Latest news with #Lightway
Tom's Guide
01-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
Opera VPN Pro update adds new locations and ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol
In an upgrade to Opera VPN Pro, the browser company has added ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol to its premium VPN service. The open-source protocol is seen as an industry leader and matches top competitors for speed and security. Previously, Lightway was only available if you used ExpressVPN. Despite being open source, the resistance of many of the best VPNs to be linked with one another has slowed its uptake. The addition, conducted in collaboration with ExpressVPN, comes alongside several other improvements to the VPN Pro package, including infrastructure upgrades for connectivity and to enhance the server network. This overhaul includes a significant upgrade to Opera VPN Pro's infrastructure. Its 3,000 servers now deliver connections of up to 10Gbps, and the network has expanded from 33 locations to 48 (including servers in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, and Japan). This, alongside the adoption of the Lightway protocol, should deliver faster, more reliable connection speeds, while the wider range of server locations will give global users more choice and the ability to find servers that are closer to their real location. The upgrade will be rolled out automatically for desktop users, while mobile users will be sent a notification to update the Opera app to get the new features. The Lightway VPN protocol was created by ExpressVPN and launched in 2020. To date, the protocol has been exclusive to the premium VPN provider, and it has been a selling point for the provider's relatively expensive plans. VPN protocols manage the connection between the VPN app on your device and the VPN server, and enable you to use the internet securely and anonymously. Reliable VPN protocols ensure your information is safely encrypted while minimising the impact on your connection speed. Alongside popular protocols such as OpenVPN and WireGuard, which are generally offered by the best VPNs, providers like NordVPN and Hotspot Shield have their own proprietary solutions in the form of NordLynx and Catapult Hydra, respectively. Lightway is regarded as one of the best VPN protocols on the market today. It is open source, meaning that the user community can inspect its code and report on issues and vulnerabilities. It also has a much smaller codebase than other options, running to just 2,000 lines of code, making it simple to audit, maintain, and develop for. The protocol itself has been independently audited twice, confirming the effectiveness of its security, and the fact that Lightway is built in the Rust programming language further adds to its efficiency, enabling it to deliver high performance without impacting the battery life of your device. Commenting on the addition of the Lightway protocol to VPN Pro, an Oracle representative said, "Lightway aligns with our focus on continuing to improve VPN Pro... [It] boasts improved speed and reliability and works especially well on mobile devices where it offers reduced latency and better battery life." The protocol also incorporates post-quantum protection, anticipating future threats that will have the bandwidth to beat current encryption technology. This was another draw for Opera, and they noted the importance of the fact that Lightway "can help [Opera] future-proof VPN Pro for our users today." The VPN Pro implementation of Lightway does not integrate the 2025 Lightway Turbo update, however, which routes VPN traffic via multiple tunnels for increased connection speeds. VPN Pro provides up to six simultaneous connections for Windows, Mac, and Android devices via Opera One, Opera GX, and Opera for Android. Opera users can also access the provider's more limited free VPN service, which is included with the browser. The provider has an audited no-logs policy and commits not to collect or store personal information or data on users' browsing activity. Looking ahead, Opera has a roadmap of VPN product improvements based on community feedback and states that it plans to release more updates in the near future. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Tom's Guide
26-06-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
ExpressVPN reasserts its privacy claims with third no-logs audit
ExpressVPN has completed a third audit of its no-logs policy and TrustedServer system. The provider, one of the best VPNs, is known for its privacy credentials and these were proven in this audit. KPMG LLP examined ExpressVPN's privacy policy and TrustedServer technology and "reasonable assurance" was provided that ExpressVPN does not collect activity or connection logs. A verified no-logs policy is a must-have for the most private VPNs and Windscribe's recent court case proved just how important they are. ExpressVPN says its "technology is engineered so that activity logs and connection logs are never retained." KPMG assessed these claims by examining ExpressVPN's TrustedServer technology and its privacy policy. The assessment was conducted under the globally recognized International Standards on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) (UK) 3000 Type 1. TrustedServer's design means it prevents log collection. No-logging is built into the technology and the process is constantly reviewed. The servers regularly reboot, and any accumulated data is forgotten. KPMG confirmed that no personally identifiable information, such as a user's IP address, is logged on the server, or exported from the server in any way. The firm provided "reasonable assurance" that TrustedServer "does not collect logs of users' activity, including no logging of browsing history, traffic destination, data content, DNS queries, or specific connection logs." No issues were identified. KPMG confirmed the results aligned with ExpressVPN's no-logs policy and users were protected. These claims were true as of 28 February 2025 and KPMG's full assessment report is available to read. ExpressVPN says it makes continuous efforts to validate its privacy promises and regular independent audits are essential for this. "Independent assurance isn't just a checkbox for us – it's fundamental in our efforts towards trust and transparency," said Aaron Engel, Chief Information Security Officer at ExpressVPN. "Having KPMG evaluate our technologies and assess our privacy protections again demonstrates our unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of user privacy protection." Engel added that "by subjecting our systems to rigorous third-party scrutiny, we're not just verifying our current protections – we're establishing a standard for accountability that we hope will raise the bar across the entire VPN industry." ExpressVPN has published 23 third-party audits and it recently commissioned two assessments of its Lightway protocol. Lightway has been remade in Rust to make it even faster and more secure. Cure53 and Praetorian completed the assessments and positive results were found – low-risk findings were immediately addressed by ExpressVPN. The Lightway protocol also fully supports post-quantum encryption, meaning ExpressVPN users can protect their devices with the highest standards of security. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Tom's Guide
23-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
Dark mode comes to ExpressVPN – here's how to get it
ExpressVPN has unveiled its new Themes feature for its iOS and Android apps. The app can now be viewed in dark mode, something ExpressVPN described as "much anticipated." The provider's UI makes it one of the best VPNs out there and these updates give users a more customizable VPN experience. The new features follow an overhaul of the ExpressVPN UI back in May. Amongst other updates, the app was redesigned to include a map and a speed test tool was added. The biggest news from this small update is the introduction of dark mode for ExpressVPN's iOS apps. The feature, which was already available on Android, is known as Twilight mode and is designed to reduce eye strain in low-light environments. Themes allow you to personalize your ExpressVPN mobile interface. As well as Twilight, other mode options include Sand, Midnight, Sky, and System Default. You can also edit the ExpressVPN app icon. The choices are Classic, Dynamic, Neon, and Grey. You can select your preferred customization in the Appearance section of the Profile tab. You can also edit directly from the home screen by clicking the edit symbol in the top right of the screen. ExpressVPN said it wanted to "combine functionality with user-centric design" and make its app "more comfortable and visually accessible" through in-app customization options. Themes is available to all iOS users now and will reach all Android users this week. Ensure you have updated your ExpressVPN app to receive the new appearances. Shay Peretz, Chief Information Officer at ExpressVPN, said: "The introduction of Themes is the next step in our continued commitment to product improvement at ExpressVPN." "Following a host of recent user interface improvements, we hope this new feature will give even greater usability to our mobile users." "Whether you're using ExpressVPN at night, during travel, or just prefer a different look, the new options including 'Sky' and 'Twilight' ensure your experience is smooth, stylish, and easier on the eyes." "Security and style can – and should – go hand in hand. We remain committed to both, with privacy continuing to be our top priority." ExpressVPN has the best mobile VPN apps of any provider. Simplicity is a key part of what ExpressVPN does. When you open the app, you're greeted with a big on/off button. Click it, and you'll be connected to the "best server" for you and that's it – your data is protected. But behind this simplicity lies a fairly customizable app. The row of tabs at the bottom of the screen allow you to easily access settings, a speed test, and help. You can select one of ExpressVPN's 3,000+ servers easily from the home screen and its new map clearly shows you where in the world you're connected to. ExpressVPN is our choice for the best iPhone VPN and it sits at number two on our best Android VPN list. You can protect up to 8 devices with post-quantum encryption and the Lightway protocol makes ExpressVPN super fast. At $4.99 per month, ExpressVPN isn't one of the best cheap VPNs. But you'll get a quality VPN packed full of features.
Tom's Guide
27-05-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
ExpressVPN has significantly redesigned its mobile apps – here's what's new
ExpressVPN's mobile apps have undergone a significant redesign, making them faster, smarter, and more user-friendly. Known as one of the best VPNs for beginners, ExpressVPN has created a simpler, cleaner app, as well as adding new features. The update is being rolled out now across ExpressVPN's mobile apps, and will become fully available to all users on 30 May 2025. ExpressVPN: the best VPN for beginnersExpressVPN's new UI update makes it even easier to use than before. It's great for VPN beginners and it boasts a very simple mobile app. It's Lightway protocol makes it super fast, it can protect up to 8 devices on one plan, and it secures your devices with the highest standards of post-quantum encryption. The 2-year deal works out at $4.99 per month ($139.72 up front for 28 months of cover). There's also a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test it out before you commit. ExpressVPN already had a very simple and easy-to-use UI, but this redesign has made it cleaner and provides quicker access to settings. The giant on/off button ExpressVPN is known for remains, but you'll now see selected server information and your IP address on a small map – meaning you can physically see where you're connected to. Maps on mobile devices can be tricky to navigate, but you can't interact with this one. It's simply there to make things more visual. You can also now, and easily change, the VPN protocol you're using, as well as seeing your "time protected" across the week. The "Options" tab has become "Profile" and means you can quickly and easily access your VPN settings. Advanced protection features, the Keys password manager, and eSIM and Aircove router paid add-ons can now be found under the "Add-ons" tab. Smart Location is now even smarter, using speed, latency, and distance to suggest the best servers for you. You can see the top three or five fastest servers, your recent locations, and the most popular servers in your country. You can still browse all ExpressVPN locations and search for specific servers. It was already very easy to connect to an ExpressVPN server and go – now it's even easier. A speed test feature has also been added to the app's home page. You can test your internet connection speeds, both with and without a VPN, as well as determine which ExpressVPN server is fastest at the time of the speed test. Thanks to the Lightway Turbo protocol, ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs out there. If speed is your number one priority, you can easily select the fastest and most appropriate server for your needs. Although many VPNs and their users focus on the WireGuard protocol, OpenVPN is still around and has its uses. OpenVPN is now available on iOS, in addition to the already present Lightway and IKEv2. We already rate ExpressVPN as the best iPhone VPN and this addition will do no harm to that claim. However, if advanced protection features – such as tracker and ad blocker – are enabled, OpenVPN cannot be selected. Android users already benefitted from OpenVPN support prior to this update and ExpressVPN sits at number two on our best Android VPN list. These are great and welcomed updates to ExpressVPN, and it has said more mobile updates are coming in the future. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Yahoo
ExpressVPN Rolls Out Major Upgrade to Its Already Impressive Lightway Protocol
ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol is getting a major upgrade -- one the company hopes makes it the VPN protocol of the future. On Monday, the VPN company announced the release of Lightway in Rust (essentially Lightway 2.0), which is designed for faster speeds, enhanced security and better overall performance. When ExpressVPN first developed Lightway in 2020, the protocol was written in C, a programming language originally developed in the early '70s but still widely popular because of its simplicity and flexibility. Along with the original version of Lightway, other VPN protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard are also implemented in C. But ExpressVPN says that reimplementing Lightway in Rust offers several distinct advantages over the protocol's previous iteration in C. First is that Rust can make Lightway even more secure than it already is because using Rust eliminates certain vulnerabilities commonly found in C due to mishandling memory (Rust's memory safety features nullify such a risk). Also, Rust can give the protocol a boost when it comes to overall performance and battery life. Finally, Rust's codebase will allow ExpressVPN engineers to be more nimble and faster with updates and improvements to Lightway going forward. 'Upgrading Lightway from its previous C code to Rust was a strategic and straightforward decision to enhance performance, and security while ensuring longevity,' said Pete Membrey, ExpressVPN's chief research officer. 'With Rust widely recognized as the high-performing, secure, and reliable language, it was a natural choice for evolving Lightway.' Essentially, what this all means for you is that the new implementation of Lightway should make your experience with ExpressVPN faster, more secure and more reliable. That's saying a lot because ExpressVPN is already one of the most secure and reliable VPNs you can buy -- and further solidifies the VPN as one of my top recommendations for users with critical privacy needs like journalists, attorneys, physicians, activists and whistleblowers. Even if you're just looking for general privacy online, there's nothing wrong with giving your privacy an even greater boost with Lightway in Rust. And although it hasn't been the fastest VPN over the past few years, rolling out Lightway in Rust could give ExpressVPN a much-needed speed boost. This means that you should experience smoother streaming performance, faster downloads, uninterrupted video calls and lower ping during your gaming sessions while connected to ExpressVPN and using the new implementation of Lightway. So, in theory, Lightway's re-coding should be a major improvement all around to an already stellar VPN. But while a VPN's speed and reliability can be generally pretty evident to the average user, quantifying a VPN protocol's security isn't. ExpressVPN addresses this in a couple of important ways. For one, Lightway is an open-source VPN protocol, meaning that its codebase is publicly available online for anyone to scrutinize or even implement into their own VPN solutions. This makes it possible for experts to validate the security of the protocol and spot any potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, ExpressVPN commissioned two separate independent audits in late 2024 to validate the security of Lightway in Rust -- one by Cure53 and the other by Praetorian. The two cybersecurity firms worked independently of one another, and both delivered an overall positive assessment of Lightway in Rust's implementation. Cure53 identified one high-severity vulnerability and four 'general weaknesses with lower exploitation potential' while Praetorian found two low-risk vulnerabilities -- all of which were subsequently resolved by ExpressVPN. 'Overall…Cure53's very limited number of findings, especially with only one exploitable vulnerability, can be interpreted as a positive sign for the security of the ExpressVPN Lightway protocol,' Cure53 wrote in its audit report. ExpressVPN is the undisputed leader in the VPN industry when it comes to transparency through independent audits, undergoing multiple audits every year. While an audit can only validate the state of the VPN at the time of the audit itself, it serves as an important signal of trust and can give the public confidence in the VPN that it's doing what it says it's doing. But being open-source can help fill those gaps because it gives the entire security community the opportunity to examine the code at any time. 'ExpressVPN has always led the industry in third-party evaluation and verification of our software,technology and policies,' Aaron Engel, ExpressVPN's chief information security officer, said in a blog post. 'Having Lightway evaluated by two independent third-party auditors is our way of showing our commitment to transparency while demonstrating our confidence in the technology we have developed.' Lightway in Rust is being rolled out first to ExpressVPN's Aircove routers on Monday, followed by Android at the end of March, Linux early in the second quarter, MacOS toward the end of the second quarter and finally to Windows by the end of the third quarter.
