this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2026
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167
Windscribe: Proton VPN got caught running secret price tests on users, then denied it. Their own code revealed the opposite (piefed.world)
submitted 2 weeks ago by beep@piefed.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
27 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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

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[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 93 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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 41 points 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] mjr@infosec.pub -1 points 2 weeks 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 2 points 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago

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

[–] mjr@infosec.pub 0 points 1 week 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 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago

X eyes

🤣

I didn't know that meme was still going.

[–] RejZoR@lemmy.ml 29 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

I don't understand why Proton even needs to do this shit. They created a perfect privacy focused niche in world of creepy surveillance and decided to fuck it up with dumb marketing and pricing. Google, Microsoft, Meta, Palantir and the likes will NEVER become less creepy and less spying. So, why fuck that perfect business scheme by doing dumb shit?!

Same how they advertise one price, but if you already have an account and you login, suddenly the discounts disappear. Sigh. Me upgrading from Mail Plus to Unlimited should be subject of same discounts, just like you're attracting new users, the same way you'd attract me upgrading. Instead I get the full price. Would've upgraded already if it was 7,99€ as advertised instead of 9,99€. It would be for 2 years only anyway and then after this period at full price of 9,99€. But nope. So I might just as well wait and think about it a bit...

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Is there any proof proton have done anything dirty or just what another VPN provider says on social media?

[–] Zephorah@discuss.online 6 points 2 weeks ago

That was my first thought.

[–] jdr@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 weeks ago

Probably once the had enough money the MBAs showed up, their compound eyes glittering with enshittification.

[–] swooper@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

It was exactly this that drove me to downgrade from unlimited start self hosting.

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 28 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] deliriousdreams@fedia.io 13 points 2 weeks ago

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

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

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

[–] isVeryLoud@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 weeks ago

Pot meet kettle

[–] Squizzy@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Ffs how are so many cunts in prominent positions.

[–] unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de -4 points 2 weeks ago

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