Mapping Corporate Ownership and Affiliations in the VPN Industry

The article explores the complex web of ownership and affiliations within the VPN industry, as detailed in a comprehensive map by Daniel Sobey-Harker, Community Manager at Windscribe. It reveals that ExpressVPN, acquired by Kape Technologies in 2019 for $936 million, is part of a network including Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Zenmate, all owned by Teddy Sagi via Unikmind Holdings. NordVPN and Surfshark, merged in 2022 under Nord Security, are controlled by Lithuanian founders, despite maintaining separate brands. The map also highlights paid affiliate relationships, with VPN companies paying commissions of 30-50% to promote their services, often through media sites like vpnMentor, owned by Kape. Key observations include security flaws in Surfshark’s Windows and Linux GUI, storing user data in plain text, and NordVPN’s potential class-action lawsuit over unethical cancellation practices. The article critiques shady marketing tactics, such as influencers exaggerating VPN capabilities, and notes the industry’s projected growth to $77 billion by 2026. Independent VPNs like Mullvad and IVPN are often overlooked by affiliate-driven review sites. The map, version 1.0, invites contributions for future iterations to enhance transparency.