Is Private Internet Access Safe? Security Review
4/5
Overall Safety Score
★
★
★
★
★
Verdict: PIA has the strongest court-tested no-logs record of any VPN, having been subpoenaed multiple times with nothing to provide. The Kape acquisition is a concern for some, but PIA's technical transparency through open-source code mitigates this.
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a long-established VPN service with open-source apps and a no-logs policy proven in court. Acquired by Kape Technologies in 2019, it remains one of the most technically transparent VPN providers.
Security Ratings Breakdown
| Category | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | 5/5 | |
| Privacy | 4/5 | |
| Track Record | 4/5 |
Security Features
- AES-256 encryption
- Fully open-source apps
- WireGuard and OpenVPN support
- No-logs policy proven in court (multiple subpoenas)
- Kill switch
- MACE ad and malware blocker
- Multi-hop support
Privacy Concerns
- Acquired by Kape Technologies (history as Crossrider, an adware company)
- US jurisdiction (Five Eyes country)
- However, court cases have proven the no-logs policy works in practice
Past Security Incidents
- Multiple FBI subpoenas in 2015 and 2016 resulted in PIA providing no useful data, confirming no-logs policy
- No data breaches of PIA infrastructure as of 2025
How to Stay Safe Using Private Internet Access
- Enable the kill switch
- Use WireGuard protocol
- Enable MACE for ad blocking
- Use a dedicated email for PIA account
Safer Alternatives
- Mullvad VPN (maximum anonymity)
- ProtonVPN (Swiss jurisdiction)
- NordVPN (Panama jurisdiction)
Last updated: February 10, 2026