NordVPN vs CyberGhost: Who to Distrust Less?

You’re searching “NordVPN vs CyberGhost” because both brands advertise cheap pricing and privacy.

⚠️ Here’s the problem: CyberGhost was Kape Technologies’ first VPN acquisition - bought in 2017 when Kape was still called Crossrider (alleged malware distributor). NordVPN hid a 2018 server breach for 18 months.

My recommendation hierarchy:

1. Mullvad - No email, €5/mo forever, actually independent
2. ProtonVPN - Swiss jurisdiction, open source, port forwarding
3. NordVPN - Reformed but compromised past (if you must choose one of these two)
4. CyberGhost - Kape ownership is disqualifying for privacy software

This comparison will expose why both have trust issues, then present actually trustworthy alternatives.

⚡ Quick Verdict: NordVPN vs CyberGhost

TL;DR: CyberGhost owned by Kape (alleged ex-malware distributor Crossrider) since 2017. NordVPN hid 2018 breach for 18 months. Neither is ideal. Use Mullvad or ProtonVPN instead.

Winner: Neither - Kape ownership vs 2018 breach hiding = both have fatal trust issues.

Get €5/Mo Mullvad Instead (Independent)

Why: CyberGhost’s Kape ownership is disqualifying for privacy software - Kape (formerly Crossrider) was an alleged adware/malware distributor. NordVPN’s 2018 breach wasn’t catastrophic, but hiding it for 18 months destroys trust.

The real alternative: Mullvad is independent, has no affiliate program, and charges €5/mo forever with no email required.

My Rankings Explained

Mullvad (#1):

• No email required, no affiliate program, proven no-logs in police raid, actually independent

ProtonVPN (#2):

• Swiss jurisdiction, open source, port forwarding

NordVPN (#3):

• 2018 breach hidden for 18 months, Panama marketing theater, closed-source apps

CyberGhost (#4):

• Owned by Kape Technologies (alleged ex-malware distributor Crossrider) since 2017

You shouldn’t trust me blindly. Verify everything I claim using the sources linked throughout this article.

The Kape Problem: Why CyberGhost Ownership Matters

CyberGhost: Kape’s First VPN Acquisition

March 14, 2017: Crossrider (later renamed Kape Technologies) acquired CyberGhost VPN for €9.1 million.

This was Kape’s first VPN acquisition - the beginning of their privacy software empire strategy.

Crossrider: The Alleged Malware History

Before 2018, Kape Technologies was called Crossrider - an alleged adware and malware distributor.

What Crossrider did:

• Made tools for building browser extensions that forced ads onto users’ screens
• 2015 UC Berkeley + Google study identified Crossrider as major affiliate of ad injectors (including SuperFish)
• MalwareBytes argued Crossrider’s browser hijacking was “indistinguishable from a virus”
• Crossrider malware was still causing havoc as late as August 2019

The name change:

• 2018: Crossrider rebranded as “Kape Technologies”
• CEO Ido Erlichman admitted name change was to distance from “controversial past activities”
• Started building VPN empire with CyberGhost as foundation

Kape’s VPN acquisition timeline:

• 2017: CyberGhost for €9.1M (first acquisition)
• 2018: Private Internet Access for $127M, ZenMate for €4.8M
• 2021: ExpressVPN for $936 million

Current ownership: Israeli businessman Teddy Sagi is the majority shareholder of Kape via his firm Unikmind.

Why this matters for privacy software:

A company that allegedly distributed malware and adware now owns multiple VPNs - software designed to protect privacy. CyberGhost was the first building block of this empire.

Sources: Windscribe Kape investigation, Privacy Journal Kape analysis, Crunchbase acquisition details

My take: Kape’s alleged malware past is disqualifying for a privacy company. CyberGhost has been under Kape control for 8 years - longer than any other major VPN in their portfolio.

The 2018 NordVPN Breach: What They Hid

March 2018: NordVPN server in Finland breached through insecure remote management system added by datacenter without NordVPN’s knowledge.

April 2019: NordVPN notified about breach, immediately shredded compromised server.

October 2019: NordVPN publicly disclosed breach - 18 months after it occurred.

What was compromised:

• One expired TLS key from one server
• No user data (no logs existed to steal)
• No usernames, passwords, or traffic logs

Why it matters:

The breach itself wasn’t catastrophic. Hiding it for 18 months is what destroys trust. When you discover a breach, you disclose it. NordVPN didn’t.

What they’ve done since:

• Annual third-party audits (Deloitte 2024, Cure53 2024)
• RAM-only servers
• Transparency reports
• Proactive security disclosures

Sources: NordVPN official response, TechCrunch coverage

My take: NordVPN has spent 6 years rebuilding trust. They’ve done the work. But the 18-month hiding period still matters when choosing privacy software.

NordVPN vs CyberGhost: The Direct Comparison

Pricing: CyberGhost Cheaper Intro, Both Terrible Renewals

NordVPN Pricing

Advertised pricing:

• “Starting at $3.09/month!”

Actual pricing:

• Month-to-month: $12.99/mo
• 2-year intro: $3.09/mo (requires 24-month prepayment = $74 upfront)
• Renewal: $12.99/mo (320% increase from intro)
• Annual cost after renewal: $156/year

Source: NordVPN official pricing

CyberGhost Pricing

Advertised pricing:

• “Starting at $2.19/month!”

Actual pricing:

• Month-to-month: $12.99/mo
• 6-month plan: $6.99/mo (billed $41.94 every 6 months)
• 2-year intro: $2.19/mo (requires 24-month prepayment = $52.56 upfront)
• Renewal: $12.99/mo (493% increase from intro)
• Annual cost after renewal: $156/year

Money-back guarantee:

• 14-day refund on monthly plan
• 45-day refund on 6-month and 2-year plans

Source: CyberGhost official pricing

Pricing Winner

On intro pricing: CyberGhost wins ($2.19 vs $3.09/mo)

On renewal increase: NordVPN wins (320% vs 493% increase)

On long-term cost: Tie - both $12.99/mo after renewal

On refund policy: CyberGhost wins (45-day vs 30-day for long-term plans)

Winner: CyberGhost for cheaper intro and longer refund window (but still owned by Kape)

Or Get ProtonVPN (Swiss Privacy, Independent)

Performance: NordVPN Faster, CyberGhost More Servers

NordVPN Performance

Server network:

• ~7,900 servers in 118 countries
• NordLynx protocol (WireGuard-based)
• RAM-only servers

Documented performance:

• Average speed: Up to 892 Mbps on fast connections
• Supports 4K streaming
• Some Reddit users report random disconnects on iOS/Mac

CyberGhost Performance

Server network:

• ~11,800 servers in 100 countries
• WireGuard protocol
• Streaming-optimized servers

Documented performance:

• Good speeds but slower than NordVPN in tests
• Adequate for streaming and browsing
• Some users report connection issues during server congestion

Sources: Comparison tests from Cybernews, VPNOverview, VPNMentor

Performance Winner

On server count: CyberGhost (~11,800 vs ~7,900)

On speed: NordVPN (faster in independent tests)

Winner: NordVPN for better speeds, despite fewer servers

Streaming Services & Connected Devices

NordVPN Streaming & Devices

Streaming services that work:

• Netflix: 30+ libraries (US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, etc.)
• Disney+: Works reliably
• Amazon Prime Video: Works
• Hulu: Works (US servers)
• HBO Max: Works with obfuscated servers
• BBC iPlayer: Works (400+ UK servers)
• SmartPlay technology: Auto-bypasses geo-blocks

Simultaneous connections: 10 devices

Supported platforms:

• Windows, macOS, Linux
• iOS, Android
• Android TV, Fire TV Stick, Apple TV
• Smart TVs (Samsung, LG)
• Gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox)
• Routers
• Browser extensions

Streaming verdict: 30+ Netflix libraries, excellent streaming

CyberGhost Streaming & Devices

Streaming services that work:

• Netflix: 15+ libraries (fewer than NordVPN)
• Disney+: Works
• Amazon Prime Video: Works
• Hulu: Works
• HBO Max: Works
• BBC iPlayer: Works
• Streaming-optimized servers: Available in 20+ countries

Simultaneous connections: 7 devices

Supported platforms:

• Windows, macOS, Linux
• iOS, Android
• Android TV, Fire TV Stick, Apple TV
• Smart TVs (Android TV)
• Gaming consoles
• Routers

Streaming verdict: 15+ Netflix libraries, some users report inconsistent streaming performance

Sources: CyberGhost Netflix support

Streaming & Devices Winner

Winner: NordVPN for more Netflix libraries (30+ vs 15+) and more simultaneous devices (10 vs 7)

Torrenting & P2P: Both Bad (No Port Forwarding)

NordVPN Torrenting

P2P support:

• Allows torrenting on dedicated P2P servers
• No port forwarding (removed for security reasons)
• Can’t seed effectively without port forwarding
• Good for casual downloaders, bad for power seeders

DMCA policy:

• Panama jurisdiction = no DMCA compliance required
• No-logs policy verified by Deloitte 2024
• Can’t identify users from legal requests

Verdict: Casual torrenting only, no seeding.

CyberGhost Torrenting

P2P support:

• Allows torrenting on servers in 80+ countries
• No port forwarding (removed citing privacy reasons)
• Can’t seed effectively without port forwarding
• Good for casual downloaders, bad for power seeders

DMCA policy:

• Romania jurisdiction (favorable for privacy)
• No-logs policy verified by Deloitte 2024
• Can’t identify users from legal requests

Verdict: Casual torrenting only, no seeding.

Source: CyberGhost torrenting features

Torrenting Winner

Winner: Neither - both lack port forwarding

If you seed torrents or need port forwarding, use ProtonVPN (has app-level port forwarding) or Mullvad (also has port forwarding).

Customer Support: NordVPN Better Response Times

NordVPN Support

Live chat:

• 24/7 availability
• Response time: Usually within 2-3 minutes
• Quality: Helpful according to reviews

Refund policy:

• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Full refund within 30 days (not prorated)
• Only applies to first purchase (renewals not refundable)

Support score: 8/10 (24/7 live chat, full refund)

CyberGhost Support

Live chat:

• 24/7 availability
• Response time: Variable, some users report slow responses
• Quality: Mixed reviews - helpful but inconsistent

Refund policy:

• 14-day money-back guarantee on monthly plan
• 45-day money-back guarantee on 6-month and 2-year plans
• Some Reddit users complained about refund difficulties

Support score: 7/10 (longer refund window on long-term plans, but inconsistent support quality)

Support Winner

Winner: NordVPN for more consistent support quality, though CyberGhost has longer refund window on long-term plans

Security & Privacy: Both Closed Source, Both Audited

NordVPN Security

Apps: Closed source (you can’t verify the code)

Latest audits:

• Deloitte (November-December 2024): Verified no-logs claim
• Cure53 (June-August 2024): Penetration test and source code review

Privacy features:

• Kill switch
• DNS leak protection
• Split tunneling
• Double VPN
• Onion over VPN
• NordWhisper (obfuscation)

Logging policy: No logs (verified by audits)

2018 breach: Expired TLS key compromised, no user data leaked, but hid breach for 18 months

CyberGhost Security

Apps: Closed source (you can’t verify the code)

Latest audits:

• Deloitte Romania (January 2024): Verified no-logs claim, second audit after 2022
• Reviewed server network, management systems, Dedicated IP token system

Privacy features:

• Kill switch
• DNS leak protection
• Split tunneling
• Ad blocker
• WireGuard protocol

Logging policy: No logs (verified by Deloitte 2024)

No breach history

Sources: CyberGhost Deloitte audit 2024, Audit announcement

Security Winner

Winner: Tie - both have Deloitte audits, both closed source

However: Kape ownership negates audit advantage for CyberGhost - alleged ex-malware company owning privacy software is the bigger issue.

Why Both Are Wrong for You

You searched “NordVPN vs CyberGhost” because:

• Both advertise cheap pricing ($2.19-3.09/mo)
• Both have thousands of servers
• Both advertise privacy and no-logs
• Both have Deloitte audits

Here’s what they’re not telling you:

About CyberGhost:

• Owned by Kape Technologies since 2017 (alleged ex-malware distributor Crossrider)
• Kape’s first VPN acquisition - been under their control for 8 years
• Kape also owns ExpressVPN, PIA, ZenMate
• Closed-source apps (can’t verify what they do)
• 493% renewal increase (worst in industry)

About NordVPN:

• 2018 breach hidden for 18 months
• Panama jurisdiction is marketing theater
• Closed-source apps (can’t verify what they do)
• No port forwarding (useless for seeding)
• 320% renewal increase

The better question: “What VPN isn’t owned by alleged ex-malware companies and didn’t hide breaches?”

What You Should Actually Use Instead

If You Need Hardcore Privacy

Don’t use: CyberGhost (Kape-owned) or NordVPN (hid breach)

Use instead: Mullvad

Why:

• No email required: Random 16-digit account number
• No affiliate program: Actually independent
• Pay with cash: Mail €5 in an envelope (or crypto, cards)
• €5/month forever: No intro discount, no renewal increase
• Open source: Apps verifiable on GitHub
• Port forwarding: Available for torrenting/seeding
• Proven no-logs: 2023 Swedish police raid found nothing
• Actually independent: Not owned by Kape, NordSec, or anyone else

Read full Mullvad review

Get Mullvad (Independent)

If You Need Streaming + Privacy

Don’t use: Mullvad (doesn’t try to unblock streaming)

Use instead: ProtonVPN

Why:

• Swiss jurisdiction with real privacy laws
• Open-source apps (verifiable)
• Port forwarding for torrenting
• Works with 10 Netflix libraries + major streaming services
• No Kape ownership
• No breach history
• Actually independent

Read full ProtonVPN review

Get ProtonVPN (Swiss Privacy + Streaming)

If You Must Choose Between NordVPN and CyberGhost

Choose NordVPN if:

• Kape ownership bothers you more than 6-year-old breach
• You want more Netflix libraries (30+ vs 15+)
• You want more simultaneous devices (10 vs 7)
• You want faster speeds
• You want better renewal terms (320% vs 493% increase)

Choose CyberGhost if:

• 18-month breach hiding bothers you more than Kape ownership
• You want cheaper intro pricing ($2.19 vs $3.09/mo)
• You want 45-day refund window (vs 30-day)
• You’re okay with only 7 devices

But honestly: Neither. Both have fatal trust issues for privacy software.

Real User Experiences: Reddit Reality

NordVPN User Complaints

From Reddit (2024-2025):

Common issues:

• 2018 breach trust issues persist among privacy-focused users
• Billing issues with slow support response during promo periods
• Removed port forwarding (frustrates torrenting users)
• Split tunneling problems on Windows devices
• Random disconnects on iOS/Mac reported

Positive feedback:

• Fast speeds for streaming
• Netflix works reliably
• Reformed trust through audits and transparency

Pattern: Users appreciate performance but question trust given 18-month breach hiding.

CyberGhost User Complaints

From Reddit (2024-2025):

Common issues:

• Kape ownership concerns (alleged ex-malware distributor)
• Connection issues during server congestion
• Inconsistent streaming performance
• Slower speeds compared to top VPN providers
• Refund difficulties reported by some users
• App stability issues and bugs

Positive feedback:

• Very cheap intro pricing ($2.19/mo)
• 45-day money-back guarantee on long-term plans
• Works for basic streaming and browsing

Pattern: Users appreciate low price but distrust Kape ownership and experience connection issues.

The Common Thread

Both VPNs share these issues:

• Closed-source apps (can’t verify)
• No port forwarding (useless for seeding)
• Massive renewal increases (320-493%)
• Trust issues: Kape ownership vs breach hiding

The Bottom Line: NordVPN vs CyberGhost

Direct comparison verdict:

NordVPN vs CyberGhost is choosing between a company that hid a breach for 18 months and a company owned by an alleged ex-malware distributor for 8 years.

If you must choose between them: NordVPN is less problematic than Kape ownership. The 2018 breach wasn’t catastrophic (expired TLS key, no user data), and they’ve rebuilt trust with 6 years of audits and transparency. Kape’s alleged malware past is ongoing and structural - CyberGhost has been under their control since 2017.

But honestly? You’re choosing between two fatally flawed options.

What you should actually do:

1. Need hardcore privacy? → Mullvad (€5/mo, no email)
2. Need streaming + privacy? → ProtonVPN (Swiss jurisdiction, open source)
3. Forced to choose? → NordVPN (less problematic than Kape ownership)

Verify This Yourself

Want to see the raw data behind my claims? Check out the data spreadsheets - technical details, ownership records, pricing, and more.

Don’t trust me. Verify everything:

Kape/Crossrider claims:

• Windscribe investigation: What is Kape Technologies?
• CyberGhost acquisition: Crunchbase details
• Privacy Journal analysis: Kape Technologies guide

NordVPN claims:

• 2018 breach: Official response, TechCrunch
• Pricing: NordVPN official pricing
• 2024 audit: Deloitte audit announcement

CyberGhost claims:

• Pricing: CyberGhost official pricing
• 2024 audit: Deloitte audit report
• Kape ownership: Kape brands page

My commission claims:

• CyberGhost affiliate program exists but I don’t promote them
• NordVPN affiliate program exists (verified)
• Mullvad has no affiliate program: Verify on their site

Better alternatives:

• Try Mullvad for €5 (no email, no commitment)
• Try ProtonVPN with 30-day money-back guarantee
• Read independent reviews on NYTimes/WireCutter and Wired

Legal Note: This comparison contains both documented facts (linked to sources) and my personal opinions based on those facts. All opinions are clearly marked as such. Kape/Crossrider’s alleged malware distribution is documented in multiple sources linked above.

Affiliate disclosure: I make money from affiliate links to NordVPN and ProtonVPN. I make nothing from Mullvad (no affiliate program) and nothing from CyberGhost (I don’t promote Kape-owned products). I’m ranking Mullvad highest despite no commission, and warning about CyberGhost’s Kape ownership despite affiliate availability.