Jump to content

VPN Secure: Difference between revisions

From Consumer Rights Wiki
added to category cybersecurity companies
Sgath92 (talk | contribs)
m fixed error
 
(6 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 10: Line 10:
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.
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.


==Acquisition and Deactivation==
==Incidents==
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> InfiniteQuant LTD is a company based in Nassau started by Frenchman Romain Brabant. The company offered expatriation to the Bahamas to reduce tax burdens. It is unclear why they may have purchased a VPN. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Epatriation aux Bahamas {{!}} InfiniteQuant.com |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216125557/https://www.infinitequant.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216125557/https://www.infinitequant.com/ |archive-date=2025-02-16 |website=InfiniteQuant LTD}}</ref>  
''Other incidents not listed here are found in the [[:Category:VPNSecure|VPNSecure]] category.''
===Acquisition and Deactivation===
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://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> InfiniteQuant LTD is a company based in Nassau started by Frenchman Romain Brabant. The company offered expatriation to the Bahamas to reduce tax burdens. It is unclear why they may have purchased a VPN. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Epatriation aux Bahamas {{!}} InfiniteQuant.com |url=https://www.infinitequant.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216125557/https://www.infinitequant.com/ |archive-date=2025-02-16 |website=InfiniteQuant |language=fr}}</ref>  


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> At least 500 lifetime subscriptions were sold through Stacksocial for $39.99. <ref>{{Cite web |title=VPNSecure Online Privacy: Lifetime Subscription {{!}} StackSocial |url=https://www.stacksocial.com/sales/vpn-secure-online-privacy-subscriptions?sid=zd-ea1790eba0524f29a74ab340d594c48c-amp&aid=a-ceempx7z&c_correlation_id=ea1790eba0524f29a74ab340d594c48c&c_tenant_id=src_1kYsAcdpfzbZ8UlNLYht1RPg3m2&srsltid=AfmBOopfHrB7l9r1Iw5rRmvyG-A9GK9cUvw8aX30gMubcF8l5NYwv2N3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816191114/https://www.stacksocial.com/sales/vpn-secure-online-privacy-subscriptions?sid=zd-ea1790eba0524f29a74ab340d594c48c-amp&aid=a-ceempx7z&c_correlation_id=ea1790eba0524f29a74ab340d594c48c&c_tenant_id=src_1kYsAcdpfzbZ8UlNLYht1RPg3m2&srsltid=AfmBOopfHrB7l9r1Iw5rRmvyG-A9GK9cUvw8aX30gMubcF8l5NYwv2N3 |archive-date=2025-08-16 |website=Stacksocial}}</ref>
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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251227045801/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/05/vpnsecure-owner-says-it-had-to-cancel-unsustainable-lifetime-subscriptions/ |archive-date=27 Dec 2025}}</ref> At least 500 lifetime subscriptions were sold through Stacksocial for $39.99. <ref>{{Cite web |title=VPNSecure Online Privacy: Lifetime Subscription {{!}} StackSocial |url=https://www.stacksocial.com/sales/vpn-secure-online-privacy-subscriptions?sid=zd-ea1790eba0524f29a74ab340d594c48c-amp&aid=a-ceempx7z&c_correlation_id=ea1790eba0524f29a74ab340d594c48c&c_tenant_id=src_1kYsAcdpfzbZ8UlNLYht1RPg3m2&srsltid=AfmBOopfHrB7l9r1Iw5rRmvyG-A9GK9cUvw8aX30gMubcF8l5NYwv2N3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816191114/https://www.stacksocial.com/sales/vpn-secure-online-privacy-subscriptions?sid=zd-ea1790eba0524f29a74ab340d594c48c-amp&aid=a-ceempx7z&c_correlation_id=ea1790eba0524f29a74ab340d594c48c&c_tenant_id=src_1kYsAcdpfzbZ8UlNLYht1RPg3m2&srsltid=AfmBOopfHrB7l9r1Iw5rRmvyG-A9GK9cUvw8aX30gMubcF8l5NYwv2N3 |archive-date=2025-08-16 |website=Stacksocial}}</ref>


==Inactive Account Policy==
===Inactive Account Policy===


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.
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.


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>
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/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251202162627/https://www.vpnsecure.me/terms-of-service/ |archive-date=2 Dec 2025}}</ref></blockquote>


===VPN Secure's response===
====VPN Secure's response====




Line 43: Line 45:
|}
|}
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."
==Consumer friendly alternatives==
*[https://mullvad.net/vpn Mullvad VPN]
*[https://protonvpn.com/ ProtonVPN]


==References==
==References==
<references />[[:Category:Cybersecurity companies]]
<references />
[[Category:VPN Secure]]

Latest revision as of 01:57, 5 January 2026

VPN Secure
Basic Information
Release Year 2010
Product Type VPN
In Production Yes
Official Website https://vpnsecure.me


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.

Incidents

[edit | edit source]

Other incidents not listed here are found in the VPNSecure category.

Acquisition and Deactivation

[edit | edit source]

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 is a company based in Nassau started by Frenchman Romain Brabant. The company offered expatriation to the Bahamas to reduce tax burdens. It is unclear why they may have purchased a VPN. [2]

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."[3] At least 500 lifetime subscriptions were sold through Stacksocial for $39.99. [4]

Inactive Account Policy

[edit | edit source]

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.[5]

VPN Secure's response

[edit | edit source]

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 significantly discounted renewal rates.

Pricing 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years
Current Price[6] $9.95 $79.92 $107.64
Discounted Price $1.87 $19.00 $55.00

The company states they cannot issue refunds and directs customers seeking compensation to contact StackSocial or "the previous VPN Secure owner based in Australia."

Consumer friendly alternatives

[edit | edit source]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. Vigliarolo, Brandon (14 May 2025). "VPN Secure parent company CEO explains why he had to axe thousands of 'lifetime' deals". The Register. Archived from the original on 15 May 2025. Retrieved 12 Aug 2025.
  2. "Epatriation aux Bahamas | InfiniteQuant.com". InfiniteQuant (in français). Archived from the original on 2025-02-16.
  3. Harding, Scharon (12 May 2025). "VPN firm says it didn't know customers had lifetime subscriptions, cancels them". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 27 Dec 2025. Retrieved 12 Aug 2025.
  4. "VPNSecure Online Privacy: Lifetime Subscription | StackSocial". Stacksocial. Archived from the original on 2025-08-16.
  5. "VPN Secure Terms of Service". Archived from the original on 2 Dec 2025.
  6. "Pricing | VPNsecure.me". VPN Secure. Archived from the original on 2025-08-14.