Will Software Detect You’re Using Surfshark VPN? [Explained] (2024)

FAQs

Will Software Detect You’re Using Surfshark VPN? [Explained]? ›

They can't necessarily tell it's Surfshark specifically but can detect the signs of a VPN at work. Here's how they do it: IP Address Analysis: VPNs use a range of IP addresses that can be identified as belonging to a VPN provider if the company's IP ranges are known to the service you're accessing.

We don't keep logs of your online activity. That means Surfshark VPN doesn't track your online whereabouts or actions in any way.

Moreover, even if you use a personal VPN, your employer can still see that it is you who is connecting to the company network, as most corporate VPNs require user login credentials. Additionally, if you use the virtual desktop version of a browser, your employer may be able to monitor your browsing history.

A strict no-logs policy

To be private means to be private from everyone, including your VPN provider. Surfshark never tracks what you do online, meaning that no connection logs are kept aside from what is needed to keep your VPN tunnel up.

A VPN connection allows you to change your virtual location and hides your activity. As a result, you often get better deals when your VPN is on. Disclaimer: Please note that using Surfshark services for any illegal activities is strictly forbidden and constitutes a violation of our Terms of Service.

An obfuscated VPN server makes your VPN traffic look like any old regular internet traffic, and your provider can't see that you have privacy protection! Surfshark uses a modified version of the OpenVPN protocol to make our stealth VPN work.

You can't be tracked using a VPN because it encrypts your data. As a result, your ISP or bad actors can't get any information out of your traffic. They only see the VPN server's IP address (e.g. if you're connected to a US server, the US IP address is visible), while your real IP and online activities stay hidden.

Companies can often detect the presence of a VPN by using VPN detection tests that look at connection attributes like network volume, known IP addresses, and packet headers (namely pieces of data transmitted with the connection being made, not unlike an addressed envelope with a sending and return address).

Does a VPN make you anonymous? No, a VPN does not make you anonymous. In fact, no internet privacy tool can completely hide your online presence. A VPN can encrypt your data, shield your IP address, and even protect you from online trackers, but full anonymity isn't possible.

Get a dedicated IP address

Using one can make it harder for websites to detect and block your VPN connection. VPNs that offer dedicated IPs include: NordVPN. Surfshark.

Can Surfshark be detected? ›

If you want to minimize the chances of being detected while using Surfshark: Change Servers Regularly: Regularly switch between servers to avoid pattern recognition by services. Use Obfuscated Servers: If available, use servers that offer obfuscation to make your VPN traffic less detectable.

Concerningly, though, Surfshark does log the IP address of users connecting to its VPN. Most trustworthy VPNs don't do that. In Surfshark's defense, it deletes that information within 15 minutes after you disconnect. That was confirmed by a third-party auditing firm that evaluated Surfshark's servers.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) hides your IP address by replacing it with the IP of the VPN server you choose. All the data that your device sends or receives then goes via that server. For anyone online, the server's IP is your IP; the server's location is your location.

No, your employer can't track you if you are using a commercial VPN. But business VPNs function differently. If you're connected to a business VPN provided by your employer, they would probably be able to monitor you. Most business VPNs log employees' activities and do not guarantee anonymity from your employer.

In all these scenarios, your VPN keeps you safe by making your presence hard to detect and your data encrypted, so it's crucial to let it run continuously. Additionally, make sure you use a VPN with a kill switch feature, which instantly turns off your network connection should your VPN stop working.

Yes, your ISP can see your VPN server's IP address. But it can't see anything else. This means that your ISP can probably tell that you're using a VPN, but it cannot track your online activity, see the pages you visit, the files you download, or anything else you do on the internet.

No. Your data is encrypted, so your ISP can't see its contents. This includes DNS requests, which are sent through the VPN tunnel and resolved by the VPN provider. Your ISP can see the IP address of the VPN server you're connected to, but it can't see any connections made after that.

By connecting to a VPN server, you get a different IP address (that of the server) and encrypt your internet connection. The server's IP address replaces your original address, and the sites and services you visit will not know who you are unless you identify yourself.

As a result, it also hides your location, browsing history, searches, downloads, and any other activities, such as gaming or streaming. A VPN hides this information from bad actors, ISPs, websites, and even oppressive governments.