Surfshark VPN: Security, speed, and the ability to access things unavailable in Colombia.

In Colombia, VPNs are no longer just a technical issue. For many users, they have become an everyday tool: some use them to protect their information on public networks, others to stream content blocked in the country, and, increasingly, to access services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, which are not yet officially available in this region.

One of the most talked-about options is Surfshark, a service that promises military-grade privacy, unusual additional features, and performance that, according to tests, barely affects connection speed.

When it comes to security, Surfshark bases its entire promise on encryption. This term, which may sound distant, translates to a mathematical process that converts information into a code that's impossible to read without the correct key.

The company uses AES-256, the most robust standard currently in existence , used by banks and the military. "256" refers to the key length: 2^256 possible combinations, making it practically impossible to break by brute force in the lifetime of the universe.

For those connecting from mobile devices, Surfshark incorporates ChaCha20 , a lighter algorithm that efficiently encrypts data without draining your phone's battery. And to complete the security loop, the VPN uses Perfect Forward Secrecy , a technique that renews the keys each time a connection is established. So, even if someone were to decrypt a piece of data, that information wouldn't be useful for decrypting previous or future sessions.

Encryption needs a "vehicle" to move around, and that's where protocols come in. Surfshark offers three:

In practice, the user can choose the protocol based on their priorities: maximum security, stability in motion, or speed for gaming and streaming.

Technical promises often sound good in theory, but what really matters is performance. In a test conducted on a fiber optic connection in Bogotá with the Claro operator, the base speed was 400.63 Mbps download and 21 ms ping.

When I activated Surfshark and connected to the fastest server in the United States, the speed reached 447.65 Mbps download, with a ping of 103 ms.

The result is revealing. Download speed was unaffected, even improving slightly due to Surfshark's route optimization. What did increase was latency—the time it takes for a packet to travel and return—which is logical given the physical distance between Colombia and the US server. For browsing, watching TV shows, or even gaming in the cloud, this delay remains manageable.

What sets Surfshark apart from many competitors is that it doesn't just encrypt data and change IP addresses. It includes tools like CleanWeb, which blocks ads and trackers while browsing; MultiHop, which links two servers together to provide an extra level of anonymity; and NoBorders Mode, designed to work in countries with heavy internet restrictions.

Another unusual advantage is that Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections. This means that with a single account, you can protect your PC, phone, tablet, console, and even your smart TV without worrying about limits.

Surfshark has proven it delivers on its promises: it protects your connection with top-level encryption standards, offers modern protocols that allow you to customize your experience to your needs, and maintains competitive speeds.

For those looking to access services blocked in Colombia—such as Xbox Cloud Gaming—or simply want to browse more freely on public networks, this is a robust option.

Its biggest strength lies in its price-to-feature ratio: it offers extras like ad blocking and IP rotation that are often found in more expensive plans from other VPNs. On the downside, it's important to remember that increased latency is inevitable and could be a limiting factor for competitive gamers.

Overall, Surfshark is a VPN that deserves to be in the conversation: not just as a global access tool, but as a solid shield of digital privacy.