Understanding VPN Audits — What They Mean for Your Privacy

Types of VPN Audits

No-Logs Policy Audits

These verify that the VPN provider’s systems actually work as described in their privacy policy. An auditor examines server configurations, data collection points, and logging infrastructure. Key: The audit should confirm that no user-identifying data is stored.

Security Audits

Penetration tests of VPN applications, server infrastructure, and cryptographic implementations. These verify that the VPN’s security claims are technically sound. Key: Look for specific vulnerability findings and whether they were fixed.

Source Code Audits

Review of the VPN application’s source code for security issues and backdoors. Key: Only meaningful if the application is actually built from the audited source code.

What to Look For in an Audit Report

1. Auditor reputation — PwC, Deloitte, Cure53, Assured AB, and SEC Consult are reputable.
2. Scope clarity — The report should clearly state what was and wasn’t tested.
3. Methodology — Detailed description of testing methods used.
4. Findings — Real audits find issues; no findings at all is suspicious.
5. Remediation — Were identified issues fixed, and was the fix verified?

Red Flags

• “We were audited” with no report published
• Self-audits or “we reviewed our own code”
• Audit scope limited to marketing claims
• No follow-up audits after initial engagement
• Audits that only cover a small component (browser extension) while claiming “fully audited”