Malware distributor bought up Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN

[Dhalucario]

Summary

 

Kape (formerly Crossrider) was a distributor of bundle installers containing malware.
They bought up several VPN providers (CyberGhost VPN, Zenmate VPN, Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN) and VPN review websites.

 

Quotes

Quote

Kape Technologies, a former malware distributor that operates in Israel, has now acquired four different VPN services and a collection of VPN “review” websites that rank Kape’s VPN holdings at the top of their recommendations. This report examines the controversial history of Kape Technologies and its rapid expansion into the VPN industry.

 

Quote

Before 2018, Kape Technologies was called Crossrider and it was an infamous player in the malware industry. You can still find numerous articles about Crossrider’s malware and adware infecting various devices.

 

My thoughts

This is quite worrying to me since LTT mentions multiple of these advertisers as sponsors of older videos. In the worst case this could lead watchers into buying something that's hella untrustworthy.
I have full trust in you guys know how to handle this situation properly.

 

Sources
https://restoreprivacy.com/kape-technologies-owns-expressvpn-cyberghost-pia-zenmate-vpn-review-sites/

https://www.reuters.com/technology/kape-technologies-buys-expressvpn-936-mln-2021-09-13/
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/what-is-kape-technologies-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-parent-company-of-cyberghost-vpn/

[DrMacintosh]

Formerly is the big keyword here. If they start doing bad things, then call them out on it. 

[Dhalucario]

3 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

Formerly is the big keyword here. If they start doing bad things, then call them out on it. 

I agree with that statement, but I kinda have a hard time believing that big companies have a change of heart very often.

[Oshino Shinobu]

Is this news? They bought PIA 2 years ago.

[Spotty]

Thread locked. Cyberghost and Zenmate were 3-4 years ago, Private Internet Access was 2 years ago and was discussed in great detail here on the forum, and ExpressVPN was a month ago and was also already discussed at the time.