Is ExpressVPN Safe – How Secure and Good is this VPN? (January 2024)

ExpressVPN, being the most well-known VPN, is often the topic of heated controversy. Those who have not used it may believe that what it provides is too wonderful to be true. However, its devoted user base argues differently.

is-expressvpn-safe-in-USA

Is it still safe to use ExpressVPN? If you want to use a good VPN service, ExpressVPN is the best. Without having second thoughts about whether is ExpressVPN safe, purchase the subscription. When you use ExpressVPN, your data is sent via a tunnel protected by AES-256, the same encryption standard used by the US government and security professionals throughout the globe to protect their confidential information.

ExpressVPN conceals your IP address and encrypts your network traffic with AES-256, making it impossible for anybody to steal your vital business data. ExpressVPN’s advanced TrustedServer technology also keeps your activities off our VPN servers.

It’s due to its global server network, lightning-fast speeds, and one of the best customer services. But, when considering a VPN for yourself, do you ever stop and think, ‘Are VPNs really secure?’ In short, if you’re questioning, ‘Is ExpressVPN Safe?’ it 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 proper. And so we did.

In this review, we thoroughly evaluated the security features of ExpressVPN to determine ‘How Secure is ExpressVPN” and you will get the answer to ExpressVPN is it safe?.


Quick Overview: Is ExpressVPN Safe in 2024- (Check Latest Pros and Cons)

Yes, this is why ExpressVPN is tied for first place in our list of the best VPNs of 2024. It is simple to use, has over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, and includes all the features most users want in a VPN, such as strong encryption and privacy protections.

For a quick ‘How Safe is ExpressVPN?’ guide, we have compiled the advantages and disadvantages of this VPN, then you will clearly have an idea about is ExpressVPN safe:

ExpressVPN Pros 

Some of the ExpressVPN pros have been listed below:

  1. The Smart Location feature automatically selects the best VPN server: ExpressVPN’s Smart Location function chooses the VPN server location that gives the best experience for you based on parameters like download speed, latency, and distance. For more details, you can check Secure Server Network.
  2. Best speeds with Lightway protocol: The Lightway protocol encrypts communication utilizing AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20/Poly1305 ciphers and D/TLS 1.2 for server authentication. The AES-256 and ChaCha20 ciphers provide powerful encryption presently thought to be unbreakable. They also provide remarkable results, mainly when used with Lightway. For more information, read about AES-256 Bit Encryption.
  3. Exceptional privacy and features for protection: ExpressVPN protects you and your browsing activity. It has an auto-kill switch, DNS leak prevention, and IP masking to assure complete anonymity and privacy. You can check Security Protocols for all the details.
  4. User-friendly and secure applications: ExpressVPN app is user-friendly, and it’s setup is simple. Sign up before installing the app. After logging in, click “Set Up ExpressVPN” to access the app download page. You may set up your account or follow a device-specific ExpressVPN help page guide from there. To activate VPN protection, click “Connect” after account setup.
  5. Split tunneling feature (for macOS, Windows, and routers): When your smartphone is connected to ExpressVPN, the split tunneling function lets you choose which applications utilize the VPN and which do not. Except for those expressly specified, protect all connected devices or apps.
  6. Works with Netflix and most streaming services: ExpressVPN unblocks Netflix US, allowing you to watch your favorite programs from anywhere globally. It also includes a MediaStreamer service and a Smart DNS tool, both useful for streaming since they allow you to access geo-blocked material by disguising your location.
  7. 24/7 live chat support: ExpressVPN provides live chat and 24/7 customer assistance. You can additionally employ the online contact form to send an email. The staff is informed and responds immediately to your queries.
  8. Passed independent third-party audits for security and no-logs: ExpressVPN is the best no-logs VPN in 2024 because of its stringent no-logs policy, which has been independently inspected numerous times, its location in a privacy-friendly nation with no data retention regulations, and its industry-leading security features. Its plans all come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN Cons

The downsides of ExpressVPN service include:

  1. A little more expensive than rivals: While ExpressVPN is a bit expensive, you can opt for its competitors. However, ExpressVPN is committed to providing high-quality, uncompromised service. As a result, it devotes more time, attention, and money to offering high-quality services and products.
  2. Very few features: ExpressVPN is more costly than other popular VPNs, yet it lacks several features that rivals provide. Tor-over-VPN servers, obfuscated servers, and P2P servers are a few examples.
  3. Average OpenVPN speeds (use Lightway): Another significant disadvantage of ExpressVPN is the performance difficulties we discovered with the OpenVPN protocol. The OpenVPN protocol, which provides security and (usually) decent performance, is still the most extensively used protocol with VPN services. On a 500 Mbps connection, we did speed tests with ExpressVPN and the OpenVPN protocol. The outcomes were disappointing.
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How ExpressVPN is Safe in 2024? Detailed Analysis

ExpressVPN is equipped with powerful features and incredible benefits. But still, is ExpressVPN safe Reddit to use? Well, most VPNs save their data on hard disks. This method is less secure because hard disks preserve data until it is explicitly destroyed. Every 1-2 weeks, ExpressVPN’s servers are restarted. Because these servers will not keep your important information, you will be protected regardless of how often they reboot.

Military-grade encryption, Anonymous Browsing, and other security features:

How secure is ExpressVPN? ExpressVPN encrypts data between secure VPN servers and your computer, masking your IP address and mixing your traffic with that of other users. This prevents other parties from reading your data.

ExpressVPN employs AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit keys (AES-256). It’s the same encryption standard that the US government uses and that security professionals across the globe rely on to secure confidential information.

The company adheres to a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that no activity logs are retained, including details regarding DNS queries, traffic destinations, and browsing history.

ExpressVPN’s comprehensive range of security features and military-grade encryption ensures the safety of your data.  We have conducted thorough testing on ExpressVPN’s kill switch, split tunneling, and Tor compatibility and compared its protocols.

Furthermore, we have compared its protocols and conducted an in-depth analysis of its exclusive Lightway technology which is setting promising results in terms of reliability, stability, and security.

1. Military-Grade Encryption:

ExpressVPN uses the highest standard of encryption in the industry right now. Both the U.S. government and ExpressVPN rely on AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit keys, commonly referred to as AES-256. This encryption standard is highly regarded by security professionals worldwide for its robust security features.

ExpressVPN combines 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.

It also employs a threat management feature that blocks communication between all apps and websites on your device and a set of known third parties that track activity or engage in malicious behavior, granting you greater control over your online privacy and the utilization of your data, putting another point in favor of ExpressVPN safety.

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. Anonymous Browsing

ExpressVPN can help you conceal your IP address, making it impossible for websites and internet services to trace your location. The websites you visit are not seen, recorded, or stored by ExpressVPN. We never record the destination or content of your traffic, and every VPN server runs its own private, encrypted DNS for enhanced privacy and anonymity. There are no connection logs.

3. Security Protocols — 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 so you can enjoy using ExpressVPN on Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android, making it undeniably the best VPN for multiple devices. ExpressVPN’s security protocols also make it one of the best VPNs for CapCut.

Its highly acclaimed Media Streamer feature allows you to use a VPN on many devices that normally would not even support VPN usage.

ExpressVPN-protocols

ExpressVPN offers various VPN tunneling protocols available on its apps, so stop worrying about is Express VPN safe.

Every protocol has different functionality. Let’s check all of them below:

  1. Lightway: This protocol has been specially designed by ExpressVPN. Lightway is ideal for phone usage as it consumes less battery and switches between networks easily. It uses wolfSSL encryption and establishes connections within a few seconds, having a small code set.
  2. OpenVPN: This is amongst the most secure open-source protocols that offer both UDP and TCP options.
  3. IKEv2: This protocol is considered faster than OpenVPN, but it lacks security. It can be blocked by firewalls as it has no TCP option.
  4. 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. Find all the details in the table below to discover ExpressVPN safe or not:

ExpressVPN Protocols Android Windows Mac iOS Routers Linux
OpenVPN
Lightway
IKEv2
L2TP/IPsec

4. Dedicated IP

ExpressVPN has hundreds of servers in dozens of countries across the world. Each location could contain hundreds of servers with thousands of IP addresses. The availability of servers varies depending on the connection protocol used (Lightway, OpenVPN, or IKEv2).

5. Leak test results:

ExpressVPN offers built-in leak protection that hides and safeguards your data against all possible techniques the attackers can use to access it. By blocking DNS requests to any other DNS server besides their own, ExpressVPN’s app safeguards users against DNS leaks. Additionally, they ensure that every DNS request made by users is sent through a VPN tunnel and encrypted for maximum security.

Is ExpressVPN safe for iPhones? We tested ExpressVPN using its iPhone, Windows, Android, and Mac apps with 10 distinct servers, and it passed all our DNS leak tests with flying colors, marking another notch in favor of ExpressVPN safety.

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:

expressvpn-dns-and-ip-leak-test

This means that you’re absolutely safe and secure while using ExpressVPN.

6. ExpressVPN’s kill switch

ExpressVPN ensures the security of your data even in the event of a dropped VPN connection by blocking all internet traffic until the protection is restored. Whether you experience power outages, switch Wi-Fi networks, or your computer enters sleep mode, your network remains securely protected. This feature is standard across ExpressVPN’s apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, and routers.

This ExpressVPN feature is 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, 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.

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ExpressVPN is good as it instantly disconnected us from the internet when its server connection dropped.

7. ExpressVPN Split Tunneling 

Split Tunneling allows users to divide the traffic over the local connection and VPN and decide the routes. This way, you can simultaneously use your VPN IP address and regular internet IP.

ExpressVPN’s Mac, Windows, and Android apps offer the split-tunneling feature, allowing you to choose which apps utilize the VPN while connected to ExpressVPN and which apps operate outside of it.

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.

ExpressVPN’s split tunneling feature makes it one of the best VPN for Metamask in USA. As a browser extension for interacting with decentralized applications (dApps) on the Ethereum blockchain, Metamask requires a secure and private connection. With ExpressVPN’s split tunneling, you can use Metamask and other dApps while maintaining access to local websites and apps simultaneously.

This feature works best to connect to an international website using a local connection.

ExpressVPN-split-tunneling

We could enjoy multiple services together with this feature.

8. Private DNS on all servers:

ExpressVPN passed all leak tests majorly because of its private DNS server availability. ExpressVPN operates its own private and encrypted DNS on each VPN server.

When utilizing ExpressVPN, your DNS requests are directly handled by ExpressVPN, ensuring no exposure to third parties. The usage of ExpressVPN’s private DNS does not require any opt-in process. 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.

9. TrustedServer Technology:

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. This technology allows data to be exchanged at high rates and instantly removes it when it’s not in use.

TrustedServer enhances both consistency and security within ExpressVPN’s infrastructure. By implementing TrustedServer, ExpressVPN ensures that every server is equipped with the latest software updates. Upon server startup, the system loads a read-only image that includes the complete software stack, operating system, and other necessary components.

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.

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10. Secure server network:

You will get a massive ExpressVPN server list with over 3000 secure servers spread across 105 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.

Along with its its Secure Server Network ExpressVPN is best known for its ability to unlock multiple local and international platforms, from big to small, without any problems.

ExpressVPN is best known for its ability to unlock multiple local and international platforms, from big to small, without any problems. No matter if it’s Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Crave TV, BT Sport or Netflix, with the help of ExpressVPN, you can unlock any desired streaming platform, to watch some of the upcoming and most hyped sports events which include AFL 2024 in USA, UFC 299 O’Malley vs Vera 2 in USA, BWF All England Open in USAUFC Ribas vs Namajunas in USA, Bath vs Sale Sharks in USA , National Futsal Series in USA

You can also stream Some of the most hyped tournaments going on like UEFA Champions League 2024 in USA, UEFA Europa League Matches in USA

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You can connect to anyone to enjoy secure browsing and streaming.

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ExpressVPN Jurisdiction

Is ExpressVPN legal? Yes, ExpressVPN is legal in all countries of the world, even if many of them restrict the usage of VPNs for various purposes or ask for them to share data with the government.

ExpressVPN is headquartered in the safe jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands which are located outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. The British Virgin Islands has no mandatory data retention laws, so ExpressVPN is not bound by law to store any user information and provide it to the authorities. This makes ExpressVPN legal, safe, and private.

ExpressVPN’s Privacy Policy: Is ExpressVPN Actually Private? 

Yes, it is private. When using ExpressVPN, your data is transmitted through a conduit protected by AES-256, the same encryption standard adopted by the U.S. government and used by security experts around the globe to protect classified information.

Most VPNs only claim a transparent privacy policy, but upon further research, you will see that they are not secure and log a lot of user data. ExpressVPN privacy Reddit policy is straightforward and transparent, and ExpressVPN does not keep any user logs.

Express VPN no logs Reddit policy is the best including originating IP address, VPN IP, timestamps, etc. And they have clarified that they don’t sell user data to third parties.

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ExpressVPN stores no logs!

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. ExpressVPN issues an official response saying:

“As we stated to Turkish authorities in January 2017, ExpressVPN does not and has never possessed any customer connection logs that would enable us to know which customer was using the specific IPs cited by the investigators. Furthermore, we could not see which customers accessed Gmail or Facebook during the time in question, as we do not keep activity logs. We believe that the investigators’ seizure and inspection of the VPN server in question confirmed these points.”

This incident shows that ExpressVPN 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. Therefore, there is no need to search for is ExpressVPN good enough for streaming or does ExpressVPN keep logs Reddit.

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ExpressVPN Security Audit: Has ExpressVPN been audited?

In the last year alone, ExpressVPN has conducted and released 12 third-party audits. This also means that we have disclosed more audit reports than anybody else in the VPN business, which adds to our service’s confidence and transparency.

is ExpressVPN safe to download? 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, making it a safe choice to download.

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.

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 had already fixed these vulnerabilities that were identified by the team.

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FAQs – Is ExpressVPN Safe

Yes, ExpressVPN is secure since it employs industry-leading security methods. The AES-256 encryption used by the company scatters your online data, assuring governmental-level security.

Prices are above average. The disadvantage of ExpressVPN is that it is more costly than many competing VPN services (but not the most expensive VPN). ExpressVPN is available for $8.32 monthly or $99.95 per year at the standard price.

Yes. When you use ExpressVPN, your data is transmitted via a tunnel protected by AES-256, the same encryption standard used by the US government and security professionals throughout the globe for securing confidential information.

Not at all. ExpressVPN only uses your Personal Data for the reasons specified in its Privacy Policy and does not sell or lease your Personal Data to third parties.

ExpressVPN could get hacked, but your data is protected. They may, however, take all essential precautions to reduce the likelihood of this occurring. Furthermore, even if ExpressVPN is compromised, no personally identifiable data or logs can be retrieved from the servers.

Overall, ExpressVPN outperforms NordVPN because to its bigger server network, superior security and privacy features, and user-friendly VPN applications. NordVPN, on the other hand, is somewhat cheaper and quicker than ExpressVPN, and it includes some additional security measures, such as double-hop servers.

No. ExpressVPN does not collect activity logs, including browsing history, traffic destination, data content, or DNS queries. We also never keep connection logs, so there will be no records of your IP address, incoming VPN IP address, connection timestamp, or session duration.


Final Verdict – Is ExpressVPN Safe 

In this blog we have tried to answer the question “Is ExpressVPN Safe?” Our findings conclude that yes, ExpressVPN is safe! 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, If you want to test the service free of cost, ExpressVPN offers a 7-day free trial for Android and iPhone devices, 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 you can cancel ExpressVPN anytime to get a full refund. if you have any concerns related to payment methods then you can check out our blog ExpressVPN with PayPal.

If you want to learn about is ExpressVPN safe for torrenting, please refer to our ExpressVPN Review where we cover every aspect of this VPN in comprehensive detail so that you can get clear information that will allow you to take an informed decision.

This concludes our ‘Is ExpressVPN Safe’ guide? Get this VPN now!