Atlas VPN
{{Short description|Virtual private network provider}}
{{Infobox software
| title = Atlas VPN
| developer = Peakstar Technologies Inc.
| discontinued =
| operating system = Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux
| platform = Personal Computer, Smartphone, Smart TV
| genre = Virtual private network
| license = Proprietary
| website = https://atlasvpn.com
}}
Atlas VPN was a freemium VPN service provider, launched in 2019 with applications for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.{{Cite web |last=Karbauskas |first=Šarūnas |date=2023-10-02 |title=Atlas VPN review |url=https://cybernews.com/best-vpn/atlas-vpn-review/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=cybernews.com}}{{Cite web |date=2023-07-06 |title=The Best VPNs for Ukraine in 2023 |url=https://me.pcmag.com/en/vpn/18019/the-best-vpns-for-ukraine-in-2023 |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=PCMag Middle East |language=en-ae}}{{Cite web |last=Castro |first=Chiara |date=2022-09-14 |title=Linux users can now secure their data with this leading VPN |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/leading-vpn-is-now-supporting-linux |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=TechRadar |language=en}} It was discontinued in April 2024 and merged with NordVPN.{{Cite web |title=An important announcement from Atlas VPN - Atlas VPN |url=https://atlasvpn.com/blog/announcement |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=atlasvpn.com |language=en}}
Atlas VPN also offers a data breach monitoring feature that notifies users of potential data breaches.{{Cite web |title=Atlas VPN Releases a new Security Tool for Monitoring Data Breaches |url=https://financialit.net/news/security/atlas-vpn-releases-new-security-tool-monitoring-data-breaches |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Financial IT |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cuesta |first=Javier G. |date=2022-11-16 |title=Russia's underground press takes on Putin's propaganda machine |url=https://english.elpais.com/international/2022-11-16/russias-underground-press-takes-on-putins-propaganda-machine.html |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=EL PAÍS English |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pradhan |first=Dipen |date=2023-07-18 |title=AtlasVPN Review 2023: Features, Pricing & More |url=https://www.forbes.com/advisor/in/business/software/atlasvpn-review/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Forbes Advisor INDIA |language=en-GB}}
History
Atlas VPN is operated by Peakstar Technologies Inc.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-22 |title=VPN-Test 2023: Die besten Anbieter im Vergleich |url=https://www.computerbild.de/bestenlisten/cb-Bestenlisten-Technik-VPN-Test-30983389.html |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=computerbild.de |language=de}}
In March 2020, Atlas VPN gave away a three-month subscription to its premium VPN services to combat misinformation about coronavirus. According to research conducted by the firm, internet censorship is leaving the citizens of some countries uninformed or misinformed about the extent of the outbreak.{{Cite web |last=Khalili |first=Joel |date=2020-03-13 |title=Atlas VPN hands out free subscription to fight coronavirus misinformation |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/atlas-vpn-hands-out-free-subscription-to-fight-coronavirus-misinformation |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}
On October 15, 2021, Nord Security announced that it had reached a deal to incorporate Atlas VPN to its growing portfolio of cybersecurity brands and products. However, Atlas VPN continues acting independently and pursuing its goals in the "freemium" VPN services market.{{Cite web |author1=Anthony Spadafora |date=2021-10-19 |title=Nord Security snaps up Atlas VPN |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/nord-security-snaps-up-atlas-vpn |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}{{Cite web |author1=Alice MarshallContributions from Tom Bailey |date=2022-12-21 |title=Atlas VPN review |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/atlas-vpn-review |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Tom's Guide |language=en}}
In February 2022, Atlas VPN distributed one-year premium VPN subscriptions to media personnel in Ukraine at no cost as a gesture of support.{{Cite web |last=Drapkin |first=Aaron |date=2022-03-01 |title=Atlas VPN Offers Free Service to Ukrainian Journalists |url=https://tech.co/news/atlas-vpn-free-ukrainian-journalists |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Tech.co |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Bansal |first=Varsha |title=VPN Providers Flee India as a New Data Law Takes Hold |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/vpn-firms-flee-india-data-collection-law/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |issn=1059-1028}}
As of August 2023, Atlas VPN had 1000+ servers in 49 locations across the world.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-09 |title=Atlas VPN Review 2023: Navigate the Online World With Confidence |url=https://allaboutcookies.org/atlas-vpn-review |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=All About Cookies |language=en}} On March 25, 2024, it was announced that Atlas VPN would shut down on April 24. Existing customers would be transferred to NordVPN.{{Cite web |date=March 25, 2024 |title=An important announcement from Atlas VPN - Atlas VPN |url=https://atlasvpn.com/blog/announcement |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=atlasvpn.com |language=en}}
Reviews
Forbes rated Atlas VPN 4.4 out of 5, while The Independent, Chip.de and Tom' s Hardware praised its speed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chip.de/downloads/Atlas-VPN-sicheres-VPN-proxy-Android-App_183257972.html|title=Atlas VPN: sicheres VPN-proxy - Android App|work=CHIP |last1=Humpa |first1=Michael }}{{Cite web |title=Atlas VPN free review: Limited but fast |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/advisor/vpn/atlas-vpn-free-review |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Independent Advisor |language=en-GB}} TechRepublic, in turn, reviewed it as a budget-friendly VPN service.{{Cite web |last=Millares |first=Luis |date=2023-09-27 |title=Atlas VPN Review (2023): Features, Pricing, Alternatives |url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/atlas-vpn-review/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=TechRepublic |language=en-US}} German Computer Bild magazine and American Money magazine in their extensive reviews, featured the speed and security as pros, while citing a low number of US servers as a con.{{Cite web |title=Atlas VPN Review |url=https://money.com/atlas-vpn-review/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Money |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-28 |title=Atlas VPN im Test: Unbegrenzte Tarnung? |url=https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cb-Tests-VPN-Atlas-VPN-33916741.html |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=computerbild.de |language=de}} PCMag praised its freemium options, but criticized the app's awkward interface.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=Atlas VPN |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/atlas-vpn |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=PCMag |language=en-gb}}
Technology
Atlas VPN offers two different connection protocols: IPSec/IKEv2 and WireGuard tunneling protocols.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Atlas VPN adds support for next-generation WireGuard protocol |url=https://www.securitysystemsnews.com/article/atlas-vpn-adds-support-for-next-generation-wireguard-protocol |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=securitysystemsnews.com |language=en}} It used ChaCha20 or AES-256 for data encryption.
In 2020, Atlas VPN launched the VPN Adoption Index, a research analyzing VPN download and usage across the world.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-01 |title=134 million downloads in 85 countries: A look at VPN usage in H1 2020 |url=https://www.hackread.com/134-million-vpn-downloads-in-85-countries-2020/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=VPN Usage by Country 2023 – Atlas VPN |url=https://atlasvpn.com/vpn-adoption-index |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=atlasvpn.com |language=en}}
According to ZDNET, in February 2023, Atlas VPN started upgrading its service with 10 Gbit/s servers, allowing it to accommodate a larger number of users without experiencing congestion.{{Cite web |title=Atlas VPN upgrades servers for faster browsing |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/atlas-vpn-upgrades-servers-for-faster-browsing/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}