How it works
We provide servers around the world to relay your internet data. When a device is set up to use it, it will send everything through our servers, hiding your original location and ensuring your access is uncorrupted.
The connection between the two is fully encrypted, ensuring no one between you and our server can eavesdrop on the content or destination, modify the exchanged data, or selectively filter or throttle connections.
To the receiving end (sites you visit), you will appear as using the server's shared IP address, keeping your own IP address private and preventing it from being used to locate or identify you.
You can choose the server, optimizing for latency, speed, or the location itself.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is built over existing physical networks to unify or separate them, usually implying strong encryption and authentication. In the way we use it, it is also called a proxy server, but nomenclature varies depending on the tools used.
Who runs this and why
This service is operated by Cognitive Cryptography, a small non-profit organization established in France in 2013 to promote freedom, privacy, and safety of Internet communication with affordable services.
Thanks to its non-profit status, the trust you grant us (and the data we are trusted with) is not for sale.
Our mission is to protect your data and privacy, and we do it because we believe it's important and needed.
Our service isn't the fanciest, but we have been doing it honestly and (mostly) reliably for more than a decade without selling out or betraying your trust.
...and you won't have to listen to our ads in your favorite videos!!
What you can expect from us
Anonymity
We will not ask for your name, and we let you pay in cryptocurrencies.
Our service will do its best to hide your IP address from websites you browse and peers you connect to.
Privacy
As per our Privacy Policy, we do not monitor your activities over the VPN and only keep a very minimal amount of data.
These usually aren't sufficient to retroactively match users of our VPN to specific communications made using our servers.
Nearly Unlimited
We do not limit speed or bill you for data transfer. Our servers can provide 1Gbps in bursts. You are allowed up to 10 parallel devices or connections per account. You are not forbidden from sharing it, but we recommend against it.
Less Censorship
ISPs are easily pressured into blocking arbitrary websites, and many other internet access points have complicated constraints. Our VPN servers offer unfiltered DNS access and don't intercept your data.
Not bulletproof
No VPN service can give you immunity. A sufficiently powerful opponent will seize and watch any cable or server.
Anonymity, security, and privacy are ongoing collaborative efforts, and defenses are best layered.
Sibling Websites
We have an alternative site to bring new colors and a new name:
obscur.network
Sharing the same structure and database, you can log in with the same account and keep any existing subscription.
The last site you use will be remembered as your favorite, and emails sent to you will lead to it.
Maybe we will have more in the future, let us know if you have fun ideas!
Evolutions and Contributions
We are often asked to add servers, locations, and features. Most of the time we would love to, but we simply don't have the resources to do it at the moment.
Your suggestions are always welcome though, and will help us know what to focus on next.
If you would like to help, please contact us!
We are currently looking for:
- Support & communication staff: to answer tickets, reply to emails, moderate a forum, etc.
- Administrative staff: to join our board, represent us legally, handle accounting, or establish structures in other countries.
- Advertisement: we do not pay for ads, but if you like our service, we always appreciate spreading the word.
- Affordable dedicated servers or VPS from reputable providers, with 1Gbps+, unlimited traffic, and decent peering.