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NordVPN sued by Torguard for blackmail [pdf]

torguard.net

21–30 of 164 posts

Re: NordVPN sued by Torguard for blackmail [pdf]

#22

Had a quick skim; it seems at a glance like someone from TorGuard badmouthed NordVPN on a youtube comment ( sigh ), so NordVPN apparently in response threatened to disclose "trade secret information obtained by NordVPN regarding TorGuard’s systems" it obtained via a hosting provider TorGuard used which is owned by the NordVPN people. This apparently involved some pretty sketchy stuff like sending people to the house…

[deleted]

Re: NordVPN sued by Torguard for blackmail [pdf]

#23
post #13

NordVPN is by far the shittiest VPN service I have ever used. They billed me twice, two months in a row, and getting them to fix it was like pulling teeth. This is not to mention the hard time I had actually using the service, between random inability to connect and outages. They have ISP-level arrogance, without the lock-in. I have no idea how they're still in business. So I'd be very inclined towards believing this…

> I have no idea how they're still in business. I imagine it's good marketing. They sponsor a lot of Youtube videos.

Pretty much every VPN service does. Every tech youtuber has one VPN service advertising with them. Along with cutting prices for viewers who use those links. I have to think it's a fairly solid sales model. The viewers would also line up with their best selling demographics.

Re: NordVPN sued by Torguard for blackmail [pdf]

#24
post #3

I'm getting a TLS error from this link. Is it for everyone or just me?

The site's certificate chains up to the DigiCert High Assurance EV Root CA. See https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/analyze.html?d=torguard.net&...

If you are having an issue, it would be worth stating:

• Do you have the above-mentioned CA in your trust store?

• What OS/browser are you using?

• Are you using any middle service, be it local (like virus scanning) or network-level (like a middlebox/proxy)?

Re: NordVPN sued by Torguard for blackmail [pdf]

#25
post #13

NordVPN is by far the shittiest VPN service I have ever used. They billed me twice, two months in a row, and getting them to fix it was like pulling teeth. This is not to mention the hard time I had actually using the service, between random inability to connect and outages. They have ISP-level arrogance, without the lock-in. I have no idea how they're still in business. So I'd be very inclined towards believing this…

Interesting, I have had the exact opposite experience personally. I have used the customer service in the past to fix a problem I caused (payment related), and they were prompt and helpful. Not only that but I get the best speeds (300 Mbps) from them over any other VPN I have used, and my connection is rock solid.

This story doesn't make me happy with NordVPN or TordGuard as a service however.

Re: NordVPN sued by Torguard for blackmail [pdf]

#26

Had a quick skim; it seems at a glance like someone from TorGuard badmouthed NordVPN on a youtube comment ( sigh ), so NordVPN apparently in response threatened to disclose "trade secret information obtained by NordVPN regarding TorGuard’s systems" it obtained via a hosting provider TorGuard used which is owned by the NordVPN people. This apparently involved some pretty sketchy stuff like sending people to the house…

> On or about May 17, 2019 an unknown individual appeared unannounced at the personal residence of a TorGuard contractor, asking to speak with him about his relationship with TorGuard and the VPN industry

This whole thing sounds sketchy AF for NordVPN. While not technically illegal, just approaching a competitor's employee unsolicited at their home (!?) has red flags all over the place.

Re: NordVPN sued by Torguard for blackmail [pdf]

#28
post #13

NordVPN is by far the shittiest VPN service I have ever used. They billed me twice, two months in a row, and getting them to fix it was like pulling teeth. This is not to mention the hard time I had actually using the service, between random inability to connect and outages. They have ISP-level arrogance, without the lock-in. I have no idea how they're still in business. So I'd be very inclined towards believing this…

No idea what's up and down in the actual case, but I can, anecdotally, counter your experience with a wholly positive one from the other side of the fence:

I have a TorGuard account, and I use the VPN an awful lot - it's the default connection on the machine I'm currently writing on. Been using for a couple of years, and never once have I seen trouble or even inconvenience, save the obstacles a few sites choose to set up based an ip address. Nor with billing. They mail me an invoice. I pay. Stuff just works.

Re: NordVPN sued by Torguard for blackmail [pdf]

#30

With these VPN services having become a race to the bottom, it's not all that unsurprising that stuff like this happens.

I think the race to the bottom already has many providers in fistfights at the finish line.

For example, when I tried Kodi (as a non-piracy living room media box starting point) a couple years ago, one of the reasons I gave up on it was that it seemed almost every Web search for technical questions would be filled with hits for VPN affiliate pitches. I also found forums, such as on reddit, filled with shilling, drama, and intrigue about VPNs, including some prominent ones. Then there was the related scandal of Facebook targeting children with a "VPN" surveillance channel, and there's really no assurance that many VPN providers aren't doing a similar thing.

I suspect there are some legitimate VPNs, but I decided I actually trust free Tor more than any random VPN, for some casual degree of protection against snooping open WiFi and ISP.

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