TigerVPN is a new Slovakian-based VPN service that offers a quick and secure way of connecting to other computers and the internet.
But, before we get ahead of ourselves, it is important to note that a VPN stands for a virtual private network, which was a technology traditionally used to link one computer to another through sometimes many networks using an ultra-secure data “tunnel.”
Now the system is usually used for data protection, identity spoofing, private browsing, unlimited media streaming, and as a hack around internet site filtering locations.
By offering many different locations in many different countries, as well as an ever-changing IP address relay system, VPNs are all but impossible to trace without powerful and sophisticated software.
TigerVPN, in particular, offers servers in 43 countries with 63 location, and what is unique about the setup is that Tiger claims to have granular control over the whole setup, handling the servers, networks, coding, and infrastructure themselves.
Normally, a VPN is controlled by a central software hub and handed off to various third-party providers at times because the nature of a secure network involves spreading out information as far as possible. This approach prevents hackers and unwanted prying eyes from pinpointing what server location actually stores your information.
Inasmuch, in this TigerVPN review, we will take a look at how fast this VPN service is, how secure it is, and how reliable it is. In addition, we will also look at where to company is located, what makes it different than other VPN providers, and it Terms of Use policy.
The Anatomy of a Tiger
TigrerVPN is a secure VPN provider out of the European country of Slovakia. The company was founded in 2011, and, in 2016, they rolled out new apps, a new VPN engine, and a new website.
And, while you may have heard of more than a few free VPN plug-ins for your web browser, VPN service is all that TigerVPN does, so they may be regarded as a bit of an authority.
They also run on a pay-per-service tiered platform and plans include the following:
The upshot is that no matter if you run Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS, you can still use TigerVPN.
According to one source, this is probably more because Tiger services are based on the Open Source OpenVPN protocols than from any slick Tiger coding, however, you will also find P2P services and the ability for multiple same network connections. We will cover all of this and more in out 2018 TigerVPN review.
Peer to peer, for those of you who are upright and facing the right way, is a way of networking without the traditional server/client hierarchy. Basically, the peer system is a mirror of your system, and you both have equal access to file sharing.
Peer2peer also generally supports simultaneous multiple access of files, while a server to client network implies a many to one relationship and the server hold authority and the top hierarchical privileges at all times.
Tiger VPN Review and Thoughts on Privacy
TigerVPN is pretty upfront about its privacy policy, and their bold statement that their services are built to purge data once it’s is received is topped only by their declaration that user data or activity is not ever logged.
In fact, in their Terms of Agreement, they only ever promise to check user data if it appears their rules have been violated. It’s a strong stance, but, as Facebook and Discord know all too well, it is difficult to play turn-the-other-cheek when the people using your services are accused of committing crimes.
However, we must say that so far, we are pretty down with some of the fair use rhetoric coming out of the TigerVPN camp, such as, it is a violation of policy to "restrict or inhibit any other subscriber from using or enjoying the service.” And the company has built-in a number of way that they can discipline violators, from imposing bandwidth restrictions and lockout period to the dreaded account cancellation without refund penalty.
Doing something so bad that is gets you the booted from a company that claims its users “can enjoy the service however they want” must be committing a heinous act, indeed. On the other hand, though, signing up for an account, according to many reviews, is pretty quick and easy. All you need to do is give tiger the cash and they will send you a password right to your email inbox.
The Tiger Roars Through Pretty Much Every Test
According to one site, speed tests came in at 15MBps on the US west coast and 30 MBps on the east coast.
That’s pretty good considering data has to travel across oceans and continents. However, there’s not much to do other than connect, and there are no knobs to turn or levers to push so it may leave beginners wishing for something more to do.
Aside from being austere, though the GUI features a black/yellow interface, and the bottom strip is set aside to show a prevalent connect/disconnect button, while the middle display square shows a map with locations to servers that are closed by, making it easy to connect to the nearest one to maintain your speed and autonomy.
Some reviews pointed to the fact that connectivity in European and other foreign countries was poor or non-existent, but TigerVPN is setting up new servers all of the time, and, at the time of this writing, the last count was 300 servers worldwide.
Plus, even though it has already been stated, it bears mentioning again that price plan includes unlimited bandwidth, which also includes unlimited P2P traffic.
Plus, you will get 2 to 5 simultaneous connections within the same network, and you can earn even more with Tiger's so-called “Karma Points” plan, where you can accrue points by like their Facebook page, media posts, and YouTube videos.
Moreover, TigerVPN engineers have come up with a brilliant way to prevent bottlenecking: keep 30% of the bandwidth in reserve. This way, they can allocate bandwidth to trouble spots on the fly, and we can all agree that that is a very good thing.
On Matters of Security, Logging, and Data Retention
TigerVPN uses OpenVPN protocols and also encrypts web traffic with an AES-256-CBC cipher, so it is extremely secure with your data, although one report did mention the TigerVPN failed its DNS Leaks test.
DNS is a background internet process that converts the IP number in web addresses to names, like Google or Amazon, and, in doing so, it creates a log trail of where your computer has been and how much time it has been there.
Moreover, for some reason, TigerVPN does not support Perfect Forward Secrecy, though it does claim, as mentioned, to have a strict “no-logs policy.”
However, as you might imagine, there are exceptions to that rule. And, according to one source, the Tiger platform will log some of your data, including servers you are connected to and bandwidth use, but the company claims that this info is only temporary and cannot be used to identify users or their internet activity.
If you read the fine print of your user agreement, though, you will also find that you email, and registration information may be stored on third-party servers, which could carry its own set of risks.
The company does have some things going for it, though, like the country it is headquartered in. As noted, TigerVPN operates out of Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, and that is important.
It is important because, constitutionally speaking, the country is not required to keep data retention records of any kind thanks to the country’s constitutional law. In fact, their judicial processes are set up to oppose any such directives or mandates of such nature coming from the EU. In fact, there are long lists of cases that have landed in Slovakian courts, and, each time, the courts decided such information mining practices are unconstitutional.
TigerVPN is “Beginner Friendly”
So far, we have talked a little about the sleek, if not austere, design of the TigerVPN interface and the smooth-running VPN-engine, but it appears to now be time to discuss ease-of-use and the user experience.
As noted, the GUI is so clean and seamless that it may lead new users wishing they had something more to do. And, in fact, that is not entirely a bad thing.
After all, alternative VPN’s are entirely configurable and, quite frankly, they can be a little overwhelming.
VPN flavors like ExpressVPN or VyprVPN and CyberGhost or NordVPN can send the beginner into a VPN tailspin before they even get started, and, so, Tiger has simplified its layout and offers various support channels including chat, email, helpdesk ticket system, and even helpful text bubbles within the GUI that pop up when you hover over clickable items.
Reportedly, support staff responds within minutes or your request, and, depending on your question, they may be able to resolve it remotely. However, it is not a 24-hour service and lines are only open between the hours of Monday - Friday, 8 am to 6 pm GMT+2.
Plus, according to many accounts, the staff makes every effort to be professional, patient, and pleasant.
Sign up is also quick and easy, as mentioned, and payment options include PayPal, credit cards, Bitcoin, Paymentwall, and more. Once you shell out your shells, Tiger will send you a password via email, and off you go. A word of caution, though, as your subscription will automatically be renewed without notification and charged to the card on file.
TigerVPN Review Wrap-Up
Finishing off this TigerVPN review, we liked the no-logging policy, in theory. We also like the clean interface and the lack of GUI controls (especially for beginners). Further, we like how easy it is to sign up, the customer support options, the P2P services, Slovakia’s policy on user data, and how many servers that are available worldwide.
However, we are not so hot on the auto-renewal policy with no notification, the lack of a kill switch, the reported DNS leaks, or the fact that email information may be stored on third-party servers.
All-in-all, though, TigerVPN seems like a good, solid VPN with a lot of potential, and, although the idea of Karma points is an interesting and interactive way of building brand allegiance, we think we might still wait until TigerVPN addresses a few more bugs before we feel like we can recommend it.