Some of the major VPN providers are reacting to the Ukraine crisis by offering free cybersecurity tools to journalists working in Ukraine.
ProtonVPN has committed to donate 10% of revenue from new subscriptions for VPN or ProtonMail accounts to relief efforts in Ukraine. It also promises support to affected journalists inside the country. In a tweet, ExpressVPN recalls its Press Room project, which is open to journalists, civil society, and nonprofits seeking safer internet connections.
Other providers offer more bandwidth data on free plans. TunnelBear has upgraded its network to 10GB for users connecting from Ukraine, while Windscribe urged journalists to contact the service free of charge for more connection data. Other cybersecurity firms are also taking steps for secure and fair information.
VPN and antivirus software provider Bitdefender has joined forces with the Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate (DNSC) to provide free cybersecurity expertise and technology to all who support the Ukrainian people and their allies.
Since the start of the conflict on February 24, US computer security expert Runa Sandvik has been providing free digital security tools to journalists reporting from Ukraine.
Russia, a long-time active player in cyberspace
According to Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report published last October, 58% of all cyberattacks from nation states came from Russia. A 50% increase was observed in the actions targeting state intelligence gathering institutions compared to the previous year. The USA, UK and Ukraine were the most affected countries.
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