Lantern is not a VPN but a proxy operating through an open-source peer-to-peer network. While some users employ it to circumvent local censorship, it does not offer protection against targeted or mass surveillance. In fact, Lantern collects a substantial amount of browsing data and personal information, making it unsuitable for privacy or anonymity purposes.
Features
Lantern, funded by the US government and developed by Brave New Software, is an open-source proxy service introduced in 2013. It is available for Windows, Android, Mac, and Ubuntu. The installation process is straightforward; however, the user experience differs from conventional VPNs. Upon launch, Lantern opens your default browser to a minimalist dashboard displaying your monthly quota, used bandwidth, plan details, and basic statistics, such as the number of ads blocked.
The settings are equally sparse, allowing you to configure Lantern to start with the system, disable usage reporting (which is enabled by default), and manage system proxy settings. The FAQs are also minimalistic. The default browser interface was inconvenient for me, as I typically use it solely for personal browsing, not for testing VPNs, which led to Lantern profiling two of my browsers.
Support is limited to a forum on Google Groups, where there has been a significant number of refund requests, primarily from Chinese users. This suggests that Lantern was popular in China but is plagued by performance issues. It is also possible that users are becoming aware of the company’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Lantern’s primary advantage is its free peer-to-peer model. It is primarily designed to help users in China bypass censorship and access websites such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and WhatsApp. Essentially, it provides access to various online services that might be restricted in certain regions.
Lantern automatically selects which sites to proxy based on the prioritization of HD video streaming. It encrypts traffic in transit, but the FAQs do not provide specific details about the type of encryption used.
Pricing
Lantern offers a free service with a monthly quota of 500 MB. There are also two paid subscription plans available exclusively through the desktop app. The Lantern Pro yearly plan costs $32, while the two-year plan is $48. There are no monthly or quarterly options available.
The Pro plans include faster speeds, unlimited bandwidth, up to three simultaneous connections, and an ad-free experience. These plans are reasonably priced, with payments accepted via Payment Wall-supported options, though Bitcoin is not an accepted payment method. Note that no refunds will be issued.
Lantern aggressively promotes its free service, which, combined with the absence of monthly or short-term paid trials, pressures undecided users to experience the benefits of the free proxy.
Tests
Despite its advertised speeds, Lantern’s performance was disappointing due to significant privacy leaks. The following results were observed:
- Speed test before connecting to Lantern
- Speed test when connected to Lantern proxy
The service leaked DNS and WebRTC information, which is expected given its focus on streaming. Lantern also failed to unblock popular streaming services such as Netflix US, Hulu, and HBO, raising questions about the appeal of its paid service. It seems that many users may not fully read or understand the service’s limitations before subscribing.
Privacy and Security
The topic of privacy and security is crucial when selecting a VPN or proxy service. It is essential to thoroughly review the provider’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service (ToS) before making a choice. Every action you take through a VPN is visible to the provider, making it imperative to select a company you trust.
However, Lantern’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service raise significant concerns. Beyond the personal information you may willingly provide—such as your name, email address, postal address, phone number, profile picture, and payment details—Lantern also collects extensive usage data. This includes information about the pages you visit, your IP address, device identifiers, device type, geo-location data, computer and network details, page view statistics, traffic data, advertising information, referral URLs, and other unspecified data.
Lantern also utilizes web beacons and cookies to gather information. The Privacy Policy details the types of data collected, such as hardware model, OS version, software versions, language preferences, advertising identifiers, serial numbers, network information, and device motion data for mobile devices. They log IP addresses, access times, app features, pages viewed, browser types, and the third-party sites or services used prior to interacting with Lantern.
Furthermore, Lantern acknowledges its practice of profiling. They aggregate data from various sources, including payment processors and social media accounts, and combine it with the data collected through their service. This profiling extends to data from websites or services using Lantern’s API. Lantern reserves the right to adjust your usage, tailor content recommendations, and deliver personalized ads. Data is stored in the US but may be transferred to other countries and shared with third parties, the general public, and potentially your employer.
For a comprehensive understanding of these practices, it is advisable to review the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service in full.
