Mullvad VPN
What it's for
A VPN that masks your IP address and encrypts your traffic up to its servers, without ever asking for a single piece of personal information.
Why it matters
It’s the privacy gold standard. No email, no name: at signup you’re given a plain account number. Audited no-log policy, a single honest price (€5 per month, no tiers, no false promises), and payment in cash or Monero. That’s exactly what matters the day a state tries to cut off VPN access: an account that can’t be tied to your identity, and a payment banks can’t block.
For whom & when
Everyone, from the citizen bypassing an ID check to the high-risk profile. It’s the VPN to recommend first.
Install & use
Go to mullvad.net. If the site is blocked in your country, open it through the Tor Browser or its .onion address. Click “Generate account number”: no email or name is asked. Save this number in your password manager and never share it, it’s your only access key.
Choose the duration and payment method. The price is flat. Three routes: bank card (simplest if not blocked), cash sent by post, or cryptocurrency.
Anonymous crypto payment: click “Create a one-time payment address.” Mullvad shows an address (Bitcoin or Monero) and an exact amount. Send that amount from your wallet. For maximum anonymity, prefer Monero (private by default); Bitcoin is simpler but traceable. See section 09 to buy crypto. Allow about 30 minutes for confirmation.
Download the app from mullvad.net/download (via Tor if the site is filtered) and install it. On mobile, use the App Store, Google Play, or the official APK if the app was pulled from your store.
Launch the app, enter your account number, then connect to a server outside your country, ideally outside the EU (Switzerland, US…). Enable the “kill switch” (which cuts the internet if the VPN drops) and Mullvad’s DNS.