For example: Google Translate or DeepL, to translate from my language to English.
PERSONAL OBSERVATION OF ADGUARD VPN AND PROTONVPN - BOTH PARTIAL
In the same post, I will include both products and be bluntly direct. I completely ignore the reviews of typical websites, there is too much copy and paste, therefore, I focus on myself and not on third parties.
Before the end, I will integrate an important message.
ADGUARD VPN SESSION:
- The improvement in server response and ping is notable. Such as: Chile and Argentina.
- Good ping performance in multiplayer online game.
- The quic protocol requires performance optimization.
- There are no changes to the terms and policies yet. I am not responsible if something happens to the company later, I have already informed them about the matter and they assume all the consequences according to the circumstances.
Probable vulnerability: In the privacy policy using the application on Android, it uses tokens to connect to AdGuard servers and the application reveals the tokens in the session called: diagnostic data. Here, two questions arise for me: is it possible to connect to the AdGuard servers with the modified protocol published by the same company using the tokens? What happens if someone malicious manages to infiltrate the system no matter where, how, etc., captures the tokens and makes malicious use on behalf of the account owner?
The two previous questions arise: is it possible to do it? How does the AdGuard company explain measures against external abuse if they arise? Will they be the real tokens that are shown in the diagnostic data to connect to the servers?
PROTONVPN SESSION:
- Too many virtual servers, such as: Brazil. They use the provider M247 Europe SRL and are located in the United States, instead of being nearby to have lower latency in the area. A big disadvantage.
- NetShield is very good, however, it needs to block more domains, such as: Sentry, Reddit, Tiktok, etc. It would be ideal if it had an IP blocker integrated within the server, not at the DNS level, because domains do not block IPs and this will help block IPs that operating systems connect to servers to send data without the person’s authorization, for example. Both IP and domain, is an even greater unified strength for this module.
- The Secure Core servers are quite useful, however, the description in the application where you touch “INFORMATION”, two words appear: Maximum security. The basic question that arises about “maximum security” is: why doesn’t the article on your website mention the same thing as maximum security? A rather serious contradiction. The article on the website states, contradicting itself: “While there is no such thing as 100% security, Secure Core is just one of the many ways Proton VPN delivers better security and privacy by protecting against complex attacks other VPNs cannot defend against.”
- When changing countries, there is a small gap where the service stops protecting in real time due to the change in the Android system. Immediate solution is required.
- The terms of service in point 5 (SLA) is the only thing I liked, it is worth noting.
Important: I have not applied exhaustive observation, the above mentioned may or may not change, companies are responsible for protecting the people who use their services and people are responsible for what they do on the internet using their services.
Conclusion: Here ends my observation about AdGuard, every decision that people make based on my experience has to take into account the following: do not trust any company, including other industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, etc… because I use typical patterns that I already know about them at a technological level and I use reasoning to detect the most complex emergencies possible to have a balance without affecting myself and have peace of mind when doing these things.
My work is done, time runs its course and will reveal the most important thing if it happens.
Some people may wonder: will I continue using AdGuard VPN? It depends. I like the ad blocker app and other features because I have more control thanks to its features that no VPN app offers. If Mullvad company offered servers with HTTPS protocol that supports the AdGuard application, I would use it together, without using AdGuard VPN.
End of my observation.
FINAL DECISION: DELETE PERSONAL ADGUARD ACCOUNT AND PROTONVPN DELETED - (BOTH PERMANENT)
For obvious reasons, the current evidence reveals more than one might expect, and you don’t need to be an expert to see it.
I will hold two sessions to make it clear to everyone reading this so they can make an informed decision about whether or not to use these products:
ADGUARD SESSION
I acknowledge that AdGuard has a very decent ad blocker, tracker blocker, and other integrated features (I’m not talking about DNS, VPN, etc.), and it’s something I like because it helps me a lot, and so far, I don’t know of any other product as powerful as this one.
1. Technical support is too generic. I recently sent an email to support, received an automated reply with a ticket number, and no one responded. I sent another email regarding the same ticket—nothing, total silence.
2. Improvements are noticeable on the Chile server, but no one knows what will happen tomorrow. I’m not getting my hopes up. (I use the VPN.)
3. As far as I can tell (as of today while writing this message), there have been no changes to the privacy policy.
4. No one has answered my question yet about whether the DDoS protection is real or not.
5. On the StackSocial platform, there’s an offer for 5 years of their own VPN for $34.97. How do they sustain this in the long term? What’s behind the scenes that we can’t see? Among other questions. Suspicious.
My trust level is dynamic, and I have now decided to set it to permanently zero. Monitoring of AdGuard is a low priority or nonexistent.
PROTONVPN SESSION
The only feature I appreciate and find worthwhile in this product is NetShield, although it could use some improvements.
1. Too many virtual servers located in the United States, high latency, and according to Proton’s argument: “better infrastructure.” This ties in perfectly with the company’s Meet product.
2. Proton’s Meet product uses infrastructure in the United States; this further reduced my trust in this company, as they don’t have their own infrastructure for users. The new AI model called Claude Mythos Preview can be used by authorized individuals to search for “vulnerabilities” in encryption systems—if any exist—to silently spy on people (if it happens and no one finds out). The United States’ track record and behavior are public knowledge; this isn’t something I’m making up. And this could work against Meet, for example.
3. They’re very slow to improve current features. They release so many products, some of which offer little utility, instead of focusing on improving the main ones like their VPN. Major drawback.
Permanently deleted. My trust in Proton and its entire ecosystem is zero. Disappointing.
I will never return.
Both companies, one decision: permanently deleted, zero trust, and end of story. This record will remain as a document for those who are interested and seeking information.
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4 posts were merged into an existing topic: Proton Meet Isn’t What They Told You It Was