CyberGhost Review: Optimized Servers but Is It Still Secure in 2022?

We love browsing through the internet, but the internet is tracking your online footprints. People with malicious intent are everywhere watching you, criminals can hack your Wi-Fi while ISP monitors your personal data. With CyberGhost VPN, you can maximize your online security and privacy.

CyberGhost is the fastest-growing VPN that doesn’t scrimp on features. I’ve known CyberGhost in the past as a reliable and user-friendly VPN for beginners. I still praise the VPN provider for its roster of competitive features.

But with its parent company’s history warranting skepticism regarding malware and adware, I decided to put this VPN through some rigorous testing to see just what its new owner (Kape Technologies) has to offer you. 

The CyberGhost interface

During my tests, I meticulously looked into its security strength, server network, speed, streaming, usability, and more. It’s worth pointing out that a lot has changed with CyberGhost lately. I’m pleased with its excellent WireGuard speeds, a handful of best-in-class security features, and ease of use.

The Romanian-based provider has expanded its reach beyond VPNs with the best streaming support to Netflix fans. It’s not only a solid choice for anonymous browsing but has grown to offer the largest server network.

CyberGhost is now a much more popular VPN because of its affordable price. As of now, the service claims an active user base of around 15 million worldwide. It boasts an extensive server network of 7400+ servers I’ve yet seen.

I’m happy to note that there are plenty of noticeable upgrades since the last time I reviewed CyberGhost. One of the biggest improvements is the addition of a new WireGuard protocol, which allows for faster speeds and better security. That’s not to say everything is on point. There are some critical areas to improve.

The VPN provider should scale up its support site – it needs some work. But this isn’t as alarming as you’d think. CyberGhost has nearly everything we’d expect from a top-tier product.

I’ve done a bit of digging to uncover helpful details of CyberGhost VPN just in case you’re planning to sign up.

It unblocks geo-restricted content alongside a generous 7 simultaneous connections. With some powerful apps for all your devices, choose any plan to test it out risk-free for 45 days.

Today we’ll be doing an honest CyberGhost review to see how well it performs overall.

CyberGhost VPN is primed to bypass geo-blocking, granting access to over 35 streaming platforms out there. This includes Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

I consistently watched on-demand movies on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ with no snag. Interestingly, the process of connecting to Netflix libraries in different countries was seamless. Thanks to CyberGhost’s streaming-optimized servers that unblock platforms and get them working right away.

Most VPNs waste your time as you work to unblock censored sites. For instance, you’ll possibly need to try each of the server locations in turn before finding the one that gets you in.

As for CyberGhost, users can select specialist servers for a particular platform from the Streaming tab on the app location lists. Everything has been done for you.

This has made it much easier to find the best streaming servers using any app. Whether you’re a fan of “New Girl movie” or TV shows, just click through all content on Netflix whenever you need to.

Unblocked: US Netflix & other libraries

I successfully unblocked Netflix US when I connected to its optimized server in Dallas. All my videos were in HD quality every time. Even better, the app has optimized servers for streaming Netflix on Amazon Fire Stick and Android TV.

CyberGhost’s dedicated streaming servers let you access Netflix from other countries.  I connected to local Netflix libraries in the UK, Netherlands, Canada, and Belgium using CyberGhost regular servers on the first try. I hit an average speed of 30 Mbps, which is enough to watch 4k videos without any snag.

US and UK Netflix fans get the very best coverage than other locations. I got many listed servers in India, Japan, Brazil, Finland, Sweden, and Romania.

Unblocked: BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer has been working tirelessly to fight VPNs, of which a lot I’ve tested don’t get around their geo-restrictions any longer. The site only works in the United Kingdom due to rights issues. It’s only possible only if you use top VPNs like NordVPN.

Fortunately, CyberGhost optimized servers bypassed BBC iPlayer error. I watched the TV shows with just 3 seconds of load time. Server speeds were okay to buffer “Sherlock” in full High Definition without any buffering.

The quality was outstanding with no interruptions throughout the whole episode. The movie loaded instantly when I connected to the UK server.

Unblocked: Amazon Prime Video

I’ve read many reviews that CyberGhost doesn’t beat Amazon Prime Video blocks. So I wanted to find out these claims myself. I connected to its US servers; to my surprise, I watched videos within seconds. More impressively, I got great image quality with zero buffering.

I asked my friend to try out optimized servers for Amazon Prime from London, UK. He ultimately watched movies in Ultra HD quality. I expected slowdowns, but it took less than 5 seconds for each episode to show.

Unblocked: Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Kodi and more

While Disney+ continues to improve its VPN-detection technology, I’ve had a problem trying to unblock it with other VPNs. So, I didn’t expect much. But I was impressed with how CyberGhost’s optimized Disney+ servers worked for me.

The US and UK libraries have the most movies and shows for you. The servers offered better speeds with no buffering, lags, or bugs during the episodes.

All CyberGhost regular servers I tested unblocked Hulu and HBO Max. You won’t even detect any slowdowns. Aside from that, it unblocked Kodi effortlessly in a way that I even installed my favorite add-ons.

I successfully unblocked Netflix US when I connected to its optimized server in New York. All my videos were in HD quality every time. Even better, the app has optimized servers for streaming Netflix on Amazon Fire Stick and Android TV.

Netflix has specialty servers for Netflix and other streaming sites

CyberGhost’s dedicated streaming servers let you access Netflix from other countries.  I connected to local Netflix libraries in the UK, Netherlands, Canada, and Belgium using CyberGhost regular servers on the first try. I hit an average speed of 30 Mbps, which is enough to watch 4k videos without any snag.

US and UK Netflix fans get the very best coverage than other locations. I got many listed servers in India, Japan, Brazil, Finland, Sweden, and Romania.

BBC iPlayer has been working tirelessly to fight VPNs, of which a lot I’ve tested don’t get around their geo-restrictions any longer. The site only works in the United Kingdom due to rights issues. It’s only possible only if you use top VPNs like NordVPN.

Fortunately, CyberGhost optimized servers bypassed BBC iPlayer error. I watched the TV shows with just 3 seconds of load time. Server speeds were okay to watch “The Girl Before” in high definition without any buffering.

The quality was outstanding with no interruptions throughout the whole episode. The show loaded instantly when I connected to the UK server.

I’ve heard that CyberGhost doesn’t beat Amazon Prime Video blocks. So I wanted to find out these claims myself. I connected to its US servers; to my surprise, I watched videos within seconds. More impressively, I got great image quality with zero buffering.

I also connected to the servers for UK servers that are optimized for Amazon Prime. I was able to connect without issue and see a different selection of movies than what is available on the US Prime Video site.

While Disney+ continues to improve its VPN-detection technology, I’ve had a problem trying to unblock it with other VPNs. So, I didn’t expect much. But I was impressed with how CyberGhost’s optimized Disney+ servers worked for me.

The US and UK libraries have the most movies and shows for you. The servers offered better speeds with no buffering, lags, or bugs during the episodes.

All CyberGhost regular servers I tested unblocked Hulu and HBO Max. You won’t even detect any slowdowns. Aside from that, it unblocked Kodi effortlessly in a way that I even installed my favorite add-ons.

Overall, CyberGhost did an excellent job bypassing VPN blocks and letting me connect with streaming sites not available in my current location.

CyberGhost is the best speed VPN money can buy. All ultrafast servers in 91 countries offer the best experience for Netflix users, gamers, and torrenters. The VPN service is also way ahead of its competitors in terms of speed.

But how fast is CyberGhost? With my latest round of speed tests with different servers in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, the results put CyberGhost in the top half of the 5 fastest VPNs globally. I found that to be alright with my streaming activities.

Note: I used WireGuard protocol

I ran 3 servers using the speedtest.net tool – in the US, UK, and Australia. Before connecting the VPN, I ran a speed test to get my baseline. which resulted in an average speed of 84 Mbps.

My baseline speed

A CyberGhost server in New York gave me a speed of 35.45 Mbps.  That’s not bad considering it’s thousands of miles from my house, and I was able to browse, torrent, and stream without any noticeable slowdowns.

New York server speed

After that, I tried a server closer to home, with the London server stop there but went ahead and tested the CyberGhost server in London. The speed was impressive at 61.46 Mbps, and much close to my baseline speed. 

London server speed

Finally, I connected to an Australian server. The speed was an impressive 70.22 Mbps.

To summarize the results, while there was a drop in speed, especially when I connected with servers far from home, it was still fast enough for my needs. I was happy with the streaming quality and torrenting speed. With WireGuard connections now included, CyberGhost VPN servers provide blazing speed for streaming in HD quality.

A top-tier VPN should establish secure connections between its users and the internet. CyberGhost VPN is truly a secure service to use. Via the strong security features including, multi-grade encryption, a kill switch, and multiple tunneling protocols, CyberGhost is a winner.

• Military-Grade Encryption

In what seems to be a highly innovative move, CyberGhost VPN offers an AES 256-bit cipher on all its servers to encrypt your information. Modern banks, militaries, and other government agencies use the same encryption standard to conceal their sensitive data.

The technique uses 256 bits-long keys to encrypt data streams. It’s currently the highest level of encryption, which is virtually impossible to break. Hackers would take millions of years to brute-force it with the superfast computers they claim to have.

Even if a tracker intercepts your online movement, they won’t be able to monitor it. The VPN provider also offers Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS). The new feature automatically and frequently changes the keys used to encrypt the information.

That said, it’s unlikely for an attacker to decrypt the information from past or future sessions. PFS dissuades snoopers from attempting any attack that would compromise users’ privacy.

• A kill switch

CyberGhost comes with a kill switch that secures your web traffic at all times. It’s available on every app to disconnect your device from the internet if the VPN connection fails or there are network malfunctions.

Some causes of VPN dropouts may include:

• Firewall or router settings
• ISP interruptions
• Weak or blocked Wi-Fi signals
• Network congestion

A kill switch pauses your internet connection, protecting your location, identity, or IP address from being exposed. The feature is integrated to run automatically on iOS, Android, and Mac so that you don’t have to turn it on manually.

Strangely, things are a bit different when it comes to the CyberGhost Windows app. A toggle on/off option allows you to customize a kill switch, especially when switching between servers. Although it makes sense to give users the option, I don’t see a good excuse why you’d switch it off.

Security protocols

I love the fact that CyberGhost supports multiple VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and the latest WireGuard protocol. Users can secure their connection by switching between protocols based on their needs.

The Windows app chose OpenVPN for me, but you can opt for another if you want. OpenVPN is the most secure protocol highly recommended by experts. While you must sacrifice speed, the protocol is a viable option if you focus on safety over quickness.

After a round of tests, I found IKEv2 to be the fastest protocol. However, it prioritizes break-neck speeds over security. If a mobile phone is your all-day device, IKEv2 is the real deal because it auto-connects.

On the better side, IKEv2 combines with IPSec (IKEv2/IPSec) to form a security suite that protects your identity from leaking when connected to mobile Hotspots or public Wi-Fi networks.

I’m a fan of the new WireGuard technology as it strikes a balance between security and speed. I would recommend you to go with WireGuard because it’s lightweight, simpler, and more efficient than legacy VPN protocols. The latter significantly outperformed others in my IKEv2 vs OpenVPN vs WireGuard tests.

Bear in mind that OpenVPN isn’t available in iOS. IKEv2 runs only on Windows, Mac, and iOS. That’s to say, Android and Linux users are out of luck. You can use the latest WireGuard protocol on mobile apps, desktops, and Android Fire TV.

• In-built leak protection

Even when connected to a VPN, your IP address can still leak, and your data becomes visible. I decided to test CyberGhost for IP/DNS leak protection. So I ran several servers in different server locations in the US, Greece, Germany, and New Zealand.

Good news – CyberGhost passed all leak tests with zero IP, DNS, and IPv6 leaks. You don’t have to worry when connected to CyberGhost VPN. Its servers ensure any user-identifying data leak doesn’t happen. Your day-to-day web activity will then remain hidden.  

• Split tunneling

Split tunneling is a bonus feature that allows you choose which traffic goes through an encrypted VPN tunnel while the rest access the regular internet directly. With CyberGhost, you can access local and foreign internet services simultaneously.

I’m happy to report that I streamed foreign movies on Amazon UK without losing access to my Netflix US (local). However, the feature is available on CyberGhost for Android and Windows apps.

You can as well use App Protection to keep all programs safe. Once you add apps to the list, CyberGhost VPN will automatically establish the connection when you boot them up.

• Smart Rules

“Smart rules” is another added security feature that maximizes online security. It comprises CyberGhost launch rules, Wi-Fi protection, exceptions, and app rules.

Privacy is one critical factor to beat. Anyone who gets a hold of your IPs can freely track you – the so-called invasion of privacy. But with your IP hidden, you can avoid government surveillance even in tough countries.

CyberGhost is committed to preserving your privacy rights against many prying eyes. You won’t suffer at the hands of your ISP, hackers, and advertisers.

• Privacy Policy

It’s wanting to see many VPN providers claiming to offer a zero-logging policy. Sadly, my past tests reveal that this is just a catchy digital marketing slogan. I’m happy to announce that CyberGhost has a strict no-logs policy to keep users’ data private.

On its homepage, CyberGhost promises never to log

• Traffic data/search history
• Search preferences
• Your conversation on its network
• Real IP address
• Connection timestamps
• The website your visit

None of your connection logs or traffic data is logged when CyberGhost establishes its VPN connection. It doesn’t keep track of who you’re communicating with either.

It’s not possible to log, monitor, record, or store users’ data. Nothing to worry about since CyberGhost doesn’t have logs tied to your session duration, IP address, assigned servers, and connection timestamps. All this demonstrates why CyberGhost qualifies as the best no logs VPN.

While everything seems steady, there’s one potential problem for privacy-conscious individuals. I realized that the provider stores some hardware information of the user to monitor the simultaneous connections. Things like devices you’re running and screen size are included.

• Location/Jurisdiction

CyberGhost’s private data center is based in Romania. Being headquartered here is beneficial for a few reasons. First off, the country isn’t a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. It has strong data protection laws.

The ‘14 Eyes Spying Alliance’ consists of the EU, UK, and other countries who have agreed to share information if necessary.

Additionally, Kape Technologies – a cybersecurity firm that owns CyberGhost operates in the Isle of Man under the Romanian jurisdiction. This is welcoming because the Isle of Man is outside the “14 Eyes”. It’s a self-governing territory with a transparent data policy that focuses on users’ online anonymity. I thoroughly checked with them to get first-hand information.

This full-featured VPN is among the few services that boast a decent global network. Once you subscribe, you’ll get access to more than 7200 servers across 91 countries.

CyberGhost packs comprehensive servers worldwide with a sizable number to show in the Middle East, South America, and Africa. Bear in mind that most VPN companies disregard the 3 continents most of the time.

The more servers a VPN offers, the higher the chances of getting the fastest connection. With CyberGhost, you can pick the right server for spoofing your actual location hassle-free. But most of its servers are based in the most popular countries – the US, Canada, and Europe.

Over 1300 servers in the United States alone allow people to connect to US streaming libraries. Instant connections were just fine to watch Netflix without any load issues. CyberGhost offers its servers in 110 locations.

Its servers also cover regions with repressive internal policies like Russia, Turkey, Hong Kong, Vietnam, China excluded. All CyberGhost servers aren’t the same – around 8 percent of CyberGhost servers are virtual servers.

While speed drop-offs are steep, virtual servers boost solid coverage in regions with poor internet infrastructure. The company transparently explains why it uses virtual servers in 37 countries – Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Kazakhstan are good examples.

Virtual servers provide users with fewer security risks and impressive speeds in remote areas. CyberGhost organizes its fleet of servers into specialty categories for a quick selection. This includes:

• Streaming-optimized servers
• P2P-optimized servers
• NoSpy servers
• Dedicated IP servers
• Static IP address
• Gaming optimized servers.

You’ll find a list of P2P-optimized servers, streaming servers along with virtual servers. What about NoSpy servers? These servers are known for anonymity since CyberGhost owns them itself – no third party involved.

Having control over servers means active CyberGhost technicians can combat server downtime immediately it occurs. Possibly that could be the reason why these servers offer fast speeds.

The fascinating thing is that CyberGhost keeps updating its servers from time to time.

CyberGhost’s fast speeds are enough for online gaming. I like gaming when connected to a VPN because I hardly fall victim to DDoS attacks. Hackers find it too much hassle to infect my devices with viruses and malware for their own gain.

Gamers prefer a VPN that provides great speeds. Featuring optimized gaming servers, CyberGhost is among the few VPNs for gaming I’ve reviewed so far. London, Frankfurt, and Atlanta gaming servers performed well.

When looking for a VPN for gaming, buy these characteristics:

• Superfast speeds
• Large server network (Gaming optimized servers)
• Low latency

But you need to pick up the closest servers to maneuver in competitive online gaming. Faraway servers give you a high ping rate (latency), which can curtail entertainment in front of your machine. Remember the results will vary depending on the server location you’re in.

CyberGhost offers dedicated apps for Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, and Linux. Given that these apps are easy to use, you’ll instantly identify the best servers for browsing, streaming, gaming, and torrenting. It took me less than 4 minutes to install CyberGhost VPN on my desktop computer.

Signing up for a subscription plan is just a breeze. Windows and Mac apps are more user-friendly than others. I found that the Windows client is intuitive, bringing immense joy to less-tech savvy users.

Mac client feels great. It doesn’t have a lot to confuse you yet unobtrusive. Both apps are identical from their streamlined design to advanced features. They feature WireGuard protocol, 256-bit AES encryption, and ad blocking.

On the landing screen, you get 4 main interactive elements: menu settings, Power button, Arrow button, and Favorite server menu. I was happy with the apps because they’re easy to navigate. Connecting to your selected servers is straightforward.

CyberGhost’s developers have upped the game with their Linux client. The app looks attractive, simple, and polished. It selects the fastest server for you from the list.

You also get custom apps for Amazon Fire TV Stick, Kodi, and Android TV. It also supports DD-WRT, VU+ Solo 2, TomatoUSB Merlin Build, and Raspberry Pi routers. Anyone can download its free browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

It sounds better to connect up to 7 simultaneously on a single account. That’s what CyberGhost offers to secure all your house devices. You’re free to install the VPN on your router if you want more.

On the whole, all apps are easy to navigate. All features are visible. Servers are organized depending on the user’s online needs starting from “All servers,” “NoSpy Servers,” “For streaming,” “for torrenting,” and “For gaming.”

You can also choose the language for your CyberGhost VPN apps. More than 10 different languages are available for you.

CyberGhost offers user-friendly apps. The VPN is easy to set up. Once you log in, all you need to do is click the power button. Then, choose the best servers from the list to get started.

You can decide to use a drop-down menu, search bar, or scroll through the list of designated server locations to find what you’re after. Adding the best servers to the list of Favorites makes the connection even quicker.

Tweaking your settings takes no time. General settings, smart rules, security features are right under the cog on windows or mobile apps. You can easily turn the toggle on/off to change your settings to suit your needs.

Its interface is simple. Considering that other VPNs come with complicated apps, CyberGhost’s simplicity is a justifiable selling point.

For excellent customer support, the provider offers 24/7 live chat, email, Guides, and articles on its website. I tested out CyberGhost’s ‘live help’ to figure out its responsiveness. The support is really helpful.

Send them an email if your problem is intense. Its representatives will get back to you with updates on how to resolve your issues.

Besides, the site is full of how-to guides and articles with useful information. This includes steps to set up the VPN on devices, instructions about troubleshooting the VPN, and more. I also came across detailed FAQs, that had answers to a lot of different questions.

CyberGhost is cheaply priced if you go for a long-term plan. You can choose any of the three subscription categories: monthly, 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year plan. Each plan comes with a discount but the longer you commit, the huge the discounts.

I’d recommend a long-term subscription since you’ll enjoy a seasonal deal. Included in the package is the longest money-back guarantee that no premium VPN is ready to offer yet. New users are lucky enough to test it out for 45 days risk-free.

After using the VPN for 3 days, I tried to cancel the plan. CyberGhost approved my refund within 30 minutes. You’re entitled to get your full refund back as long as you ask within the specified time.

This generous refund policy makes the service ideal for regular VPN users. Windows and Mac apps allow a 24-hour free trial for those yearning to take a quick look at everything the apps have for you.

The payment methods include PayPal, credit card, debit card, or Bitcoin.

To this end, I believe you know how CyberGhost VPN performs in different areas. Recognized as a user-friendly VPN, CyberGhost provides a broad catalog of security features, speed servers, numerous locations, and excellent speed to offer users the best online experience.

Its unblocking capabilities prove that CyberGhost has a great capacity to access streaming sites without sacrificing speed. Thanks to its strict no-log policy, security protocols, industry-grade encryption, and a kill switch that keeps you anonymous while you surf online.

The app performance is an absolute bargain. You’ll be impressed by its easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and free browser extensions for Firefox and Chrome. We can’t forget to praise its Live Chat support, which is prompt and responsive.

Considering how cheap it is yet reliable, it’s worth giving CyberGhost a go.  A 45-day refund policy keeps you covered.