''The following text on this page was a reported single incident as of March 2025. A while later in May 2025, Ars Technica reported their research into this issue, as more complaints started coming in; "In March, complaints started appearing online about lifetime subscriptions to VPNSecure no longer working".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=12 May 2025 |title=VPN firm says it didn't know customers had lifetime subscriptions, cancels them |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/05/vpn-firm-says-it-didnt-know-customers-had-lifetime-subscriptions-cancels-them/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250513003807/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/05/vpn-firm-says-it-didnt-know-customers-had-lifetime-subscriptions-cancels-them/ |archive-date=13 May 2025 |access-date=13 May 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref>''
I've purchased a supposed Lifetime Subscription to VPNSecure.me in 2018. As of beginning of 2025 I cannot access any servers.
{{ProductCargo
|ReleaseYear=2010
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=VPN
|Website=https://vpnsecure.me
|Description=Virtual Private Network service.
}}
==Background==
VPN Secure is a [[wikipedia:Virtual_private_network|virtual private network]] service that, from around 2018 to 2023, offered lifetime VPN service for a fixed, non-recurring price through online software storefront StackSocial. In 2023, InfiniteQuiant Ltd purchased VPN Secure from BoostNetwork Pty Ltd. In April 2025, thousands of these lifetime licenses were abruptly terminated, causing outrage among users.
The license was purchased in 2018 through StackSocial. The full name of the item was "VPNSecure: Lifetime Subscription". For a while the VPN worked totally fine.
==Company Acquisition and Deactivation==
==Acquisition and Deactivation==
In May 2023, VPN Secure was acquired by new owners. According to their email to customers, they acquired "the technology, domain, and customer database — but not the liabilities." On April 28, 2025, all lifetime deal accounts were deactivated.
VPN Secure was acquired by InfiniteQuant LTD in May 2023. According to their email to customers, they acquired "the technology, domain, and customer database — but not the liabilities." On April 28, 2025, all lifetime deal accounts were deactivated. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Vigliarolo |first=Brandon |date=14 May 2025 |title=VPN Secure parent company CEO explains why he had to axe thousands of 'lifetime' deals |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515211209/https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/14/vpn_secure_axe_lifetime_deals/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515211209/https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/14/vpn_secure_axe_lifetime_deals/ |archive-date=15 May 2025 |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=The Register}}</ref>
The new owners claim they were unaware of the lifetime subscriptions when they made the acquisition, stating: "Unfortunately, the previous owner did not disclose that thousands of Lifetime Deals (LTDs) had been sold through platforms like StackSocial."
InfiniteQuant LTD claimed that they were not made aware of the lifetime subscriptions when they made the acquisition, stating: "Unfortunately, the previous owner did not disclose that thousands of Lifetime Deals (LTDs) had been sold through platforms like StackSocial."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=12 May 2025 |title=VPN firm says it didn’t know customers had lifetime subscriptions, cancels them |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/05/vpnsecure-owner-says-it-had-to-cancel-unsustainable-lifetime-subscriptions/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref>
==Adding active logins as a requirement==
==Inactive Account Policy==
The VPN service hadn't been used in a while and then at the beginning of 2025 any attempt to connect to any servers was failing. Also the server list on the members page is showing following message: "INFORMATION: You will need to purchase a valid VPN membership to view server information. Select Buy Now from the menu" even though the profile page shows 2263 days of 7300 used (don't ask about why a LIFETIME Subscription equals to 7300 days).
Play Market page of the app is gaining more and more reviews from affected customers: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vpnsecure.pty.ltd&hl=en
In May 2024, VPN Secure's Terms of Service were updated with the following policy, regarding the deletion of inactive accounts:<blockquote>To maintain the integrity and efficiency of our services, any account with no active login for a period of six months will be automatically erased. Please note that this includes accounts with lifetime deal access.[[File:VPN Secure email to customers.png|thumb|E-mail sent to lifetime deal holders on the day of the shutdown, April 28th, 2025.]]If you have purchased a lifetime deal but fail to connect to your account within the specified six-month period, you will lose access to the lifetime deal. It is essential to log in at least once every six months to keep your account and lifetime deal active.
====Inactive Account Policy====
We encourage all users to maintain regular activity on their accounts to avoid deactivation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VPN Secure Terms of Service |url=https://www.vpnsecure.me/terms-of-service/}}</ref></blockquote>
'''IMPORTANT''': following policy was introduced in May 2024 - way after the purchase. See Internet Archive from April 2024 where the policy is not yet in place: https://web.archive.org/web/20240418204008/https://www.vpnsecure.me/terms-of-service/
So it's a classic case of changing the terms of purchase after the fact.<blockquote>To maintain the integrity and efficiency of our services, any account with no active login for a period of six months will be automatically erased. Please note that this includes accounts with lifetime deal access.[[File:VPN Secure email to customers.png|thumb|VPNSecure's email to customers which has the template appearance of having been written by chatgpt <ref>{{Cite web |title=reddit |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/vpns/comments/1ka40gh/vpn_secure_deactivated_all_lifetime_deal_accounts/#lightbox}}</ref>]]If you have purchased a lifetime deal but fail to connect to your account within the specified six-month period, you will lose access to the lifetime deal. It is essential to log in at least once every six months to keep your account and lifetime deal active.
===VPN Secure's response===
We encourage all users to maintain regular activity on their accounts to avoid deactivation.
VPN Secure hasn't responded to a support ticket asking to clarify the issue. However, affected customers report receiving emails claiming the new owners had provided "two additional years at no cost" as a "gesture of good will" and offering discounted renewal rates ($55 for 3 years, $19 for 1 year, or $1.87/month billed annually).
===VPNSecure's response===
Company hasn't responded to a support ticket asking to clarify the issue. However, affected customers report receiving emails claiming the new owners had provided "two additional years at no cost" as a "gesture of goodwill" and offering discounted renewal rates ($55 for 3 years, $19 for 1 year, or $1.87/month billed annually).
The company states they cannot issue refunds and directs customers seeking compensation to contact StackSocial or "the previous VPN Secure owner based in Australia."
The company states they cannot issue refunds and directs customers seeking compensation to contact StackSocial or "the previous VPN Secure owner based in Australia."
Latest revision as of 15:21, 14 August 2025
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VPN Secure is a virtual private network service that, from around 2018 to 2023, offered lifetime VPN service for a fixed, non-recurring price through online software storefront StackSocial. In 2023, InfiniteQuiant Ltd purchased VPN Secure from BoostNetwork Pty Ltd. In April 2025, thousands of these lifetime licenses were abruptly terminated, causing outrage among users.
VPN Secure was acquired by InfiniteQuant LTD in May 2023. According to their email to customers, they acquired "the technology, domain, and customer database — but not the liabilities." On April 28, 2025, all lifetime deal accounts were deactivated. [1]
InfiniteQuant LTD claimed that they were not made aware of the lifetime subscriptions when they made the acquisition, stating: "Unfortunately, the previous owner did not disclose that thousands of Lifetime Deals (LTDs) had been sold through platforms like StackSocial."[2]
In May 2024, VPN Secure's Terms of Service were updated with the following policy, regarding the deletion of inactive accounts:
To maintain the integrity and efficiency of our services, any account with no active login for a period of six months will be automatically erased. Please note that this includes accounts with lifetime deal access.
E-mail sent to lifetime deal holders on the day of the shutdown, April 28th, 2025.
If you have purchased a lifetime deal but fail to connect to your account within the specified six-month period, you will lose access to the lifetime deal. It is essential to log in at least once every six months to keep your account and lifetime deal active.
We encourage all users to maintain regular activity on their accounts to avoid deactivation.[3]
VPN Secure hasn't responded to a support ticket asking to clarify the issue. However, affected customers report receiving emails claiming the new owners had provided "two additional years at no cost" as a "gesture of good will" and offering discounted renewal rates ($55 for 3 years, $19 for 1 year, or $1.87/month billed annually).
The company states they cannot issue refunds and directs customers seeking compensation to contact StackSocial or "the previous VPN Secure owner based in Australia."
