Popular VPN never logs your data, independent auditors reveal

ExpressVPN working on several devices including Apple TV
(Image credit: ExpressVPN)

Independent auditors at KPMG confirmed that ExpressVPN never logs any of your identifiable information as stated in its Privacy Policy.

This is the 18th time ExpressVPN has put its service under scrutiny with a third-party audit since 2018, establishing itself once again as one of the best VPN services on the market.

The audit takes a deep dive into the provider's VPN server infrastructure and ensures that, as of 12 December 2023, the privacy systems work as promised.

ExpressVPN 2024 no-log audit

Developed in 2019, ExpressVPN TrustedServer is its very own technology at the base of its no-log claims. 

For instance, all the servers run entirely on RAM which needs power to store data. This means that nothing is stored on the server after a reboot. ExpressVPN's servers also come with an up-to-date code stack. So, every time the server is rebooted, the newest version of the stack (which includes the operating system (OS) and the VPN infrastructure above it) is loaded as a unique block to minimize the risks of bugs, other vulnerabilities, and misconfiguration.

KPMG thoroughly tested the description, design, and implementation of controls over ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer services. As of 12 December 2023, auditors could confirm that ExpressVPN's system successfully prevented the collection of any user activity logs. 

"We’re delighted to have KPMG scrutinize our systems, TrustedServer technology, and validate our adherence to our no-logs policy," said Aaron Engel, Chief Information Security Officer, ExpressVPN. "Regular assessments and audits by independent third parties help validate the strength of our security measures, bolstering our confidence in safeguarding our users."

As mentioned, ExpressVPN is very active on the independent VPN audit front. The provider has undergone 18 third-party audits since 2018 in a bid to boost transparency and assurance over both its security and privacy systems.

You can access and read the full KPMG's audit report here.

The benefits of no-log VPNs

As ExpressVPN confirms itself as a reliable no-log VPN, you might be wondering, why should you care whether or not my VPN logs user data? Well, you should if you care about your privacy.

This is mainly because a no-log VPN is your guarantee that no personal details or usage information is ever recorded. It is worth mentioning, though, that some logs of basic data are inevitable. This includes the number of users connecting to the same server and the email address associated with a user's account, for example. 

For instance, if a malicious hacker or government manages to acquire this data, none of your sensitive information will be leaked because the details simply won't exist. 

The importance of this feature has already been proved in real life when Swedish authorities were left empty-handed after an inconclusive police raid on Mullvad's servers last year. Another provider, Private Internet Access, also proved its no-logs claims in court, not once but twice.

We at TechRadar firmly believe that a strict no-logs policy should be among your top priorities when signing up for a new VPN service. Better still, if this gets regularly verified as correct by independent auditors as in this case.

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).

2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

TOPICS
Chiara Castro
News Editor (Tech Software)

Chiara is a multimedia journalist committed to covering stories to help promote the rights and denounce the abuses of the digital side of life – wherever cybersecurity, markets, and politics tangle up. She writes news, interviews, and analysis on data privacy, online censorship, digital rights, cybercrime, and security software, with a special focus on VPNs, for TechRadar and TechRadar Pro. Got a story, tip-off, or something tech-interesting to say? Reach out to chiara.castro@futurenet.com

Read more
A hand holds a smartphone displaying the NordVPN logo
"Privacy isn’t just a buzzword" – independent audit confirms NordVPN doesn't store your data
A repeating pattern of pink magnifying glasses on a light blue background
Why do VPN audits matter?
Mullvad VPN working on a laptop
Independent auditors confirm Mullvad VPN as secure
The logo of ExpressVPN vs NordVPN logo
ExpressVPN vs NordVPN: which VPN should you get?
best Secure VPN
Secure VPN providers 2025: safe options for the best security and encryption
ExpressVPN Lightway Protocol
ExpressVPN upgrades to post-quantum encryption NIST standards
Latest in VPN Services
ExpressVPN apps running on a laptop and mobile during TechRadar's testing
What's new in Lightway 2.0? Here are the 4 biggest changes I'm excited for
A VPN running on a mobile device
A new era for VPN testing? ATMSO publishes the first-ever testing standards in an "important milestone"
Aircove router, smartphone and laptop with ExpressVPN app on screen on a wooden table
ExpressVPN's Aircove becomes the first device equipped with Lightway 2.0 – and the upgrades don't stop there
ExpressVPN Lightway protocol in Rust – promo image
ExpressVPN's latest upgrade to Lightway hopes to create "the VPN protocol of the future"
Screenshot of Obscura VPN website
Obscura VPN promises to “set the standard for the next-generation of VPNs”
Mullvad VPN working on a laptop
Mullvad VPN lands on Windows ARM devices
Latest in News
Google Gemini iPhone Lock Screen
You can now access Gemini from your iPhone's lock screen
Michelle, Keats, and Doctor Amherst looking unimpressed and worried in The Electric State
Netflix drops trailer for The Electric State, and I'm getting serious District 9 vibes
YouTube TV
YouTube TV might be planning a big Netflix update that puts the best streaming services first
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Here are the 7 best Pixel 9 and Pixel Watch 3 features landing in March’s Pixel Feature Drop
Bang & Olufsen Beogram 4000C Saint Laurent Rive Droite Edition
Bang & Olufsen's latest reworked turntable is a masterpiece of retro revival, in a breathtaking wooden presentation box
Apple Watch Series 10
Apple unveils new Apple Watch bands – here's what's in the Spring 2025 collection