CyberGhost is a seasoned veteran in the VPN arena with over ten years of service. Frequently spotlighted among the world's elite VPN providers, its reputation certainly precedes it. But does it deliver on its promise of top-tier protection? I embarked on a personal quest to put CyberGhost to the ultimate test.

In this CyberGhost review, I've examined every feature and included numerous screenshots to give you a clear picture of what this VPN offers. My goal is to provide you with an honest, impartial evaluation of CyberGhost's performance, features, and overall value.

In this article, you will learn:

  • How well CyberGhost performs in terms of speed and security
  • If it can effectively bypass geo-restrictions and censorship
  • How easy it is to install and use
  • Whether it's going to slow down your internet connection
  • If CyberGhost is really as trustworthy as everyone says

Let's examine what CyberGhost has to offer!

In a Hurry? Here's a Quick Summary

CyberGhost is one of the best VPN services I've used. How did I arrive at this conclusion? I tested CyberGhost and compared it extensively with its top competitors over a period of two weeks, analyzing each product's strengths and weaknesses.

CyberGhost impressed me with its array of features, numerous benefits, and minimal drawbacks. Top features include its vast network of servers in over 100 countries, robust privacy protections, and dedicated servers for streaming and torrenting.

I was also impressed by CyberGhost's minimal impact on internet speed, user-friendly interface, and responsive cross-platform support. Every interaction I had with CyberGhost felt polished and well-thought-out.

If you're looking for a flexible VPN solution boasting an array of additional security and privacy features, CyberGhost is definitely worth considering.

What You'll Like:

  • Well-organized user interface: The app is easy to understand and easy to navigate, even for VPN newbies.
  • Fast and reliable connections: Minimal speed loss when connected to nearby servers.
  • Strong security features: Includes AES-256 encryption and a kill switch for added protection.
  • Excellent for streaming and torrenting: Dedicated servers for these activities ensure optimal performance.
  • Broad device compatibility: Supports a wide range of platforms and allows up to 7 simultaneous connections.

What You May Not Like:

  • Slightly more expensive than some competitors: The monthly plan is pricier, though long-term plans offer better value.
  • Advanced protection features could be improved: The ad-blocking feature isn't as robust as dedicated ad-blockers.
  • Limited customization options: The app interface doesn't offer many personalization choices.

What Makes This CyberGhost Review Different?

Many CyberGhost reviews you'll find online - even those on the first page of Google - aren't always genuine. They often copy text and images directly from the product's official website. Since these reviews don't reflect the real opinions of cybersecurity experts, can they truly be trusted?

I'm committed to providing the most objective CyberGhost review possible. To achieve this, I purchased a CyberGhost subscription, installed the software on my own devices, and thoroughly tested every feature. My primary device for this review was a Dell XPS laptop, but I also used a MacBook Pro and a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE to ensure a comprehensive evaluation.

The entire testing process spanned about two weeks, during which I captured numerous screenshots to include in this detailed review. I've tested everything from installation to advanced features, giving you a real user's perspective on what it's like to use CyberGhost day-to-day.

Keep reading for an in-depth look at CyberGhost's features, performance, and overall value.

Buying CyberGhost

CyberGhost VPN offers several subscription options to cater to different user needs and budgets. There are three main plans available:

  • 1-Month Plan: This plan is ideal for short-term users or those who want to test the service for a longer period. It comes with a higher monthly price compared to the other plans but includes a 14-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to request a refund if you're not satisfied with the service.
  • 6-Month Plan: The 6-month plan offers a more affordable monthly price than the 1-month plan. It is suitable for users who need a VPN for a medium-term duration. This plan comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee, providing ample time to evaluate the service.
  • 2-Year + 4-Month Plan: This is the most cost-effective option, offering the lowest monthly price. By committing to a longer subscription period, you can enjoy significant savings compared to the other plans. The 2-year + 4-month plan also includes a 45-day money-back guarantee, ensuring your satisfaction with the service.

When purchasing CyberGhost VPN, you have several payment options, including debit cards, credit cards, PayPal, and Google Pay. If you prioritize anonymity, CyberGhost also accepts Bitcoin payments, allowing you to subscribe without revealing your personal information.

In addition to the base subscription, you have the option to add a dedicated IP for a small additional fee. A dedicated IP can be beneficial for various reasons, such as accessing geo-restricted content, avoiding IP blacklisting, and ensuring a consistent online identity.

For a small price, I also selected CyberGhost Security Suite for Windows, which includes a Windows privacy optimization tool and software update finder. I was curious to see how these additional features would enhance the overall VPN experience.

The payment process is smooth and secure, handled by Cleverbridge, a trusted e-commerce provider. After completing the payment, you will receive a confirmation email containing your invoice and installation instructions, allowing you to set up CyberGhost VPN on your devices easily.

Overall, I found the buying process to be clear and user-friendly. The variety of subscription options and payment methods cater to different needs and preferences, which is a plus in my book.

Installation

After purchasing your CyberGhost VPN subscription, the first step is to create your CyberGhost account and log into the online dashboard. The dashboard is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, providing you with easy access to all the necessary tools and information.

From the dashboard, you can find installation links for various devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and even compatible routers. This allows you to set up CyberGhost VPN on all your devices quickly. The dashboard also enables you to manage your subscription, view your account details, and explore additional CyberGhost privacy tools that you may not be aware of.

CyberGhost Installation ScreenThe CyberGhost installation screen showing available apps for different platforms

The installation process itself is straightforward and typically takes around 2 minutes to complete. During the installation, you may be prompted to install OpenVPN-related software, which is essential for establishing secure VPN connections. Simply follow the on-screen instructions, and the installer will handle the rest.

Once the installation is complete, the next step is to activate your Dedicated IP, if you have purchased one. A Dedicated IP provides you with a unique, static IP address that only you can use, offering additional benefits such as consistent access to geo-restricted content and reduced chances of IP blacklisting.

Overall, I found the CyberGhost VPN installation process to be quick and user-friendly, allowing me to start protecting my online privacy and security within minutes. The clear instructions and easy-to-use interface made it easy even for someone who might not be very tech-savvy.

Interface

The UI of CyberGhost is easy to understand, having a pretty standard layout. It consists of a left side menu where you can access the main components:

  • Dashboard - analyze your system for security and privacy weaknesses and activate solutions with one click
  • CyberGhost VPN - every single one of the CyberGhost VPN servers are here. Take your pick and start your VPN connection
  • Privacy Guard - These optimizations give you more privacy, but don't disable any Microsoft functionalities.
  • Security Updater- From browsers to VPNs, everything connecting you to the World Wide Web is here.
  • My Account- An overview of your CyberGhost account details.
  • Settings- Change general, VPN, privacy, security updater, and account settings.

By default, the window is small and only a limited number of features can be visible in each tab.

The Dashboard lets you quickly connect/disconnect to the VPN, access privacy settings, and app update feature.

The VPN tab lets you see server details and download/upload speeds, as well as protocol used and uptime.

Similarly, the Privacy Guard tab lets you see your chosen protection level and the Security Updater tab will display out-of-date apps at a glance.

CyberGhost InterfaceThe compact view of CyberGhost's interface includes several key features

If you click the arrow on the left side tab you will open the whole interface. Many more details are visible here, such as the list of servers, privacy settings, smart rules, privacy optimization categories, a list of all vulnerable apps, and much more. You can click on the same arrow to go back to the small window.

Expanded InterfaceThe expanded view of CyberGhost's interface showing more detailed options

The UI is resizable and you have 2 themes to choose from: dark and light (the system default option is also available).

Interface SettingsCyberGhost's interface settings enable you to choose between light and dark themes

You can also activate or deactivate each module if you wish.

Module SettingsThe module settings in CyberGhost allow you to enable or disable specific features

While the interface is generally user-friendly, I don't think it's one of the most easy to use interfaces because of how the features are organized. I don't like that the small UI is still visible when expanding to the full UI. It feels a bit cluttered at times. However, once you get used to the layout, it's quite functional and provides quick access to all the essential features.

VPN Servers

CyberGhost boasts an impressive network of over 11800 servers in over 100 countries. It's worth noting that not all servers are physical. Some, particularly those in Asia and Africa, are virtual.

You can browse the list of servers on their website. Those without a green checkmark under Located are virtual servers. Also, those with a green checkmark under P2P are optimized for speed and torrenting. There's also an option to request VPN servers to locations you wish.

CyberGhost is the VPN Service with the most servers across the world. It has servers in Europe, Americas, Asia / Pacific and Africa / Middle East. Private Internet Access is also one of the top VPN providers with tons of servers.

This server selection interface allows you to easily connect to your preferred VPN server locations, either from the curated favorites list or by browsing all available servers. Dedicated sections for activities like gaming, torrenting and streaming make it convenient to find optimized servers for specific needs.

Server SelectionCyberGhost's server selection interface provide various categories including All servers, Dedicated IP, For Gaming, For torrenting, and For streaming

The "Favorites" displays a list of favorite CyberGhost VPN server locations, organized by country. Each location has a star icon to denote it's a favorite.

Favorite ServersThe Favorites section in CyberGhost's server selection interface

On the right, a panel shows which server you've connected to. The big round button lets you connect/disconnect from the server. Also, when you select a server category, you'll be able to connect to best server location (according to CyberGhost). Data usage and protocol are also shown.

Let's dive deeper into each server type below.

Dedicated IPs

Dedicated IP addresses are a feature offered by CyberGhost that assigns a unique, static IP address to a single user. This is in contrast to the typical VPN setup, where users share a pool of IP addresses and are assigned a different one each time they connect.

Here are the key points about dedicated IPs I found during my CyberGhost review:

  • Exclusivity: With a dedicated IP, you are the only person using that specific IP address. This can help avoid issues sometimes associated with shared IPs, such as being blocked or flagged by services that detect multiple users from the same IP.
  • Consistency: Your IP address remains the same each time you connect to the VPN. This is useful for services or applications that require a consistent IP, such as remote access to corporate networks, gaming, or running a server.
  • Geolocation: Dedicated IPs are often associated with a specific country or location. This can help bypass geo-restrictions and maintain access to local content or services that might block foreign IP addresses.
  • Avoid blacklisting: Since you're the sole user of the IP, there's less risk of it being blacklisted or blocked due to the actions of other users, which can happen with shared IPs.
  • Less anonymity: However, using a static, dedicated IP can potentially reduce anonymity compared to shared IPs. If an adversary can link your online activity to the dedicated IP, they could track you over time, even across different sessions.
  • Additional cost: Dedicated IP addresses are often an optional add-on feature that comes at an extra cost compared to the standard VPN subscription.

To set up the dedicated IP, I went to the CyberGhost online dashboard and redeemed a dedicated token that I used to select a location. Steps included:

  1. Acknowledgement that your dedicated IP token is available one time
  2. Pick your location: select location where the dedicated IP will appear, which you can't change
  3. Redeem your token: the token will be displayed with instructions on how to use it inside the app

I copied the token into the Dedicated IP tab in CyberGhost. After the adding was successful, the server was shown. You can see the country flag, city, and your dedicated IP in parentheses. You can also favorite or delete it.

CyberGhost Dedicated IPThe Dedicated IP section in CyberGhost include the added dedicated IP server

My experience with CyberGhost VPN's dedicated IP in Chicago, USA, was positive. The dedicated IP provided me with a fast and stable connection, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted browsing experience. Unlike shared IP addresses, which can sometimes lead to slower speeds or disconnects due to high traffic from multiple users, my dedicated IP offered a more reliable and consistent performance.

Gaming

Gaming servers in the context of VPNs are specialized servers optimized for online gaming. They are designed to provide a smooth, low-latency gaming experience while still offering the security and privacy benefits of a VPN. Gaming servers help mitigate some of the performance concerns that can arise when using a VPN for gaming.

Advantages of CyberGhost gaming servers:

  • Lower latency: Gaming servers are optimized to minimize ping times and latency. They achieve this through strategic placement in locations close to popular gaming server hubs, use of high-quality network infrastructure, and optimized routing protocols. Lower latency means less lag and a more responsive gaming experience.
  • Reduced packet loss: These CyberGhost servers prioritize gaming traffic and are tuned to handle the unique demands of gaming data packets. This helps reduce packet loss, which can cause jittering, network instability, or disconnections during gameplay.
  • DDoS protection: CyberGhost gaming servers include built-in DDoS protection to shield against distributed denial-of-service attacks. This ensures a more stable and uninterrupted gaming session, especially for competitive online games.
  • Bypass regional restrictions: The gaming servers can help bypass geographic restrictions imposed by some games or gaming platforms. This allows access to servers or matches that might otherwise be locked based on your real location.
  • Improved matchmaking: By connecting to a gaming server in a specific region, you can optimize your matchmaking pool and connect to matches with lower overall latency.

The gaming servers list include Frankfurt, London, New York, and Paris. The list of servers displays the location and server variant (because there are multiple servers in the same city), the ping (in milliseconds), distance, and favorite. It's usually best to select a location that's closest to yours and one with a lower ping. Most servers have a good ping value for gaming - less than 30 milliseconds.

Gaming ServersCyberGhost's gaming servers list displaying locations, ping, and distance

I didn't experience any issues while connecting to Counter Strike servers with a gaming VPN connection. The ping was great (about 30 ms) which helped my reaction time when moving around and headshotting opponents. This low latency is crucial for competitive gaming where every millisecond counts.

Torrenting

CyberGhost offers servers optimized for torrenting and P2P file sharing, which provide a secure environment for users who engage in these activities.

CyberGhost explicitly allows torrenting and P2P traffic on its network, although it does not condone illicit transfers of copyrighted materials. Torrenting servers are dedicated P2P servers optimized for fast and secure file sharing and are clearly marked within the app's server selection interface.

Torrenting ServersCyberGhost's interface showing servers optimized for torrenting

For this CyberGhost review, I've tested the speeds of the torrenting servers:

  • Germany: 129 Mbps download, 54 Mbps upload
  • France: 197 Mbps download, 213 Mbps upload
  • Spain: 13 Mbps download, 220 Mbps upload

The speeds are quite good and allow you to download files quickly. Yet, a Spain server was lagging behind for some reason – the upload speed was much faster than the download one, though.

I downloaded free Linux packages while connected to the Germany torrenting server and it went smoothly. The speeds were close to the non-VPN speed I was having. This is impressive, as many VPNs significantly slow down torrenting speeds.

Streaming

CyberGhost offers specialized servers optimized for accessing popular streaming platforms from around the world. These servers are designed to unblock geo-restricted content and provide a smooth streaming experience. Features include:

  • Dedicated streaming servers: CyberGhost maintains a list of dedicated streaming servers for various platforms, such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. These servers are specifically configured to bypass the VPN detection mechanisms employed by streaming services, ensuring more reliable access to content.
  • Smart DNS: CyberGhost includes a Smart DNS feature, which can be used to unblock streaming content on devices that don't support VPN apps, such as smart TVs, gaming consoles, or set-top boxes. Smart DNS routes only the traffic necessary for unblocking through the VPN, while other traffic connects directly, resulting in faster speeds and lower latency.
  • Regularly updated server lists: As streaming services continually update their VPN detection methods, CyberGhost regularly monitors and updates its streaming server lists to ensure they remain effective at unblocking content. This proactive maintenance helps you access your favorite shows and movies consistently.
  • Unlimited bandwidth and no throttling: CyberGhost offers unlimited bandwidth and doesn't throttle connection speeds, which is essential for high-quality streaming without buffering or interruptions.

I evaluated the VPN's effectiveness at bypassing geographical restrictions on services like Netflix and others, including any impact on streaming quality and speed.

I could not log into US, France, or Sweden Netflix at all. The error message was that my account and password were not ok. I was able to access Netflix UK and see the specific UK library. I was also able to access the Spanish, Dutch servers but the catalog was not specific to those countries (content that Netflix has worldwide rights for)

Conclusion: some servers work, others don't. It depends on your location and the server/countries you're trying to access.

Streaming ServersCyberGhost's interface allow you to access servers optimized for streaming

VPN Speed and Performance

My network configuration is Wi-Fi 5 protocol with a 866 MBps speed. My general observations on speed and performance across different servers and during different times of day is that the VPN is stable and pretty consistent regarding speed. There were a few disconnects, but not very often.

To test the speed of the VPN servers for this CyberGhost review, I used Ookla's Speedtest. Here are the results:

  • No VPN: 460 Mbps download, 476 Mbps upload, and 14 ms latency
  • USA, Las Vegas: 16 Mbps download, 41 Mbps upload, and 183 ms latency
  • USA, Dallas: 13 Mbps download, 229 Mbps upload, and 149 ms latency
  • USA, Washington DC: 18 Mbps download, 42Mbps upload, and 120 ms latency
  • GERMANY: 35 Mbps download, 67 Mbps upload, and 48 ms latency
  • FRANCE: 100 Mbps download, 22 Mbps upload, and 61 ms latency
  • SPAIN: 203 Mbps download, 211 Mbps upload, and 78 ms latency
  • ITALY: 166 Mbps download, 214 Mbps upload, and 75 ms latency
  • UK: 28 Mbps download, 198 Mbps upload, and 55 ms latency
  • BRAZIL: 12 Mbps download, 89 Mbps upload, and 252 ms latency
  • INDIA (virtual server): 14 Mbps download, 204 Mbps upload, and 303 ms latency

As expected, the VPN locations that were farthest from my physical location (Romania) performed the worst. The European locations were faster with speeds of up to 250 Mbps.

VPN Privacy Features

CyberGhost offers several privacy features designed to protect your online activities and personal data from unauthorized access. These features collectively create a secure and private browsing environment.

VPN Protocols

CyberGhost VPN supports three VPN protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard®. Each excels in different aspects such as security, speed, and compatibility, catering to various user needs and preferences.

  • OpenVPN is a reliable, secure, and open-source protocol that bypasses firewalls and proxy servers, maintains speed over long distances, and offers up to 256-bit encryption. It's available on Windows, Android, Linux, and Fire TV apps.
  • IKEv2 is a fast and secure protocol developed by Cisco and Microsoft, performing best when the VPN server is nearby. It's available on Windows, macOS, and iOS.
  • WireGuard is a modern, efficient protocol with state-of-the-art cryptography. It offers faster speeds than OpenVPN, boosts performance, requires fewer resources than IPsec, and supports all major operating systems. WireGuard uses "crypto-key routing" and ensures perfect confidentiality of transmissions. It's available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and Android/Fire TV apps.

You can change the protocols from the CyberGhost VPN settings. If you don't know which protocol to select, choose automatic selection, which selects the best sever for you depending on the activity you're doing.

VPN ProtocolsCyberGhost's settings include VPN protocol options

No-Logs Policy

CyberGhost operates under a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not collect, store, or monitor any data related to users' online activities, connection logs, or IP addresses. This policy ensures that even if compelled by authorities, CyberGhost would have no user data to provide, protecting users' privacy. Also, CyberGhost is headquartered in Romania, which has strong privacy laws and is outside the 14 eyes Alliance (a surveillance agreement where the member countries agree to share intelligence with one another).

Transparency

CyberGhost has undergone independent audits by reputable third-party firms to verify its privacy claims and security practices. These audits help validate the effectiveness of the VPN's privacy measures and provide additional assurance.

Recently, Deloitte, one of the big 4 professional services networks, audited CyberGhost's no logs policy and found no faults. This adds an extra layer of trust to their privacy claims.

Strong Encryption

CyberGhost uses AES-256 encryption, which provides a robust level of security for all data transmitted through the VPN tunnel. This encryption protects online activities from being monitored or intercepted by third parties, including ISPs, government agencies, or hackers.

Kill Switch

The VPN includes an automatic kill switch feature that instantly severs the internet connection if the VPN tunnel drops unexpectedly. This prevents any unencrypted data from leaking outside the secure VPN connection, thus protecting your real IP address and online activities from being exposed.

You can enable the automatic kill switch in the Privacy settings.

CyberGhost Kill SwitchCyberGhost's settings showing the kill switch option

DNS and IP Leak Protection

CyberGhost implements DNS and IP leak protection to ensure that all DNS requests and data traffic are routed through the VPN tunnel. This feature prevents potential leaks that could reveal your online activities or real IP address to their ISP or other third parties.

To test the DNS and IP leak protection for this CyberGhost review, I did these tests:

You can enable the option to prevent DNS leaks in the privacy settings. CyberGhost will use their nameservers to stay safe from DNS leaks.

Ad, Tracking, and Malware Blocking

CyberGhost offers built-in blockers for DNS domains used for ads, trackers, and malicious websites. By preventing these elements from loading, the VPN reduces online tracking, enhances privacy, and protects you from potential malware infections.

You can enable the content blocking in the privacy settings. However, CyberGhost's level of anti-malware protection is not the best. I recommend using a standalone antivirus solution like Norton and Bitdefender to enhance your protection against malware.

Also, CyberGhost automatically secures your connections when they join public Wi-Fi networks, protecting your data from potential interception or snooping by other users on the same network.

Smart Rules

Smart rules are actions that allow you to automate and customize your VPN usage. You can access them via VPN > Smart rules.

Smart RulesThe Smart Rules settings include settings for connecting to VPN when launching the app and more.

The rules are:

  • Connect on launch: When enabled, it automatically starts a VPN connection when launching the CyberGhost app. You .
  • Launch an app: When enabled, it would allow the user to choose an app to start automatically after CyberGhost establishes a VPN connection.
  • Wi-Fi protection: Options to define actions when detecting new secured or unsecured Wi-Fi networks. You can choose to be asked what to do in each case.
  • Exceptions: Allows exclusion of specific websites from the VPN tunnel, keeping in mind that OpenVPN is the default protocol for this feature.
  • App rules: Enables automatically launching and connecting to a VPN server when opening a designated app.

These smart rules provide flexibility in tailoring the VPN behavior to your needs, such as automatically securing untrusted Wi-Fi connections, bypassing the VPN for certain websites, or ensuring a VPN is active when using sensitive applications. The options support a more seamless and personalized VPN experience.

Split Tunneling

App Split Tunnel is a feature available only on the Android version of the CyberGhost VPN app. This feature allows you to specify which apps will access the internet through the VPN tunnel and which apps will bypass the VPN encryption.

By default, CyberGhost routes all traffic from all apps through the VPN tunnel, which means your IP address is changed and all traffic is encrypted for every app on your Android device. If you don't make any changes to the Split Tunneling settings after installing CyberGhost on your Android device, all of your apps will use the VPN connection by default.

The App Split Tunnel feature gives you the flexibility to exclude specific apps from the VPN connection while still preserving the protection and privacy benefits of the VPN for the rest of your apps. This can be useful in situations where you need certain apps to access the internet directly, such as when using location-based services or accessing content that is restricted to your actual physical location.

It's important to note that the App Split Tunnel feature is currently only available on the Android version of the CyberGhost app and is not supported on other platforms like Windows, macOS, iOS, or Linux.

Windows Privacy Optimization

The Windows privacy optimization feature (Privacy Guard) in CyberGhost VPN allows you to take control over your Microsoft settings. You have three different privacy levels users can choose from:

  • Basic: This level is described as "Play it safe, get more privacy but keep all the Microsoft functionalities." It suggests that selecting this level will enhance privacy while keeping all the features and functions provided by Microsoft.
  • Advanced: The description for this level states, "Take it to the next level: protect yourself better by also disabling some features." Choosing the Advanced privacy level will provide better protection but may disable certain Microsoft features in the process.
  • Custom: This level allows you to "Get in charge: take your pick and optimize everything yourself." The Custom option gives you full control to tailor your privacy settings.

Additionally, the feature allows you to import your own optimization list, potentially giving you even more control over the privacy settings.

Windows Privacy OptimizationCyberGhost's Windows Privacy Optimization feature has different privacy levels

You can access the Privacy Guard via the left sidebar of the main UI. The privacy window is divided into left panel for quick selection of optimization categories and main panel for enabling those choices. The left panel of the CyberGhost VPN Windows Privacy Optimization feature consists of a search bar and several categories:

  • Basic Optimizations: Contains a set of optimization options that enhance privacy without disabling any Microsoft functionalities.
  • Advanced Optimizations: more advanced optimization options that provide better privacy protection but may disable some Windows features or functionalities.
  • App Privacy: privacy settings related to individual applications installed on your device.
  • Microsoft Edge: privacy optimization options specific to the Microsoft Edge web browser.
  • Mozilla Firefox: availability of privacy optimization settings tailored for the Mozilla Firefox web browser.
  • Google Chrome: privacy optimization options designed for the Google Chrome web browser.
  • Updates: settings related to Windows updates and impact on privacy.
  • Microsoft Defender: Suggests the presence of privacy optimization options related to the Microsoft Defender security suite.
  • View All: View all available optimization options across all categories.
  • Preview Changes: Preview the changes that will be made based on the selected optimization options before applying them.
Windows Privacy Optimization CategoriesThe Windows Privacy Optimization categories are diverse

In the middle pane, you can see each optimization option you can toggle on and off. These optimizations are designed to improve privacy by disabling various data collection and advertising features in Windows, such as the Inventory Collector, advertising ID, Bluetooth ads, and the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program.

The right panel then shows the privacy level. Underneath the privacy level, the panel displays the number of active optimizations. They are a total 69 available optimizations are currently enabled.

At the bottom of the panel, there are two buttons: apply the selected optimizations or revert to restore settings to the previous state. Lastly, there is a toggle switch labeled "Monitor," which is currently set to "On." This means that the Privacy Guard feature constantly monitors your privacy settings and optimizations in real-time.

Software Updater

With Security Updater you can scan your device and get an overview of all your software, spot the apps that need updating, and see the security impact of your outdated apps.

CyberGhost Software UpdaterFrom the Software Updater interface, you can update your installed software.

This feature consists of three main sections:

  1. The left panel contains a search bar and several categories, such as Business, Productivity, Utilities, Internet, Social, Media, Games, and System. There are also options for Unsorted apps, All apps, and Impacted apps. Users can navigate through these categories to find specific applications or view all the apps installed on your device.
  2. The middle pane displays the "Impacted apps," which are applications on the user's device that are susceptible to security threats. In this case, the pane shows three apps: Evernote, Hotspot Shield, and Steam. For each app, it provides information about the publisher, installed version, newest available version, and the security impact. You can click on "Show details" to view more information about the vulnerability or choose to ignore the alert.
  3. The right pane, titled "Security Updater," provides an overview of the scan status and the number of apps that require attention. In this example, the scan status shows "Security: You are OK," indicating that the user's device is currently secure. In my CyberGhost review tests, the update found 3 apps to be updated.

Device Compatibility

CyberGhost VPN offers extensive device compatibility, ensuring that you can secure your internet connection across a wide range of platforms and devices.

Desktop and Mobile Devices: CyberGhost VPN offers dedicated apps for Windows (7 to 11), macOS (Sierra to Ventura), Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, and more), Android (5.0+), and iOS (13.0+), ensuring secure connections on computers and smartphones. 

Streaming Devices and Gaming Consoles: It's compatible with smart TVs and streaming devices like Android TV (5.0+), Amazon Fire TV & Fire Stick (Fire OS 4.6+), Apple TV (tvOS 13.0+), as well as gaming consoles such as Xbox (360, One) and PlayStation (3, 4), allowing secure access to content on the big screen. 

Additional Platforms: CyberGhost VPN provides browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge; supports routers compatible with OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, or PPTP protocols; and works with Kodi (17.0+) and NAS devices, offering comprehensive protection across all your devices. 

Whether you're using a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet, or even a smart TV, CyberGhost VPN has you covered.

CyberGhost Review: Conclusion and Recommendations

CyberGhost VPN is a comprehensive and user-friendly virtual private network service that offers a wide range of features to protect users' online privacy and security. With a large network of servers across the globe, strong encryption protocols, and a strict no-logging policy, CyberGhost provides a reliable and secure browsing experience.

The VPN client is easy to use and offers a variety of customization options, catering to both novice and advanced users. Additional features like ad-blocking, malware protection, and Wi-Fi protection further enhance the user's online security.

The Windows Privacy Optimization feature is a valuable addition, allowing users to easily manage your privacy settings and protect your data from potential threats. The Software Patch Finder is another useful tool that helps you keep your installed applications up to date, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities.

ICyberGhost is a solid choice for anyone looking to protect your digital footprint. However, CyberGhost doesn't convince you, then ExpressVPN and NordVPN are excellent options. Explore our full list of the best VPNs for 2024.

To make the most out of CyberGhost, here are my usage recommendations:

  • Use CyberGhost VPN to secure your online activities, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks or accessing sensitive information.
  • Take advantage of the Windows Privacy Optimization feature to tailor your privacy settings and minimize data collection by Microsoft and third-party apps.
  • Regularly use the Software Patch Finder to scan for outdated applications and update them to the latest versions, ensuring better security and protection against known vulnerabilities.
  • When selecting a VPN protocol, consider your specific needs: OpenVPN for balance between security and speed, IKEv2 for faster connections, and WireGuard® for the latest encryption technology.
  • If you require VPN access for specific applications or services, utilize the App Split Tunnel feature (Android only) to tailor your VPN usage and keep optimal performance.
  • Explore the various server locations offered by CyberGhost to find the best connection speed and stability for your needs, and experiment with different settings to improve your VPN experience.
Editor image

Octav Fedor (Cybersecurity Editor)

Octav is a cybersecurity researcher and writer at AntivirusGuide. When he’s not publishing his honest opinions about security software online, he likes to learn about programming, watch astronomy documentaries, and participate in general knowledge competitions.

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