What are VPN logs?
VPN providers can potentially collect several types of data about your usage:
- Connection logs — timestamps of when you connected and disconnected, which server you used, your real IP address, and how much data you transferred
- Activity logs — the websites you visited, files you downloaded, and services you used while connected. This is the most invasive type
- Aggregate logs — anonymized statistics like total bandwidth used per server, number of simultaneous connections. These are generally harmless
A true no-logs VPN stores none of the first two categories. There should be no way to trace any internet activity back to a specific user.
How to verify a no-logs claim
Every VPN claims "no logs" on their website. Here's how to evaluate whether it's real:
- Independent audits — has the provider invited external security firms (Cure53, PwC, Deloitte) to verify their infrastructure?
- Court precedents — has the provider been subpoenaed and unable to produce data because none existed?
- Warrant canary — a public statement that the company has not received secret government requests. If the statement disappears, a request was received
- RAM-only servers — data exists only in volatile memory and is wiped on every reboot. No persistent storage means no persistent logs
- Business model — if the VPN is free, the company needs another revenue source. Logging and selling data is a common one
ProstoVPN's approach to privacy
ProstoVPN follows a strict no-logs policy:
- No connection logs — we do not store timestamps, IP addresses, or session durations
- No activity logs — we do not monitor, record, or store your browsing history or DNS queries
- Subscription-based model — our revenue comes from subscriptions, not from selling user data
- Minimal data collection — we store only what's needed for your account: email and subscription status
Часто задаваемые вопросы
If there are no logs, how does the VPN provider troubleshoot issues?
Server performance is monitored using aggregate metrics — total bandwidth, CPU load, connection count — without linking any data to individual users. If you report an issue, diagnostics are done in real-time, not from stored logs.
Can a government force a VPN to start logging?
It depends on the jurisdiction. Some countries have mandatory data retention laws. That's why the VPN provider's legal jurisdiction matters — and why warrant canaries exist as an early warning system.
Do free VPNs keep logs?
Many do. Research has shown that a significant percentage of free VPN apps contain tracking libraries. If you're not paying for the product, your data may be the product.
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