# SurfShark

SurfShark is a cybersecurity company established in 2018 and based in the Netherlands. It launched its first product, a Surfshark VPN in the same year. Surfshark also has a data leak detection system Surfshark Alert, a private search tool known Surfshark Search, an antivirus, a personal data removal service, a credential generator Alternative ID, and a Dedicated IP service.
In 2022, SurfShark and Nord Security merged under one holding company.

## History

SurfShark was launched in 2018 when it introduced its first VPN application. In 2019, Surfshark launched Surfshark Alert & Surfshark Search and received an official seal of approval granted by an independent IT-Security Institute AV-TEST.
In 2020, Surfshark moved to 100% RAM-only servers, introduced the WireGuard protocol, and became a founding member of the VPN Trust Initiative. In 2021, Surfshark was named Best VPN by the Trusted Reviews Awards, as well as the PCMag Editor's Choice award. Surfshark also successfully passed an external audit by Cure53. In the same year, Surfshark launched Surfshark Antivirus & Incogni. In mid-2021, Surfshark began merging with Nord Security, the parent company of NordVPN. The merger was finalized in early 2022, with both brands continuing to operate independently.
In August 2022, SurfShark exclusively partnered with digital rights watchdog NetBlocks for greater reporting on internet shutdowns. Later, in 2022, Surfshark closed its physical servers in India in response to CERT-In's (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) order for VPN companies to store consumers' personal data for five years. Later that year, Surfshark released Linux GUI, and Surfshark Nexus, a technology that connects all of Surfshark's VPN servers into one network. In 2023, Surfshark launched its Dedicated IP and Alternative ID services.
In March 2024, Surfshark was ranked 47th in the Financial Times 1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies list. Surfshark also ranked 8th in the IT & Software category of the same FT-Statista annual ranking list.

## Technology

In December 2019, SurfShark implemented GPS-Spoofing for Android, letting users change their device's physical geolocation to one of the server's locations. That same year, Surfshark launched Surfshark Alert and Surfshark Search.
SurfShark uses IKEv2, OpenVPN, and WireGuard connection protocols in its applications. All data transferred via Surfshark servers is encrypted using an AES-256-GCM encryption standard.
In May 2022, Surfshark announced Linux GUI, added real-time protection to Surfshark Antivirus & added a pause feature to the VPN app. In August 2022, Surfshark added a manual WireGuard connection feature.

## Research

In 2019, Surfshark released the first Digital Quality of Life index, a study evaluating the digital wellbeing of countries worldwide. The research is updated yearly, and the best-performing countries are selected based on internet affordability, internet quality, electronic infrastructure, electronic security, and electronic government.
Surfshark is one of the founding members of the VPN Trust Initiative (VTI), which was established in 2020. In August 2022, Surfshark collaborated with an internet monitoring organization, NetBlocks, to bring awareness and spread the news of worldwide internet disruptions. Surfshark also collaborated with The Internet Society to spread awareness about Splinternet and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to discuss surveillance technologies.
In 2023, Surfshark launched the Emergency VPN program and provided VPN subscriptions to journalists, activists, NGO representatives, and journalists working under harsh conditions.