- Surfshark was independently tested using “real world” attack scenarios
- SecuRing found no critical vulnerabilities or high-risk issues
- A minor SSL/TLS configuration issue was identified and resolved promptly
Independent auditors have confirmed that the technical infrastructure behind Surfshark, which consistently ranks as a top contender in our best VPN guide, complies with the highest security standards.
Conducted by external cybersecurity firm SecuRing, the comprehensive security assessment was designed to verify the resilience of Surfshark’s network against sophisticated real-world cyber attacks. The auditors were tasked with identifying potential weaknesses in the design, configuration and maintenance of the servers that keep user data private.
The results appear to confirm Surfshark’s internal security protocols. SecuRing’s report confirmed that no critical vulnerabilities were found, nor were there any high-risk issues that could affect user security. The test also confirmed that the infrastructure has strong protection against the specific attack scenarios used during the assessment.
Stress test in the real world
For the average user, the “black box” nature of this review is particularly reassuring. Instead of inspecting code with a wizard to help them, the auditors attacked the system from the outside, just as a malicious hacker would.
Tomas Stamulis, Chief Security Officer at Surfshark, explained that the test mirrored real attack scenarios to simulate external attackers compromising the network. “It was carried out without any privileged credentials, inside knowledge or special access,” he added.
The aim was to ensure that no stone was left unturned.
“With this, we wanted to ensure that unauthorized users cannot access our infrastructure, client data always remains protected, servers cannot be interrupted for our clients, security misconfigurations cannot occur, and potential weaknesses are noted immediately before they can be exploited,” said Stamulis.
While no critical vulnerabilities or high-risk issues were found, the audit did uncover one area for improvement: a single, minor SSL/TLS configuration issue. However, Surfshark confirmed that this was “quickly resolved.”
Transparency regarding minor fixes is often seen as a positive sign in the cybersecurity community, as no complex system is ever perfectly secure 100% of the time. The willingness to find, fix and publicize these minor errors is what separates premium vendors from budget options that hide behind marketing jargon.
“Digital security is constantly under the radar of bad actors, and an independent audit examining our security systems is a critical part of building trust and ensuring transparency, allowing us to identify and implement minor improvements,” Stamulis said.
Why it matters
This isn’t Surfshark’s first transparency rodeo. We previously covered how Surfshark reaffirmed its commitment to user privacy with another no-log audit in June, proving that the provider does not store user data.
However, an infrastructure audit is a different animal. While an audit without logs verifies that the company will not spy on you, an infrastructure audit verifies that a third party cannot break in to spy on you.
By inviting SecuRing to attack its systems without “special access”, Surfshark effectively put its defensive capabilities to a stress test.
This latest move brings Surfshark in line with the broader industry trend toward “security by verification” rather than “security by trust.” Major competitors like NordVPN and ExpressVPN also participate in regular third-party tests to validate their claims.
For Surfshark, this specific infrastructure audit serves as tangible proof that their server network is not just fast, but hardened against intrusion.
“The successful completion of this infrastructure audit highlights once again that our systems conform to the highest security standards, providing tangible proof to our users that the services they use are protected,” concludes Stamulis.
Users who want to dive into the technical details can read the detailed version of the SecuRing audit report here.
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