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SafePaper Exposes Hidden VPN Ties Behind “Best VPN” Rankings

Author
HackerNoon
Published
Thu 28 Aug 2025
Episode Link
https://share.transistor.fm/s/6dacf9e3

This story was originally published on HackerNoon at: https://hackernoon.com/safepaper-exposes-hidden-vpn-ties-behind-best-vpn-rankings.

SafePaper reveals hidden ties shaping “best VPN” rankings, exposing affiliate deals and media ownership that mislead consumers.

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SafePaper’s report by Paige West shows many “best VPN” lists are influenced by hidden ownership and affiliate marketing, not product quality. Major VPNs like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark dominate rankings due to shared parent companies and media control, while independents like Mullvad are ignored. Consumers should scrutinize VPN ownership before trusting review sites.

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