The VPN Monopoly Map: Who Really Owns Your Privacy

Table of Contents

Six companies own virtually every VPN you’ve heard of. When you “switch” from ExpressVPN to CyberGhost to escape problems, you’re just moving between brands owned by the same ex-malware company.

I need to be clear: VPNs themselves are valuable privacy tools. But in my opinion, the VPN industry has become monopolistic where alleged fake competition gives you the illusion of choice while the same 6-7 corporations collect your data and money.

Kape Technologies (formerly Crossrider, which allegedly distributed malware according to security researchers) owns ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, PIA, and ZenMate, plus the “review” sites that rank them. Nord Security owns both NordVPN and Surfshark, who I believe pretend to compete. Ziff Davis owns IPVanish and PCMag, which coincidentally gives IPVanish “Editor’s Choice” awards.

This isn’t a conspiracy theory. These are publicly documented acquisitions worth billions of dollars.

Let me show you the complete map of who really controls your privacy.

30-Second Truth Bomb

  • Just 6-7 companies own ALL major VPNs
  • Kape (ex-malware company) owns ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, PIA
  • Nord Security owns NordVPN AND Surfshark (fake competition)
  • Chinese companies own 300+ million downloads worth of “free” VPNs
  • PCMag reviews VPNs while parent company Ziff Davis owns them

🚨 THE KAPE EMPIRE: Your Privacy’s Worst Nightmare

Kape Technologies (formerly Crossrider)
├── ExpressVPN ($936M acquisition, 2021)
├── CyberGhost 
├── Private Internet Access
├── ZenMate (merged into CyberGhost)
└── Your browsing history (probably)

Let’s talk about Kape for a second. This company used to be called Crossrider until 2018. Why the name change?

According to security researchers at Malwarebytes and others, they allegedly distributed adware and browser extensions that injected ads. Their reported business model involved developing platforms for ad injection. Now they own half the VPNs you’ve heard of.

What they don’t tell you: When you see “ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost” comparison articles, you’re watching Kape compete with itself. When you “switch” from PIA to ExpressVPN because of a Reddit recommendation, Kape keeps your money.

They own your current VPN, your alternative VPN, and probably your next VPN.

The Nord Empire (Getting Uncomfortable)

Nord Security Ltd
├── NordVPN (the flagship)
├── NordLayer (enterprise)
├── Surfshark VPN ("the alternative")
└── Atlas VPN (now merged into Surfshark)

Remember when Surfshark was the “scrappy alternative” to NordVPN?

Plot twist: They merged in 2022.

All those “NordVPN vs Surfshark” articles? It’s the same company. In my opinion, they’re creating fake competition with themselves. When NordVPN raises prices, people switch to Surfshark. Nord Security wins either way.

To be fair: NordVPN actually improved their infrastructure post-2018 breach (RAM-only servers, independent audits by Deloitte/PwC, transparency reports). Doesn’t excuse the monopoly bullshit or the fact they hid the breach for 18 months, but credit where it’s due. They’re still sketchy for the fake competition, just less sketchy on security than they used to be.

The Chinese Connection Nobody Talks About

🔴 CONFIRMED CHINESE OWNERSHIP:
├── Turbo VPN (Innovative Connecting)
├── VPN Proxy Master (Innovative Connecting)
├── Snap VPN (Innovative Connecting)
├── Thunder VPN (Innovative Connecting)
├── SuperVPN (SuperSoftTech/FuryWeb)
├── LinkVPN (SuperSoftTech/FuryWeb)
└── X-VPN

Here’s the problem: These VPNs have 300+ million downloads combined on the Play Store.

People are literally routing their “private” browsing through servers controlled by companies in a country with mandatory data sharing laws. The same country that requires backdoors in all tech products.

The worst part? They hide their ownership through shell companies. Innovative Connecting? Good luck finding who actually owns that. It’s shell companies all the way down.

The Ziff Davis Data Harvesting Network

Ziff Davis (owns PCMag, btw)
├── IPVanish
├── StrongVPN
├── SaferVPN
├── Perimeter 81
├── Speedtest VPN (yes, from Speedtest.net)
└── About 6 other VPNs you've never heard of

Fun fact: Ziff Davis owns PCMag, which publishes VPN reviews. Guess which VPNs consistently get “Editor’s Choice”?

IPVanish. Every. Year.

They own the VPNs AND the review sites. In my opinion, this represents a serious conflict of interest.

The Aura/Pango Collective (The Data Brokers)

Aura/Pango Group
├── Hotspot Shield (caught selling user data)
├── Betternet (malware accusations)
├── TouchVPN
├── UltraVPN
└── 5+ other sketchy free VPNs

Hotspot Shield was caught by the FTC for allegedly collecting and selling user data. According to the FTC complaint, their business model involves acquiring “free” VPNs and monetizing browsing data.

Reality check: In my opinion, these aren’t primarily VPN companies. I believe they’re data collection companies that happen to offer VPN services.

The Gaditek/PureVPN Disaster

Gaditek
├── PureVPN (gave logs to FBI)
├── Ivacy (same infrastructure)
└── PureDome VPN (their "business" rebrand)

PureVPN famously claimed “no logs” then provided logs to the FBI that led to an arrest. When caught, they “updated” their policy.

Then they allegedly launched Ivacy as an “alternative” reportedly using the same infrastructure.

Who’s Actually Independent?

After mapping 50+ VPNs, here’s who’s NOT part of a conglomerate:

✅ ACTUALLY INDEPENDENT:
├── Mullvad (Swedish, no affiliates) → [Read review](/vpn/mullvad-vpn-review/)
├── ProtonVPN (Swiss, by ProtonMail team) → [Read review](/vpn/protonvpn-review/)
├── AirVPN (Italy, run by activists)
└── Windscribe (Canada, transparent ownership)

That’s it. Only five independent VPNs out of hundreds.

The Acquisition Timeline (Watch Them Fall)

2017: StackPath acquires IPVanish
2018: j2 Global buys IPVanish from StackPath
2019: NordSec acquires Surfshark
2020: Kape buys Private Internet Access
2021: Kape buys ExpressVPN for $936M
2022: Nord merges Atlas into Surfshark
2023: Aura consolidates Pango group
2024: [Waiting for the next domino]

See the pattern? Every “trusted” VPN eventually sells out.

What They Don’t Want You To Know

  1. VPN review sites are owned by VPN companies (Ziff Davis/PCMag, Kape owns multiple “review” sites)

  2. Your three “alternatives” are the same company wearing different logos

  3. Chinese VPNs have 10x more users than “trusted” ones because they’re free

  4. The FBI has gotten logs from “no-log” VPNs multiple times

  5. VPN companies create fake competition to give you the illusion of choice

The Reality Check

What You Think You’re ChoosingWhat You’re Actually Choosing
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhostKape vs Kape
NordVPN vs SurfsharkNord Security vs Nord Security
IPVanish review on PCMagZiff Davis reviewing Ziff Davis

“Wait, so ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and PIA are all the same company now?”

“Always have been since Kape bought them all. It’s a complete monopoly.”

“This is why I use Mullvad. No affiliates, no bullshit, no data harvesting company ownership.”

Look at that thread. Regular people figuring out what VPN marketing doesn’t want you to know. The comments are full of people realizing they’ve been played.

🔍 Don’t Trust Me? Verify This Yourself

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

  1. Search “[Any VPN name] parent company” or “acquired by”
  2. Look up “Kape Technologies portfolio” - count the VPNs
  3. Google “Nord Security Surfshark merger”
  4. Check “Ziff Davis IPVanish ownership”
  5. Try to find truly independent VPN companies (hint: ~5 exist)

The Money Trail

Why do these companies keep buying VPNs? Let me show you the numbers:

  • Average VPN user value: $80/year
  • ExpressVPN users: 4 million
  • Annual revenue: $320 million
  • Kape paid: $936 million
  • ROI period: 3 years

It’s not about privacy. It’s about recurring revenue from paranoid users.

How To Check Ownership Yourself

Don’t trust me? Here’s how to verify:

  1. Search: “[VPN name] parent company”
  2. Check: Corporate registrations
  3. Look for: “Acquired by” news
  4. Wikipedia: Check the ownership section
  5. LinkedIn: See where employees actually work

You’ll find shell companies, acquisitions, and the same executives running multiple “competing” VPNs.

The Bottom Line

The VPN industry is 6-7 companies cosplaying as 200 different brands.

When you switch VPNs, you’re probably just moving from one Kape brand to another. Or from one Nord brand to another. Or from one Chinese data harvester to another.

The only real choices are:

  • Mullvad (no affiliates, true independence)
  • ProtonVPN (Swiss privacy laws)
  • IVPN (if you’re technical)
  • Building your own (if you’re really technical)
  • Accepting you have no privacy (most honest option)

Escape the Monopoly

Best option: Mullvad - Truly independent, no parent company, no data brokers

Runner-up: ProtonVPN - Swiss laws, ProtonMail team, transparent ownership

Stop believing the marketing. Stop trusting “review” sites. Stop thinking you have choices.

You don’t.

They own everything.

🧪 Test This Yourself

Map the monopoly yourself:

  • LinkedIn search: See where VPN “competitors’” employees actually work
  • Check corporate registrations: Same addresses, same executives
  • Search “[VPN name] acquisition” - watch them all lead to the same 6 companies
  • Find review sites: Search “VPN Mentor ownership” or “PCMag Ziff Davis”
  • Track the money: “VPN affiliate programs commission rates”

-The Angry Dev

P.S. ExpressVPN affiliates reportedly make $95 per sale. CyberGhost allegedly pays $135. PIA reportedly pays $35. Mullvad pays $0 because they don’t have an affiliate program. In my opinion, that’s why fewer people recommend them despite being one of the VPNs that actually respects privacy.

The Angry Dev

Do NOT trust review sites. Affiliate commissions dictate their rankings. This is an affiliate site too, but I’m being honest about what I earn and I rank by quality instead of payout. Even if it means I get paid $0. Read about my approach and why I stopped bullshitting. Here’s the raw data so you can fact-check everything.

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