Obscura VPN promises to set the standard for the next generation of virtual private networks.
The provider uses two-part exit nodes and a new censorship-resistant protocol.
More and more people around the world are turning to VPN software to protect their online privacy and evade geographical restrictions on the Internet. However, not all VPN services offer the same level of effectiveness. Recently, Obscura VPN, a new competitor in the market, has challenged industry expectations by promising to set a new standard for the next generation of VPNs.
Obscura VPN was officially launched on February 11, 2025. Its focus is on two main promises: being "privacy by design" and "overcoming Internet restrictions." Currently, the service is only available for macOS, although plans for incorporating more platforms are in the works for the future.
Carl Dong, the founder of Obscura VPN, points out that the current VPN industry has serious shortcomings, the main one being a lack of trust in providers. In a blog post, Dong stated that the biggest problem is that VPN companies act as intermediaries, allowing them access to user personal information (such as IP address, email, and billing details) as well as browsing history. According to him, even VPNs that claim not to store logs are not a definitive solution due to the risk of security breaches.
What sets Obscura VPN apart is its "privacy by design" approach. To protect user information, VPN traffic is redirected through two hops, but with a significant difference: each of these servers is independently managed by different VPN providers. In this case, Obscura VPN has partnered with Mullvad VPN, recognized for its security. In this system, Obscura servers act as the entry point, encrypting the internet connection through the WireGuard protocol before sending it to Mullvad's exit servers, which connect the user to the network. This ensures that the user's identity and online activities cannot be linked together.
Additionally, Obscura VPN has eliminated the need to request personal information, such as name or email address, minimizing the collection of user data.
Another commitment of Obscura VPN is its ability to evade censorship and VPN restrictions. To achieve this, it uses QUIC (Quick UDP Connections), a more recent internet protocol designed to maximize security and speed. According to Dong, QUIC is more effective than conventional obfuscation technologies, as it blends in with normal internet traffic without affecting performance, unlike TCP protocols.
While other VPN providers, such as NordVPN and Proton VPN, are also investing in censorship-resistant features, Obscura VPN promises to offer an interesting solution in this field. Currently, its offering is limited to Mac devices, and although the number of its server locations is small compared to other services, it includes options in Canada, the United States, and several European countries, as well as some in Asia.
For now, Obscura VPN is available at a promotional rate of $6 per month, instead of its regular price of $8. It is still early to assess whether Obscura will become one of the top VPN services, but its open-source nature allows anyone interested to examine its operation and verify its claims.