TorGuard
Table of Contents
TorGuard is a virtual private network (VPN) service that encrypts internet traffic and helps to secure online activity. It is designed to protect privacy and increase security, and is often used to bypass internet censorship and access blocked content. TorGuard is based in the United States and was founded in 2012. In addition to its VPN service, the company also offers proxy services and anonymous email. TorGuard claims to have servers in over 50 countries and to support a wide range of devices and platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and routers.
According to TorGuard’s website and privacy policy, the company does not keep logs of its users’ online activity or IP addresses. TorGuard states that it has a strict no-log policy, which means that it does not collect or store any information about its users’ online activity or IP addresses. This is intended to protect the privacy and security of TorGuard’s users. It’s worth noting that VPNs can be subject to government and law enforcement requests for user data, and a VPN company’s no-log policy may not necessarily protect users in all cases. However, in the absence of any logs, a VPN company like TorGuard would not have any information to provide to third parties if requested.
Network Overview
2019 Security Incident
According to a report by PCMag, NordVPN and TorGuard were hit by hacks involving insecure servers. The server did not contain user activity logs, but the hacker stole a Transport Layer Security key, which temporarily opened the door for a ‘man in the middle’ attack. The hackers may have also gained root access to the server, enabling them to potentially view and modify VPN traffic. NordVPN says that the attacker was able to nab the Transport Layer Security key that is used to verify that a site is actually run by NordVPN. TorGuard said that it manages its certificate authority and keys in-house and that its VPN or proxy traffic was not compromised during an isolated breach of a single VPN server and no sensitive information was compromised during this incident.
Global Coverage
TorGuard’s VPN service demonstrates a measure of global reach, with servers located in 34 countries. However, the number of servers per location is relatively modest, leading to less robust representation in each of the countries. The most prominent presence is in the United States, with 54 servers, which, although beneficial for users specifically seeking connections within this region, may not provide the most comprehensive access or optimal speeds for users desiring connections in other areas.
Upon applying the Global Diversity Index (GDI) – a scoring system designed to assess the geographical spread of VPN server locations – TorGuard achieves a score of 45 out of 100. This rating is influenced by the geographic diversity of server locations, the number of servers within these locations, and the global coverage of the service.
In constructing the GDI, several key factors are taken into account. The breadth of geographic representation is vital – providers with a greater number of countries covered generally score higher. The quantity of servers within each country is another crucial element, as a higher server count often equates to increased connection stability and potentially faster speeds. Furthermore, we consider the presence in regions typically underrepresented in VPN services, such as Africa and South America, as indicative of truly global coverage.
Thus, while TorGuard demonstrates a degree of global presence, the relative scarcity of servers within each location impacts its overall GDI score. It’s essential to reiterate, however, that the GDI score represents just one dimension of evaluating a VPN service, and users should also consider factors such as privacy policies, speed, security features, and customer support in making their choice.