ExpressVPN is the most popular VPN on the market, and for good reasons. It’s due to its global server network, lightning-fast speeds, and one of the best customer services around. But, when considering a VPN for yourself, do you ever stop and think, ‘Are VPNs really secure in Italy?’
Well, yes, if you use a premium VPN. When using ExpressVPN, your data is routed through a tunnel with AES 256-bit – the same standard of encryption being used by the US government and security specialists across the globe for protecting classified information.
In short, if you’re questioning, ‘Is ExpressVPN Safe in Italy?’ then it really is! However, we wanted to test whether ExpressVPN’s claim to be the best secure VPN with maximum encryption, security protocols, and leak protection was true. And so we did.
In this review, we tested ExpressVPN on various security criteria to check if it really is a safe VPN in Italy.
Quick Overview: Is ExpressVPN Safe in Italy [Pros and Cons]
ExpressVPN comes with various features and functionalities that ensure security and privacy. For a quick ‘How Safe is ExpressVPN in Italy?’ guide, we have compiled the advantages and disadvantages of this VPN:
ExpressVPN Pros in Italy
Some of the ExpressVPN pros in Italy have been listed below:
- Military-grade encryption and security protocols: ExpressVPN hides your connection and identity by masking your data, IP, and traffic using its military-standard AES 256-bit encryption. Read more about its encryption and tunneling protocols in Italy below.
- Secure server network: ExpressVPN offers over 3000 servers in 94 countries, using which you can be secure by connecting to any server you prefer. Get more details about its server performance in Italy ahead.
- Jurisdiction: The VPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, which is an absolutely safe jurisdiction. Read more about it below.
- Stringent privacy policy: Its privacy policy has been proven to be quite strong, and it doesn’t collect any user data. Click here to learn more about its privacy policy in Italy.
- Independent security audits: The VPN has been tested several times by big independent firms that have ensured that the VPN has no vulnerabilities. Get its details by clicking here.
ExpressVPN Cons in Italy
Downsides of ExpressVPN service in Italy include:
- Slightly more expensive than rivals: ExpressVPN monthly cost in Italy is greater than other VPN providers. However, you can always get its long-term subscription for EUR 6.21/mo (US$ 6.67/mo) (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan)
- Slow speeds with OpenVPN: OpenVPN reduces your speed. But, you can always use its Lightway protocol to ensure fast speeds and security together.
Detailed Analysis: Is ExpressVPN Safe in Italy?
ExpressVPN is equipped with powerful features and incredible benefits. But still, is ExpressVPN safe to use in Italy? Well, we have dig in deeper to bring you a detailed analysis of some ExpressVPN pros in Italy:
Military-grade encryption and other security features in Italy:
Besides hiding your IP address and combining your traffic with that of other users, ExpressVPN also encrypts your traffic between secure VPN servers and your computer in Italy. This keeps your data safe from being read by third parties.
With the advanced security options and military-grade encryption of ExpressVPN, all your information remains secure and protected. The capability to retain a hidden identity when the connection fails or drops is critical for VPN users in Italy.
During our analysis, we observed its special security features like kill switch and split tunnelling and compared its protocols. Its exclusive Lightway technology is setting promising results in terms of reliability, stability, and security.
1. Military-Grade Encryption in Italy:
ExpressVPN uses the highest standard of encryption in the industry right now. The VPN protects your data with 256-bit AES encryption, combining an AES 256-bit cipher with a 4096-bit RSA key and SHA-512 HMAC authentication. This encryption is not easily crackable and matches the same level as used by governments, militaries, and banks to safeguard sensitive data.
ExpressVPN implements SHA-512 HMAC authentication, which is highly safe for exchanging data, for instance, P2P file sharing. Both the sender and receiver of the file can easily verify its authenticity with the help of a shared secret key. Any small modification in the secret key can indicate file tampering and alert the users to identify the loopholes and take quick action.
Additionally, ExpressVPN uses perfect forward secrecy that alters your encryption key every single time you log on. This prevents all your future VPN sessions from being decrypted by intruders, even if they somehow crack the key in Italy.
There is also a feature where ExpressVPN automatically connects you to the best possible protocol for you.
Moreover, ExpressVPN has recently rolled out a protective layer for the Log4Shell vulnerability – a critical zero-day vulnerability that has been wreaking havoc online. With this feature, ExpressVPN attempts to secure your devices, even when you’re not connected to the online world.
2. Security Protocols in Italy — Multiple Options for All Devices
ExpressVPN provides several security protocols (rules defining how a VPN can encrypt your data). These protocols allow you to customize the VPN for any case, offering services for all major operating systems like macOS, iOS, Windows, Linux, and Android.
ExpressVPN offers various VPN tunnelling protocols available on its apps in Italy.
Every protocol has different functionality. Let’s check all of them below:
- Lightway: This protocol has been specially designed by ExpressVPN. Lightway is ideal for phone usage as it consumes less battery and switches between the networks easily. It uses wolfSSL encryption and establishes connections within a few seconds, having a small code set.
- OpenVPN: This is amongst the most secure open-source protocols that offer both UDP and TCP options in Italy.
- IKEv2: This protocol is considered faster than OpenVPN, but it lacks security. It can be blocked by firewalls as it has no TCP option.
- L2TP/IPsec: It is one of the oldest and least secure protocols. It has been observed to perform faster than the rest, so it can be used to optimize speed.
The availability of these protocols is based on the type of your device in Italy. Find all the details in the table below:
| ExpressVPN Protocols | Android | Windows | Mac | iOS | Routers | Linux |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenVPN |  |
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| Lightway | |
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| IKEv2 |  |
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| L2TP/IPsec | |
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3. Leak test results in Italy:
ExpressVPN offers built-in leak protection that hides and safeguards your data against all possible techniques the attackers can use to access it. We tested ExpressVPN in Italy using its Windows, Android, iPhone, and Mac apps with 10 distinct servers, and it passed all our DNS leak tests with flying colors.
For our leak test, we connected to ExpressVPN’s Australian server and visited ipleak.net. You can confirm in the screenshot below that the VPN did not leak our actual IP address at all:
This means that you’re absolutely safe and secure while using ExpressVPN in Italy.
4. ExpressVPN’s kill switch in Italy
ExpressVPN has a kill switch feature that blocks your internet traffic if the VPN drops to protect your online identity. A kill switch is an essential feature in any VPN as the connection may sometimes be unstable and could pose a great threat to the user’s online safety.
ExpressVPN’s kill switch in Italy, called “Network Lock,” is available for only Android, iOS, desktop, and routers. It’s enabled automatically on Windows, Linux, and Mac. You can even turn the kill switch on and off in the desktop and Android apps, referred to as Network Protection on Android.
ExpressVPN is good as it instantly disconnected us from the internet when its server connection dropped in Italy.
5. ExpressVPN Split Tunneling in Italy
Split Tunneling allows users to divide the traffic over local connection and VPN and decide the routes. This way, you can use your VPN-IP address and regular internet IP simultaneously in Italy.
Now, you must be thinking, how is that useful? Well, with ExpressVPN’s split tunneling feature, you can enjoy a geo-restricted streaming platform while accessing your local websites together. You can also avoid your ISP’s surveillance on certain apps by connecting to a server and using your regular traffic simultaneously.
This feature is available for Linux, Windows, Android, Mac, and router apps and works best to connect to an international website using a local connection.
We could enjoy multiple services together with this feature in Italy.
6. Private DNS on all servers:
ExpressVPN passed all leak tests majorly because of its private DNS server availability. Users have to access a network known as the Domain Name Server to switch between websites. With the Private DNS server, no middleman is required, protecting your information from being leaked or exposed.
ExpressVPN allows users to set their DNS, but using ExpressVPN’s Private DNS is highly recommended for an enhanced experience in Italy.
7. TrustedServer Technology in Italy:
ExpressVPN is the ace in the VPN industry using TrustedServer technology. This technology uses servers running only on RAM, making it impossible to store data. All the data is removed when you disconnect from the VPN in Italy. This technology allows data to be exchanged at high rates and instantly removes it when it’s not in use.
Similarly, it also allows the software that is responsible for your VPN connection to reinstall every time you disconnect and reconnect to the VPN server.
So, even if a hacker manages to install a backdoor in the security, it will immediately be wiped off when you disconnect from the server and reconnect again. Therefore, this technology makes ExpressVPN safer than most competitors in Italy.
Secure server network in Italy:
ExpressVPN has over 3000 secure servers spread across 94 countries in 160 different locations. It offers the best coverage in Europe and North America. Moreover, the selection of servers in South America, Africa, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific region is reasonably good.
By connecting to any one of its servers, you can bypass the surveillance of your ISP and the government and stay secure at all times in Italy.
You can connect to anyone to enjoy secure browsing and streaming in Italy.
ExpressVPN Jurisdiction in Italy
ExpressVPN is headquartered in the safe jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands that is located outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance in Italy. The British Virgin Islands has no mandatory data retention laws, so ExpressVPN in Italy is not bound by law to store any user information and provide it to the authorities. This makes ExpressVPN safe and private in Italy.
ExpressVPN’s Privacy Policy in Italy
Most VPNs only claim to have a transparent privacy policy, but upon further research, you will see that they are not secure and log a lot of user data. ExpressVPN’s privacy policy is straightforward and transparent, and ExpressVPN does not keep any user logs in Italy.
The provider claims that it does not store any logs, including user activities, originating IP address, VPN IP, timestamps, and more. And they have made it clear that they don’t sell user data to third parties.
ExpressVPN does not log any user data in Italy.
Back in 2017, ExpressVPN’s server was seized in Turkey after the assassination of Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey.
However, there was no information stored on ExpressVPN’s servers in Italy. ExpressVPN issues an official response saying:
This incident shows that ExpressVPN in Italy does follow a true no-logs policy and, in fact, does not store any user information, as the British Virgin Islands has no mandatory data retention laws.
ExpressVPN Security Audit in Italy
In 2022, a firm named F-Secure Corp extensively audited the Windows app of ExpressVPN. As per their press release later, ExpressVPN’s Windows version doesn’t have any vulnerabilities that may harm its users in Italy.
Moreover, independent security audits were also conducted by Cure53, a renowned cybersecurity firm, and by PwC. ExpressVPN previously underwent an audit in 2020 from PricewaterhouseCoopers that investigated the company’s code and privacy practices in Italy.
Experts from Cure53 fully tested ExpressVPN’s browser extension and privacy policy. The team identified a total of 8 minor vulnerabilities that were solved by ExpressVPN.
Cure53 clarified that “no security issue which would allow an attacker to influence the state of the VPN connection via a malicious web page or alike were discovered.“
What’s more important is that Cure53 also stated in their report that ExpressVPN in Italy had already fixed these vulnerabilities that were identified by the team.
FAQs – Is ExpressVPN Safe in Italy
Can ExpressVPN be trusted in Italy?
Yes, ExpressVPN can be trusted in Italy. While using this VPN, your data is routed through a tunnel using AES 256, the same standard of encryption used by security specialists and the US government globally to secure all classified information.
Moreover, it offers obfuscation features that hide your VPN traffic and makes it look like regular internet traffic. This way, ExpressVPN cannot be traced at any cost in Italy.
Can ExpressVPN be hacked in Italy?
Yes, ExpressVPN can be hacked in Italy, but the data in the device will remain secure in most cases. Nearly all internet-enabled devices are vulnerable to attacks and can be hacked. Similarly, VPNs are also hackable, and ExpressVPN is no exception. However, configuring security settings in ExpressVPN can minimize the risks.
Please note that since there hasn’t been any ExpressVPN security breach recorded, we can say that the VPN is extremely safe.
Is ExpressVPN safe than NordVPN in Italy?
Yes, ExpressVPN is safe and better than NordVPN in Italy as it offers a wide server network, fast speeds, and more control over security compared to NordVPN. It is a solid choice for both streaming and torrenting as well owing to its excellent unblocking ability, P2P optimized servers, and fast speed of 27.1 Mbps on a 30 Mbps base connection.
Is it still safe to use ExpressVPN in Italy?
Yes, ExpressVPN is still as safe in Italy as it was a year ago. It hides your entire internet usage, covering all the local ISP details. Even Reddit mentions that ExpressVPN is safe to use.
Does ExpressVPN sell my data in Italy?
ExpressVPN does not view, keep, or record the websites you visit in Italy. It doesn’t log your traffic’s destination and contents and runs its own private and encrypted DNS on each server for additional security and anonymity.
In short, ExpressVPN is good for keeping your data secure.
Final Verdict – Is ExpressVPN Safe in Italy
Yes, ExpressVPN is safe in Italy! It keeps no user logs and is headquartered in the safe jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands. BVI has no mandatory data retention laws, so your online activities, search history, and more cannot be leaked.
Apart from that, it also uses strong AES 256 encryption that the US government and military also adopt to secure data and classified information.
Apart from security, ExpressVPN offers a free trial in Italy, so you can test the service free of cost. Even if you subscribe to a premium account, you have 30 days to try the service and cancel ExpressVPN in Italy to get a full refund. if you have any concerns related to payment methods then you can check out our blog ExpressVPN with PayPal in Italy.
This concludes our ‘Is ExpressVPN Safe’ guide? Get this VPN now!
