- Surfshark has partnered with Internews to provide free VPN protection
- The company helps journalists and activists in nine high-risk countries
- Surfshark Joins Other Humanitarian VPN Programs to Protect Press Freedom
Surfshark has partnered with Internews, a non-partisan, international media support organization, to provide journalists and advocates with access to free VPN protection.
The partnership equips 100 media and civil society organizations in nine repressive and war-torn regions with encrypted connections that mask IP addresses and bypass state-imposed firewalls. This protects journalists from surveillance, protects their sources and allows them to fact-check and publish content without fear of internet shutdowns.
Surfshark already has an emergency VPN initiative, and this latest effort comes alongside a growing number of VPN-driven humanitarian projects, which include programs from some of the best VPN services.
Securing the front lines
The Internews-Surfshark partnershipp provides fully paid Surfshark One subscriptions to 100 media and civil society organizations operating in nine high-risk countries.
Surfshark One bundles core virtual private network (VPN) software with a suite of complementary security tools, including Surfshark Antivirus and data leak alerts, all protected by 256-bit AES encryption, a built-in kill switch, and an independently audited no-logging policy.
Surfshark One’s all-in-one package allows journalists to stay online even when governments block or limit VPN traffic, while defending against malware and alerting users if their personal data appears to be in breach.
As part of this support, Internews organized digital security training in Kampala for Sudanese journalists and civil society activists. Attendees received practical advice on how VPNs work, the specific threats they mitigate, and how to integrate Surfshark One’s comprehensive toolkit into daily reporting practice.
Trusted VPN services like Surfshark provide journalists and activists with the anonymity and data protection they need to work safely in hostile environments. By hiding IP addresses and enforcing a strict no-logging policy, a VPN makes it more difficult for authorities to determine who is accessing or posting sensitive material. The encrypted tunnel ensures that everything from documents to video files flows without interception or tampering.
Built-in security tools like Surfshark’s ad and tracking blockers, anti-malware scanners, and breach alert services also help protect devices from hacking attempts that could otherwise expose sources or compromise credentials.
When these safeguards work together, journalists can verify facts, transmit images securely, and ensure safe contact, which can mean the difference between a story reaching the public and a community kept in the dark.
VPN providers roll out humanitarian programs to protect journalists
Surfshark’s latest partnership with Internews builds on a history of humanitarian work. Surfshark already operates an emergency VPN service that provides free credentials to journalists and activists whose regular connections are blocked or disrupted.
It’s also not the only VPN provider to take this approach. NordVPN and IPVanish also offer comparable emergency VPN systems that grant temporary, free access to journalists in crisis zones.
Beyond emergency access, ExpressVPN maintains a digital security resource library that brings together tools, training, and best practice guides specifically for journalists and activists. Proton VPN is extending a dedicated discount for its Proton for Business plan to media organizations.
Reliable, unrestricted internet access, backed by a comprehensive cybersecurity suite, is therefore the cornerstone of press freedom in any high-risk environment.
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