this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2026
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162
Windscribe: Proton VPN got caught running secret price tests on users, then denied it. Their own code revealed the opposite (piefed.world)
submitted 1 month ago by beep@piefed.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
22 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Note: I couldn't crosspost as the automod would remove it.

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[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 90 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (5 children)

My entire comment history is filled with criticism of capitalism, and I have a bunch of issues with proton, but this is just sad and not something I care about.

They are testing what price point is most attractive for NEW customers on a 24 month intro offer. Both of these offers revert to the standard price after 24 months.

Windscribe, as a 5 eyes based VPN, is not trustworthy, and posting "gotchas" like this makes them even more suspect. Proton is one of the only providers that offer a permanently free VPN. Windscribe has no free option.

Personally, I think a moral company would offer permanent discounts to long term customers, but there isn't a single company on earth I'm aware of that actually does that.

[–] EncryptKeeper@lemmy.world 39 points 1 month ago (2 children)

The anti-Proton propaganda machine is nuts. I have never in all my life seen so much time and energy put into trying to manufacture outrage over a single company.

[–] 13igTyme@piefed.social 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Didn't the CEO show support for someone in the Trump administration? That alone is enough for me to pass.

[–] vogi@piefed.social 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Context matters. I think this article gives it fairly well. Many people jumped to conclusions really fast.

https://medium.com/@ovenplayer/does-proton-really-support-trump-a-deeper-analysis-and-surprising-findings-aed4fee4305e

[–] 13igTyme@piefed.social 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Yeah that was it. Trump picked someone for a position, CEO comments on good pick, Trump always picks the shittiest people.

No more analysis needed.

He also praised Trump for being "Anti-big business" lol what a fucking joke.

[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

CEO made the exact same mistake most capitalist "Liberals" make, going all the way back to the Weimar republic and Hitler; believing what fascists say, are acting in good faith, and ignoring their actions; instead of being corrupt criminals and sociopaths who don't care about the meaning of words.

[–] 01189998819991197253@infosec.pub 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Makes me think that they actually have a product worth looking into

[–] mjr@infosec.pub 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

No, it's just that it's annoying they seemed OK, then the CEO turned out to be a fan of Trump policies. People are angry. Makes you want to call the new emergency number!

[–] Hawk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 month ago (2 children)

"Fan of Trump policies"

Supporting Trump saying his new Antitrust Division appointee will fight Big Tech is not something I'd equate to supporting his policies.

[–] ryper@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 month ago

The "anti-Proton propaganda machine" doesn't get into details like that.

[–] mjr@infosec.pub 0 points 1 month ago

Believing anything Trump says shows a worrying lack of clue. So either gullible or evil. Neither is someone to trust with your privacy.

[–] amju_wolf@pawb.social 8 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Personally, I think a moral company would offer permanent discounts to long term customers, but there isn't a single company on earth I'm aware of that actually does that.

JetBrains do it with their IDE subscriptions, they give you a massive discount if you're subscribed for a few years, and even time on stuff like their educational license counts towards that. Super refreshing to see.

[–] wrekone@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 month ago

I have a "permanent" discount for Proton Pass Family, so long as I don't cancel the subscription.

[–] pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 month ago

Fortunately, I'm grandfathered in to proton's old plan so I'm holding this thing for life

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

... what are you talking about?

Windscribe does have a free option.

???

I have never given them any money or CC or bank info or anything, and use them semi-regularly.

Yep, they're 5 eyes, that's far from great.

But... they do have a free option.

[–] badmin@lemmy.today 2 points 1 month ago

X eyes

🤣

I didn't know that meme was still going.

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 26 points 1 month ago

A VPN provider complaining about another VPN provider, wow, another day on the internet

[–] deliriousdreams@fedia.io 11 points 1 month ago

The denial appears to be the main reason to be upset about this.

[–] kate@lemmy.uhhoh.com 9 points 1 month ago (2 children)

windscribe isn’t without controversy either; https://nitter.net/windscribecom/status/1991234536626106606

[–] isVeryLoud@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 month ago

Pot meet kettle

[–] Squizzy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Ffs how are so many cunts in prominent positions.

[–] unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de -2 points 1 month ago

Oooh what a surprise. Proton acting scummy, definitely never had that before :o