CyberGhost Transparency Report
2011-2014
As a global leading anonymizing service provider, CyberGhost VPN is committed first and foremost to protecting its users' privacy. Therefore, CyberGhost VPN does not observe, record, log or store any user data.
True to the company's mission to protect its users, CyberGhost VPN has decided to publish a Transparency Report detailing only the number of the requests to disclose individual users' personal data received since its founding in 2011 up to the present day. The requests have been made by authorities, companies and individuals in relation to suspected offenses carried out through CyberGhost VPN. The company has not and could not in any circumstance provide user data to those who request it, because this would be in breach of CyberGhost VPN's mission to protect its users, and because no user data records exist.
Since CyberGhost VPN does not keep any records, the report does not list additional procedures following the requests. A review of the legality of the requests has not taken place either.
Before 2011, when the company operated in Germany, there was a single incident that went beyond the ordinary procedures. Back then, the company's policy not to store user data led in May 2010 to a search warrant for the company's premises and the seizure by authorities of storage media. Because the company did not store any user data, the police was unable to find anything of use.
| Month | Country Code | Country Name | Number of DMCAs | Number of Police Requests | Number of Malicious Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul - 11 | DE | Germany | 19 | 0 | 3 | |
| Aug - 11 | DE | Germany | 31 | 3 | 11 | |
| Oct - 11 | DE | Germany | 22 | 4 | 4 | |
| Nov - 11 | DE | Germany | 36 | 1 | 2 | |
| RU | Russia | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Dec - 11 | DE | Germany | 30 | 3 | 6 | |
| US | United States | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Jan - 12 | CH | Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| DE | Germany | 18 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Feb - 12 | DE | Germany | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Mar - 12 | DE | Germany | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Apr - 12 | DE | Germany | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| May - 12 | CH | Switzerland | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| DE | Germany | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||
| FI | Finland | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| NL | Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Jun - 12 | CH | Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| DE | Germany | 9 | 0 | 5 | ||
| GB | Great Britain | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| LU | Luxembourg | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| PL | Poland | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| RO | Romania | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Jul - 12 | DE | Germany | 24 | 1 | 2 | |
| GB | Great Britain | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| LU | Luxembourg | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| US | United States | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Aug - 12 | DE | Germany | 48 | 3 | 2 | |
| IT | Italy | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Sep - 12 | CH | Switzerland | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| DE | Germany | 74 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Oct - 12 | CZ | Czech Republic | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| DE | Germany | 50 | 0 | 5 | ||
| ES | Spain | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FR | France | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Nov - 12 | DE | Germany | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| ES | Spain | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| NL | Netherlands | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| US | United States | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Dec - 12 | CZ | Czech Republic | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| DE | Germany | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| RO | Romania | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||
| RU | Russia | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Jan - 13 | DE | Germany | 63 | 0 | 3 | |
| RO | Romania | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Feb - 13 | DE | Germany | 16 | 0 | 2 | |
| RO | Romania | 11 | 0 | 0 | ||
| RU | Russia | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| US | United States | 9 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Mar - 13 | DE | Germany | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
| US | United States | 11 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Apr - 13 | DE | Germany | 39 | 0 | 3 | |
| RO | Romania | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| RU | Russia | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| US | United States | 4 | 0 | 2 | ||
| May - 13 | DE | Germany | 85 | 0 | 0 | |
| RO | Romania | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| US | United States | 7 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Jun - 13 | DE | Germany | 75 | 1 | 0 | |
| RO | Romania | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| US | United States | 51 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Jul - 13 | DE | Germany | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
| RO | Romania | 16 | 0 | 2 | ||
| RU | Russia | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| US | United States | 29 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Aug - 13 | DE | Germany | 84 | 1 | 2 | |
| NL | Netherlands | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| RO | Romania | 44 | 0 | 5 | ||
| US | United States | 82 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Sep - 13 | DE | Germany | 26 | 3 | 2 | |
| NL | Netherlands | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| RO | Romania | 51 | 0 | 4 | ||
| RU | Russia | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| US | United States | 50 | 1 | 9 | ||
| Oct - 13 | DE | Germany | 40 | 0 | 0 | |
| PL | Poland | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| RO | Romania | 38 | 0 | 27 | ||
| RU | Russia | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| US | United States | 411 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Nov - 13 | CZ | Czech Republic | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DE | Germany | 100 | 1 | 6 | ||
| GB | Great Britain | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| RO | Romania | 34 | 0 | 6 | ||
| RU | Russia | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
| US | United States | 234 | 0 | 8 | ||
| Dec - 13 | CH | Switzerland | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DE | Germany | 52 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FR | France | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| PL | Poland | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| RO | Romania | 28 | 0 | 0 | ||
| RU | Russia | 4 | 0 | 1 | ||
| US | United States | 420 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Jan - 14 | AT | Austria | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| DE | Germany | 16 | 1 | 11 | ||
| GB | Great Britain | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| RO | Romania | 106 | 0 | 5 | ||
| RU | Russia | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| US | United States | 530 | 1 | 14 | ||
| Feb - 14 | AT | Austria | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| CH | Switzerland | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
| CZ | Czech Republic | 9 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DE | Germany | 201 | 2 | 46 | ||
| DK | Denmark | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| ES | Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| FR | France | 22 | 0 | 0 | ||
| GB | Great Britain | 75 | 6 | 2 | ||
| IE | Ireland | 9 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NO | Norway | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
| PL | Poland | 2 | 0 | 8 | ||
| RO | Romania | 97 | 0 | 5 | ||
| RU | Russia | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| SE | Sweden | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
| UA | Ukraine | 7 | 0 | 0 | ||
| US | United States | 310 | 0 | 7 | ||
| Mar - 14 | AT | Austria | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| CA | Canada | 84 | 0 | 0 | ||
| CH | Switzerland | 24 | 0 | 0 | ||
| CZ | Czech Republic | 62 | 0 | 9 | ||
| DE | Germany | 353 | 1 | 20 | ||
| DK | Denmark | 11 | 0 | 1 | ||
| ES | Spain | 66 | 0 | 2 | ||
| FR | France | 58 | 1 | 1 | ||
| GB | Great Britain | 232 | 1 | 8 | ||
| IE | Ireland | 37 | 0 | 2 | ||
| IT | Italy | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| LU | Luxembourg | 35 | 0 | 1 | ||
| NO | Norway | 11 | 1 | 2 | ||
| PL | Poland | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
| RO | Romania | 225 | 1 | 3 | ||
| SE | Sweden | 17 | 0 | 0 | ||
| UA | Ukraine | 74 | 0 | 4 | ||
| US | United States | 19 | 0 | 4 | ||
| Apr - 14 | CA | Canada | 72 | 0 | 1 | |
| CH | Switzerland | 61 | 0 | 0 | ||
| CZ | Czech Republic | 110 | 0 | 3 | ||
| DE | Germany | 397 | 2 | 67 | ||
| DK | Denmark | 23 | 0 | 1 | ||
| ES | Spain | 73 | 0 | 3 | ||
| FI | Finland | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| FR | France | 70 | 0 | 1 | ||
| GB | Great Britain | 425 | 0 | 4 | ||
| IE | Ireland | 75 | 0 | 1 | ||
| LU | Luxembourg | 65 | 0 | 3 | ||
| NO | Norway | 3 | 0 | 4 | ||
| PL | Poland | 6 | 0 | 5 | ||
| RO | Romania | 278 | 0 | 0 | ||
| RU | Russia | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||
| SE | Sweden | 23 | 0 | 0 | ||
| UA | Ukraine | 93 | 0 | 10 | ||
| US | United States | 6 | 0 | 5 | ||
| May - 14 | AT | Austria | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| CA | Canada | 51 | 0 | 1 | ||
| CH | Switzerland | 103 | 0 | 5 | ||
| CZ | Czech Republic | 94 | 0 | 3 | ||
| DE | Germany | 772 | 2 | 25 | ||
| DK | Denmark | 18 | 0 | 1 | ||
| ES | Spain | 73 | 0 | 3 | ||
| FR | France | 76 | 0 | 0 | ||
| GB | Great Britain | 530 | 0 | 3 | ||
| IE | Ireland | 60 | 0 | 3 | ||
| LU | Luxembourg | 61 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NL | Netherlands | 22 | 0 | 0 | ||
| NO | Norway | 18 | 0 | 2 | ||
| PL | Poland | 8 | 0 | 3 | ||
| RO | Romania | 340 | 0 | 3 | ||
| SE | Sweden | 39 | 0 | 0 | ||
| UA | Ukraine | 94 | 0 | 0 | ||
| US | United States | 3 | 1 | 16 | ||
| Jun - 14 | AT | Austria | 9 | 0 | 1 | |
| CA | Canada | 150 | 0 | 0 | ||
| CH | Switzerland | 76 | 0 | 0 | ||
| CZ | Czech Republic | 59 | 0 | 16 | ||
| DE | Germany | 1047 | 5 | 23 | ||
| DK | Denmark | 34 | 0 | 0 | ||
| ES | Spain | 64 | 2 | 2 | ||
| FR | France | 64 | 1 | 0 | ||
| GB | Great Britain | 655 | 1 | 0 | ||
| IE | Ireland | 52 | 0 | 5 | ||
| LU | Luxembourg | 39 | 2 | 3 | ||
| NL | Netherlands | 89 | 1 | 0 | ||
| NO | Norway | 42 | 0 | 5 | ||
| PL | Poland | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||
| RO | Romania | 317 | 2 | 4 | ||
| SE | Sweden | 18 | 0 | 0 | ||
| SG | Singapore | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| UA | Ukraine | 66 | 0 | 0 | ||
| US | United States | 7 | 0 | 19 | ||
| Jul - 14 | AT | Austria | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| CA | Canada | 50 | 0 | 0 | ||
| CH | Switzerland | 121 | 0 | 4 | ||
| CZ | Czech Republic | 56 | 0 | 4 | ||
| DE | Germany | 329 | 0 | 13 | ||
| DK | Denmark | 30 | 0 | 0 | ||
| ES | Spain | 29 | 0 | 1 | ||
| FI | Finland | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| FR | France | 31 | 0 | 2 | ||
| GB | Great Britain | 421 | 0 | 4 | ||
| IE | Ireland | 29 | 0 | 2 | ||
| LU | Luxembourg | 38 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NL | Netherlands | 64 | 0 | 0 | ||
| NO | Norway | 22 | 1 | 2 | ||
| PL | Poland | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||
| RO | Romania | 273 | 1 | 4 | ||
| RU | Russia | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| SE | Sweden | 37 | 0 | 0 | ||
| UA | Ukraine | 74 | 0 | 0 | ||
| US | United States | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Aug - 14 | AT | Austria | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| CA | Canada | 69 | 0 | 2 | ||
| CH | Switzerland | 86 | 1 | 1 | ||
| CZ | Czech Republic | 52 | 2 | 10 | ||
| DE | Germany | 871 | 3 | 33 | ||
| DK | Denmark | 34 | 0 | 0 | ||
| ES | Spain | 39 | 0 | 1 | ||
| FI | Finland | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| FR | France | 29 | 0 | 1 | ||
| GB | Great Britain | 471 | 1 | 4 | ||
| IS | Iceland | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| IE | Ireland | 26 | 2 | 2 | ||
| IT | Italy | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| LU | Luxembourg | 37 | 1 | 4 | ||
| NL | Netherlands | 26 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NO | Norway | 28 | 0 | 2 | ||
| PL | Poland | 6 | 0 | 1 | ||
| RO | Romania | 269 | 0 | 7 | ||
| SE | Sweden | 37 | 0 | 0 | ||
| UA | Ukraine | 67 | 0 | 3 | ||
| US | United States | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Sep - 14 | AT | Austria | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
| CA | Canada | 10 | 0 | 4 | ||
| CH | Switzerland | 68 | 0 | 2 | ||
| CZ | Czech Republic | 64 | 0 | 3 | ||
| DE | Germany | 284 | 3 | 26 | ||
| DK | Denmark | 45 | 0 | 0 | ||
| ES | Spain | 50 | 1 | 3 | ||
| FI | Finland | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FR | France | 17 | 0 | 2 | ||
| GB | Great Britain | 362 | 1 | 8 | ||
| IS | Iceland | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| IE | Ireland | 30 | 0 | 3 | ||
| IT | Italy | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| LU | Luxembourg | 37 | 0 | 7 | ||
| NL | Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 15 | ||
| NO | Norway | 5 | 0 | 3 | ||
| PL | Poland | 1 | 0 | 14 | ||
| RO | Romania | 245 | 0 | 5 | ||
| RU | Russia | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| SE | Sweden | 44 | 0 | 1 | ||
| UA | Ukraine | 29 | 0 | 3 | ||
| US | United States | 148 | 1 | 5 |
Type of inquiries
The requests for disclosure of user data have been mostly related to various copyright offenses such as illegal downloads. A much lower number of requests is related to malicious activity such as email spamming. Even fewer cases have been police requests in relation to various alleged crimes. Requests have come from lawyers (for copyright-related issues), law enforcement authorities (for crime-related investigations), web content providers, datacenters and individuals. The latter usually complain about spam mails, cyber-attacks (Botnets, DDoS), and hacking attempts.
Examples
The most frequent requests that came in 2013 from the US and Great Britain were related to copyright issues (1,308 requests). Additionally, there were 30 complaints about malicious acts such as email spamming, cyber-attacks and hacking attempts. CyberGhost received only two requests related to police investigations last year from the US and the UK.
Worldwide, CyberGhost VPN has received 2,157 copyright-related requests, compared with 96 requests concerning malicious acts and 18 requests related to police investigations. Considering that our service has 3.5 million users and a traffic of 4 Petabytes per month, the number of requests and complaints is insignificant.
For more details please consult the above numbers, which will be updated on a regular basis.
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