Every VPN claims to be "no-logs." Every VPN promises your data is safe. But how do you know they're telling the truth?
The answer: third-party security audits. Independent firms examine the VPN's code, servers, and policies to verify their claims. It's the closest thing we have to proof in an industry built on trust.
But here's what most comparison sites won't tell you: not all audits are equal, and some VPNs haven't been audited in nearly a decade.
We analyzed the audit history of 14 major VPN providers. The results reveal which companies back up their privacy claims—and which are coasting on outdated credentials.
In This Report
What Is a VPN Security Audit?
A VPN security audit is when an independent cybersecurity firm examines a VPN provider's:
- Infrastructure — Servers, network architecture, data handling
- Code — Applications, encryption implementation, potential vulnerabilities
- Policies — Privacy policy accuracy, logging practices, data retention
The auditor then publishes a report (or summary) of their findings. If the VPN passes, it means an independent expert verified their claims at a specific point in time.
Important Caveat
An audit is a snapshot, not a guarantee. A VPN that passed an audit in 2022 could have changed their practices since. That's why recent audits matter more than old ones, and repeated audits matter most of all.
Types of Audits
🔒 No-Logs Audit
Verifies the VPN doesn't store user activity data. The most common type—checks server configs, data policies, and actual logging behavior.
🛡️ Security/Penetration Test
Tests for vulnerabilities in apps and infrastructure. Auditors try to hack in, find weaknesses, and verify encryption works correctly.
📋 SOC 2 Type II
Comprehensive organizational audit covering security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. The "gold standard" but rare for consumer VPNs.
💻 Open Source Review
When a VPN's code is publicly available, security researchers can (and do) continuously audit it. More eyes = more accountability.
Complete VPN Audit Status (2025)
Here's every major VPN's audit history, sorted by most recent audit date:
| VPN Provider | Last Audit | Auditor | Type | Total Audits | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | Feb 2025 | KPMG | No-Logs | 23+ | ✓ Current |
| ProtonVPN | 2025 | Securitum | SOC 2 Type II | 3+ | ✓ Current |
| NordVPN | Late 2024 | Deloitte | No-Logs | 5 | ✓ Current |
| Surfshark | 2024 | Deloitte | No-Logs | 3 | ✓ Current |
| CyberGhost | 2024 | Deloitte | No-Logs | 2 | ✓ Current |
| PIA | Aug 2024 | Deloitte | No-Logs | 2 | ✓ Current |
| IPVanish | 2024 | Leviathan Security | No-Logs | 1 | ✓ Current |
| Mullvad | 2023 | Cure53, Assured AB | Infrastructure | 2+ | ✓ Current |
| TunnelBear | 2023 | Cure53 | Security | 6 | ✓ Current |
| VyprVPN | 2018 | Leviathan Security | No-Logs | 1 | ⚠ Outdated |
| Hide.me | 2015 | DefenseCode | Security | 1 | ⚠ 10 Years Old |
| Hotspot Shield | None Public | — | — | 0 | ✗ None |
Recently Audited VPNs (2024-2025)
These VPNs have been independently verified within the past 18 months:
ExpressVPN
23+ independent audits make ExpressVPN the most scrutinized VPN in the industry.
Audit Highlights:
- • TrustedServer technology verified — servers run on RAM only, no hard drives
- • No-logs policy confirmed by multiple Big Four auditors (KPMG, PwC)
- • Lightway protocol code audited by Cure53
- • Browser extensions audited separately
NordVPN
Five no-logs audits from Deloitte (Big Four) demonstrate consistent commitment to verification.
Audit Highlights:
- • No-logs claims verified five times since 2018
- • Server infrastructure examined
- • NordLynx (WireGuard) protocol reviewed
- • Real-world data requests tested — no user data available to provide
ProtonVPN
Achieved the gold standard SOC 2 Type II certification — rare for consumer VPNs.
Why SOC 2 Matters:
- • Covers security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, AND privacy
- • Type II means auditors observed operations over time (not just a point-in-time check)
- • Swiss jurisdiction adds legal privacy protections
- • All apps are open source — anyone can review the code
Private Internet Access
Beyond audits, PIA's no-logs policy has been tested in actual court cases — twice.
Legal Verification:
- • 2016: FBI subpoenaed PIA for user data — company had nothing to provide
- • 2018: Second court case confirmed no logs existed
- • 2024 Deloitte audit provides formal third-party verification
- • All apps are open source
⚠️ Outdated Audits: Red Flags
Some VPNs still advertise "audited" status based on examinations from 5-10 years ago. A lot can change in that time.
Why Old Audits Are Meaningless
A VPN audited in 2015 has likely changed ownership, rebuilt infrastructure, updated code, and modified policies dozens of times. That decade-old audit tells you nothing about today's service.
VyprVPN
Last audited in 2018 by Leviathan Security. No public audit in 7 years.
Concerns:
- • The 2018 audit was legitimate and thorough at the time
- • However, VyprVPN has changed ownership (now Certida/Golden Frog)
- • Infrastructure and apps have been rebuilt multiple times since
- • No indication of plans for a new audit
Hide.me
Last audit in 2015 by DefenseCode. A decade without independent verification.
Concerns:
- • 2015 audit predates WireGuard protocol (which Hide.me now uses)
- • The entire VPN industry has transformed since then
- • Competitors conduct annual or bi-annual audits
- • No explanation for why they haven't sought re-verification
The Mullvad Police Raid: Real-World Proof
In April 2023, something happened that no audit can replicate: Swedish police raided Mullvad's offices with a search warrant.
What Happened
Police arrived at Mullvad's headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, seeking customer data as part of an international investigation. They had a valid warrant.
What they found: Nothing.
Mullvad doesn't collect customer data. No names, no emails, no payment info linked to accounts. There was literally nothing to seize. Police left empty-handed.
This is the ultimate test of a "no-logs" policy. Not a hired auditor examining servers — actual law enforcement with legal authority to seize everything, finding nothing.
Mullvad published a detailed blog post about the incident, demonstrating the transparency that defines their brand.
What Audits Don't Tell You
Audits are valuable but imperfect. Here's what they can't verify:
❌ Future Behavior
An audit verifies what a company did, not what they'll do. Policies can change the day after an audit.
❌ Secret Government Orders
In some jurisdictions, companies can be compelled to log data secretly. Audits can't detect what governments force providers to hide.
❌ Infrastructure Changes
VPNs constantly add servers and update systems. An audit covers a snapshot; new infrastructure might not be configured the same way.
❌ Ownership Intentions
Who owns the company matters. Kape Technologies owns ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and PIA — three "competitors." Audits don't assess corporate motives.
What to Look For in VPN Audits
✅ Green Flags
- ✓ Multiple audits over time — One audit can be gamed; consistent verification over years is harder to fake
- ✓ Big Four auditors — Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, and EY have reputations to protect
- ✓ Recent audits (within 2 years) — Technology and threats evolve fast
- ✓ Open source code — Continuous public scrutiny beats periodic private audits
- ✓ Published full reports — Summaries can hide issues; full reports show everything
🚩 Red Flags
- ✗ Audits older than 3 years — The industry moves too fast for ancient verification to matter
- ✗ Unknown auditors — If you can't find information about the auditing firm, be skeptical
- ✗ "Audit pending" for years — Some VPNs promise audits that never materialize
- ✗ Only marketing summaries — If they won't release the actual audit report, what are they hiding?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which VPN has the most audits?
ExpressVPN with 23+ independent audits. They've been verified by KPMG, PwC, Cure53, and others — covering their apps, protocols, infrastructure, and no-logs policy.
Does an audit guarantee my privacy?
No. Audits verify practices at a specific point in time. They can't predict future behavior or detect secret government orders. Audits are one piece of evidence — look for multiple audits, open source code, and jurisdiction protections.
What's better: audits or open source?
Both serve different purposes. Open source allows continuous community scrutiny of code. Audits verify infrastructure, policies, and actual server configurations that code doesn't show. The best VPNs (like ProtonVPN and PIA) have both.
Why hasn't [VPN] been audited recently?
Audits are expensive ($50,000-$500,000+) and time-consuming. Some VPNs prioritize marketing over verification. Others may have something to hide. If a VPN hasn't been audited in years despite competitors doing annual audits, ask why.
The Bottom Line
In an industry where every company claims to protect your privacy, third-party audits separate the credible from the questionable.
Our top picks for verified privacy:
- ExpressVPN — 23+ audits, the most scrutinized VPN in existence
- ProtonVPN — SOC 2 Type II (gold standard) + fully open source
- NordVPN — 5 Deloitte audits, consistent verification over years
- Mullvad — Police raid proved their no-logs claims better than any audit could
- PIA — Court-tested twice + Deloitte audit + open source
VPNs we're cautious about:
- VyprVPN — 7-year-old audit, no recent verification
- Hide.me — 10-year-old audit is essentially meaningless today
- Hotspot Shield — No public audit despite being a major provider
Don't just take a VPN's word for it. Look for proof.