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Windscribe
Developer(s)Windscribe Limited[1]
Initial releaseApril 20, 2016; 6 years ago (April 20, 2016)[2]
Repositoryhttps://github.com/Windscribe
Operating system
Platform
TypeVirtual private network
Websitewindscribe.com

Windscribe is a commercial VPN service provider with applications for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS with support for routers and other platforms via custom configurations.[3] Windscribe is based in Canada.

History[edit]

Windscribe was founded by Yegor Sak and Alex Paguis in 2016.[4] Windscribe's goal is to "aim to develop easy to use yet powerful tools that allow anyone to circumvent censorship", giving help to those in need of jurisdictions with high levels of internet censorship and to increase online privacy.[5]

Windscribe launched in open beta on April 14, 2016,[6] and launched fully on April 20, 2016.[citation needed]

On October 15th, 2018, Windscribe released a transparency report which detailed the number of requests they receive from copyright and law enforcement agencies.[citation needed]

In January 2021, Windscribe began beta testing ControlD, a new standalone DNS-based ad and tracker service, a direct competitor to services such as NextDNS.[7][8]

On November 10th, 2021, Windscribe open-sourced its desktop applications, with plans to open-source its remaining applications by the end of 2021.[9]

As of July 27th, 2021, Windscribe has servers in 63 countries and over 110 cities.[citation needed]

Features[edit]

Windscribe uses industry-standard virtual private network protocols to encrypt and route a user's connection to one of their servers. Windscribe uses the OpenVPN, Internet Key Exchange v2/IPsec, and WireGuard protocols in its applications and manual configurations. Windscribe servers support P2P file sharing and is promoted as a no-log VPN service from their privacy policy.[10][11][12]

Windscribe has desktop applications for Windows and macOS, with a command-line utility for Linux, and mobile applications for iOS, Android, and Android TV.[13] Windscribe also offers encrypted proxy support via browser extensions on Chrome and Firefox browsers. Windscribe users can connect unlimited simultaneous devices.[14]

In November 2018, Windscribe introduced R.O.B.E.R.T, a customizable DNS-based ad and tracker blocker.[15]

In October 2019, Windscribe released new browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.[16]

In July 2020, Windscribe added support for the WireGuard VPN protocol.[17]

On April 16, 2021, Windscribe released new versions of the desktop application which included split tunneling, WireGuard support, and native support for custom configurations to support other VPN providers with the Windscribe client.[18]

Controversies and security incidents[edit]

Windscribe has been accused of violating the GNU General Public License by uBlock Origin developer Raymond Hill in 2018, after it was discovered that the browser extensions contained an outdated version of the code with GPL license information removed, and no credit given.[19] On August 11th, 2020, Hill again criticized Windscribe for failing to comply with the GPL and/or removing uBlock Origin from its extension.[20]

2021 server seizure incident[edit]

On July 8th, 2021, Windscribe disclosed that two VPN servers hosted in Ukraine were seized by local authorities on June 24th, 2021. On the disk of the VPN servers contained an OpenVPN private key, which could have been used to impersonate a Windscribe VPN server and capture traffic running through it. Windscribe had failed to encrypt the servers in question, allowing for the retrieval of the private key. In addition, Windscribe ran servers with an OpenVPN feature that was deprecated since 2018, leaving the servers unencrypted and its users vulnerable.[21][22]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Windscribe - Terms of Service". Windscribe. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Is WindScribe a Good VPN?". Best 10 VPN Reviews. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Download - Windscribe". Retrieved August 18, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Windscribe Pro review: It's all about the extras". PCWorld. 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  5. ^ "About Us - Windscribe". Retrieved August 18, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "Windscribe - Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-08-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "ControlD is a new DNS service by the makers of Windscribe VPN - gHacks Tech News". gHacks Technology News. 2021-04-25. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  8. ^ "ControlD: Bypass geo-restrictions, block tracking, and be more". betalist.com. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  9. ^ Windscribe 2.0 Desktop Application, Windscribe, 2021-11-11, retrieved 2021-11-11
  10. ^ A, Zohair (2017-05-21). "Windscribe VPN Review: Is it Safe and is it Secure?". Online Security News, Reviews, How To and Hacks. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  11. ^ May 2021, Mike Williams 11 (2021-05-11). "Windscribe VPN review". TechRadar. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  12. ^ "Privacy - Windscribe". Windscribe. Retrieved 2021-08-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "Windscribe VPN Review: Is It the Best Free VPN of 2021?". www.top10vpn.com. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  14. ^ "Windscribe VPN Review 2021: Is It a Good VPN?". CyberNews. 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  15. ^ Sak, Yegor (2019-04-08). "Meet R.O.B.E.R.T — Malware and Ad Blocker". Medium. Retrieved 2021-08-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Sak, Yegor (2019-10-08). "New Browser Extensions — v3". Medium. Retrieved 2021-08-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Sak, Yegor (2021-08-10). "Introducing WireGuard". Medium. Retrieved 2021-08-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Sak, Yegor (2021-04-17). "Desktop App 2.0". Medium. Retrieved 2021-08-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "R. Hill on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-08-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "R. Hill on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-08-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ July 2021, Mayank Sharma 28 (2021-07-28). "Windscribe VPN servers seized by authorities were not encrypted". TechRadar. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  22. ^ Goodin, Dan (2021-07-26). "VPN servers seized by Ukrainian authorities weren't encrypted". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2021-08-19.

External links[edit]


source: https://web.archive.org/web/20220710164839/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windscribe

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