Obscura VPN, a new privacy-focused provider that claims to "outsmart internet censorship," has passed its first independent audit since launching in February of this year.
This is a key milestone for any VPN hoping to be the best VPN on the market, and is especially crucial for a product that promises to never log or even see user traffic.
What did the audit find?
The audit was conducted by German security firm Cure53, which reviewed Obscura VPN's macOS app, a network extension, and custom VPN protocol. The findings revealed no high- or critical-severity vulnerabilities. A few low-impact bugs were discovered and have since been addressed.
"It is evident that the Obscura team has gone the extra mile to prevent sensitive information from being processed, let alone leaked," Cure53 noted in its full report.
The result helps bolster Obscura VPN's bold claim that it's the first VPN built to make user surveillance impossible by design.
Its dedication to user privacy does rival that of the most private VPNs. Users can sign up anonymously, without an email address, and log in using a randomized account number. The app collects no IP addresses, and payments can be made via Bitcoin's Lightning Network for added privacy.
ObscuraVPN is built for security
Cure53 also highlighted Obscura's technical foundations, noting its use of memory-safe, statically typed languages: an approach that reduces memory-related vulnerabilities. The audit praised Obscura's minimal data handling practices, designed to limit exposure even if the system were compromised.
Obscura VPN routes traffic through two separate providers using a multi-hop design. The entry server is operated by Obscura VPN, while the exit node is run by Mullvad VPN, meaning no single provider has full visibility into both your identity and activity.
Its source code is open on GitHub, and the macOS app displays the exit node's public key for verification.
Currently available on macOS only, Obscura VPN is still building out its server network and feature set, but the clean audit gives it a solid foundation with privacy-first users.
Although still a newcomer, Obscura VPN is actively positioning itself as a long-term contender in the privacy space. Its architecture reflects growing demand for VPNs that don't just claim no-logs policies, but make data collection technically impossible.
With its clean audit, open-source transparency, and multi-hop partnership with Mullvad, Obscura VPN appeals directly to users seeking censorship resistance and independent verification.
As the service expands to new platforms and regions, its uncompromising privacy model could set a new bar for the VPN industry.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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