, concerns persist regarding the company’s historic ties to adware and the implications for users of CyberGhost.

Additionally, potential legal disputes in UK courts could affect the sharing of user data between CyberGhost’s Romanian jurisdiction and its UK-based parent and US-based sibling companies.

Comparing CyberGhost to Other VPN Giants

CyberGhost impressively stands its ground when compared to other prominent VPN providers. It boasts the largest VPN server network offering a wider global reach compared to competitors like NordVPN and PIA.

In terms of speed, CyberGhost’s tests show it outperforming NordVPN and Surfshark in some cases, although it falls behind ExpressVPN’s speeds. However, its commitment to privacy, demonstrated by a strict no-logs policy, fares well against industry standards, although it may not offer as many advanced security features as NordVPN.

When it comes to pricing, CyberGhost is competitively priced, offering significant features and benefits at a lower cost than ExpressVPN and Proton VPN. This combination of extensive features, robust security, and competitive pricing makes CyberGhost a strong contender in the VPN market.

CyberGhost's Unique Offerings: What Sets It Apart

What makes CyberGhost stand out from the crowd? Firstly, it boasts a vast server network of over 11,500 in 100 countries, granting users a diverse range of VPN connection options globally, including access to regional streaming libraries.

The VPN service is tailored to support specific needs such as unblocking websites, securing better online deals, and ensuring private internet access across varying networks through its unique feature set. As an internet service provider, it provides specialized servers optimized to enhance performance for activities like torrenting and streaming, undergirded by industry-standard encryption for robust privacy protection.

Moreover, compared to competitors like TorGuard, CyberGhost offers a substantial advantage with nearly three times the server count. This, combined with the positive CyberGhost VPN review from users and critics alike, makes CyberGhost a VPN service worth considering.

Real User Experiences: Testimonials and Reviews

User testimonials and reviews provide valuable insights into a product’s performance and customer satisfaction. Surveys indicate that over 90% of CyberGhost users report positive experiences with the service.

One user, who has been with CyberGhost for over three years, reflects a strong level of trust in the service, noting that they haven’t considered switching to another provider. Users frequently cite seamless server connectivity and impressive speed performance as key factors in their positive reviews.

Another user highlighted how CyberGhost VPN’s ability to access geo-restricted content has been particularly beneficial for them during international travel. These testimonials reflect the positive user experiences and high level of trust in CyberGhost’s service.

Navigating Potential Drawbacks: Known Issues and Workarounds

Despite CyberGhost’s comprehensive and robust VPN service, users may occasionally run into some issues. These might include:

• The VPN failing to connect due to network problems

• Router errors

• App glitches

• Tunneling protocol issues

The good news is that most of these issues are easily resolved. Users can:

• Verify their internet access

• Check login credentials

• Switch servers

• Ensure that firewall, antivirus, or ISP is not blocking necessary ports to troubleshoot VPN connection problems

If unresolved, rebooting the device or contacting customer support are recommended steps.

For speed issues, users can verify their regular internet speed, consider their hardware’s capabilities, check for bandwidth caps from ISPs, and look for physical or wireless interferences affecting router performance. Optimizing VPN performance can involve upgrading hardware such as routers and devices, scanning for malware, updating operating systems, using Ethernet connections or upgrading Wi-Fi standards, and adjusting encryption protocols.

Summary

To sum up, CyberGhost stands out as a comprehensive and reliable VPN service, offering robust security measures, user-friendly interface, extensive server network, high-speed performance, and a competitive pricing strategy. It supports multiple platforms and offers unique privacy features, backed by responsive customer support. While there are some potential drawbacks and room for improvement, the positive user experiences, and the array of features make CyberGhost a worthy contender in the VPN market. Whether you’re a casual internet user, a dedicated streamer, or a global traveler, CyberGhost offers a secure and seamless online experience.