Developer(s) | Mullvad VPN AB[1] |
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Initial release | March 2009; 11 years ago |
Repository | github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app |
Written in |
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Operating system | |
Type | Virtual private network |
License | GPLv3[3] |
Website | mullvad.net |
Mullvad accepts PayPal, major credit cards, Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. If you pay with Bitcoin, you can receive a ten percent discount due to the lower fees and less need for admin. Mullvad has a 30-day money back guarantee, but it cannot honor the guarantee to users who use cash due to anti-money laundering regulations. Mullvad is a Swedish-based VPN network, which means it is subject to this jurisdiction’s privacy laws. In Sweden, VPN providers are not required by law to track and store any user data. Mullvad has remained steadfast in its mission of upholding the right to universal privacy.
Mullvad is an open-source[4]commercialvirtual private network (VPN) service based in Sweden. Launched in March 2009, Mullvad operates using the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols. Mullvad accepts Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash for subscriptions in addition to conventional payment methods. Whats paint for mac.
Mullvad was launched in March 2009 by Amagicom AB.[5]
Mullvad began supporting connections via the OpenVPN protocol in 2009.[6] Mullvad was an early adopter and supporter of the WireGuard protocol, announcing the availability of the new VPN protocol in March 2017[7] and making a 'generous donation' supporting WireGuard development between July and December 2017.[8]
In October 2019, Mullvad partnered with Mozilla.[9] According to Mozilla, their upcoming VPN service, Mozilla VPN, would utilize Mullvad's WireGuard servers.[10]
In April 2020, Mullvad partnered with Malwarebytes and provides WireGuard servers for their VPN service, Malwarebytes Privacy.[11]
As of October 2020, Mullvad's server list showed details for 775 server locations across 35 countries (58 cities).[12]
Mac torrent download software. A TechRadar review notes that 'Mullvad's core service is powerful, up-to-date, and absolutely stuffed with high-end technologies.'[4] Complementing its use of the open-source OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols, Mullvad includes 'industrial strength' encryption (employing AES-256GCM methodology), 4096-bit RSA certificates with SHA512 for server authentication, perfect forward secrecy, 'multiple layers' of DNS leak protection, IPv6 leak protection, 'multiple stealth options' to help bypass government or corporate VPN blocking, and built in support for port forwarding.[4]
Mullvad provides VPN client applications for computers running under Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems. As of April 2020, native iOS and Android Mullvad VPN clients using the WireGuard protocol are available.[13] iOS and Android mobile operating system users can also configure and use built-in VPN clients or the OpenVPN or WireGuard apps to access Mullvad's service.[14]
No email address or other identifying information is requested during Mullvad's registration process. Rather, a unique 16-digit account number is anonymously generated for each new user. This account number is henceforth used to log in to the Mullvad service.[15]
To help ensure the privacy of its users, Mullvad accepts the anonymous payment methods of cash, Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. (Payment for the service can also be made via bank wire transfer, credit card, PayPal, and Swish).[4][16]
For users of its VPN service, Mullvad's no-logging policy precludes logging of: the user's IP address, the VPN IP address used, browsing activity, bandwidth, connections, session duration, timestamps, and DNS requests.[4][15] The TechRadar review notes that 'The end result of all this is you don't have to worry about how Mullvad handles court requests to access your usage data, because, well, there isn't any.'[4]
While Mullvad has been noted for taking a strong approach to privacy and maintaining good connection speeds, the VPN client setup and interface has been noted as being more onerous and technically involved than some other VPN providers especially on some client platforms.[17] However, a follow-up review by the same source in October 2018 notes, 'Mullvad has a much improved, modern Windows client (and one for Mac, too).' This more recent PC World review concludes, 'With its commitment to privacy, anonymity (as close as you can realistically get online), and performance Mullvad remains our top recommendation for a VPN service.'[14]
In November 2018, TechRadar noted Mullvad as one of five VPN providers to answer to a set of trustworthiness questions posed by the Center for Democracy and Technology.[18][19] In March 2019, a TechRadar review noted slightly substandard speeds.[16] However, a more recent and more thorough TechRadar review dated June 11, 2019 stated that 'speeds are excellent.'[4] The latter review notes a shortcoming for mobile users in that, as of June 2019, Mullvad provides no mobile VPN client apps. Therefore VPN service on mobile devices must be set up manually, as guided by tutorials on the Mullvad support web pages.[4]
The non-profit Freedom of the Press Foundation, in their 'Choosing a VPN” guide, lists Mullvad amongst the four VPNs that meet their recommended settings and features for VPN use as a tool for protecting online activity.[20]
The non-profit organization Privacytools.io has developed a comprehensive list of VPN Provider Criteria in order to objectively recommend VPNs. As of June 2020, only three VPNs had fulfilled those criteria.[21] Mullvad is one of those three recommended VPN services.
As a result, everything surrounding Mullvad VPN is getting shuffled into a newly created daughter company aptly called Mullvad VPN AB.
Amagicom is 100% owned by founders Fredrik Strömberg and Daniel Berntsson who are actively involved in the company.
About our trusted partner: Firefox Private Network [..] is a VPN built by Firefox using global WireGuard servers provided by Mullvad, which has committed not to keep logs of any kind.