Surfshark Student Discount Eligibility: A Comprehensive Guide

In an era where cyber threats are escalating, with projected damages reaching trillions, securing online activities is paramount. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have become essential tools for masking online activities and protecting sensitive data. Surfshark VPN, launched in 2018, has gained popularity as a robust solution for enhanced online security. This article provides a detailed overview of Surfshark VPN, its pricing models, and special discounts, including eligibility for student discounts. Additionally, it explores alternative methods for safeguarding valuable information, such as virtual cards.

Surfshark VPN: An Overview

Surfshark VPN provides virtual private network (VPN) services, and other privacy and cyber security related services (“Services”). Services include, but are not limited to VPN and other software, extensions, applications, information and content made available to you by Surfshark. A VPN is a secure way to protect your online activities by encrypting your data connection. With Surfshark you can connect to different VPN servers worldwide to ensure the privacy of your location.

Key Features:

No-logs Policy: Surfshark VPN ensures that your activities are not logged, retained, or transferred to third parties. They do not collect any information about what you do online (your visited IP addresses, browsing history, session information, used bandwidth, connection time stamps, network traffic or any other similar data).
Global Server Network: Surfshark offers access to 4500+ servers in 100 countries, allowing users to browse quickly and securely from anywhere in the world.
CleanWeb Tool: This tool blocks annoying ads and shields you from harmful malware.
Unlimited Device Connections: Protect every gadget in your household with unlimited device connections.
Fast Connections: Surfshark provides speedy connections, making it ideal for streaming, gaming, and torrenting without lag or buffering.

Surfshark VPN Subscription Models

Surfshark VPN’s subscription models are divided into two main categories: Bundles and Plans.

Bundles

A bundle is a package that offers access to a specific set of features, providing users with solutions based on their online security and privacy needs. Surfshark VPN offers three standard bundles:

Surfshark Starter: The most budget-friendly option, offering essential VPN features like secure browsing and data protection.
Surfshark One: This plan offers a variety of extra features beyond the basics of the Starter plan, including malware protection and privacy monitoring.
Surfshark One+: The premium option for users seeking the highest level of privacy and security. It includes everything in the Surfshark One plan, plus Incogni for personal data removal services.

Plans

Surfshark VPN offers three standard plans:

1-month plan: It provides flexibility for users who require VPN services on a short-term basis.
12-month plan: This plan is designed for users anticipating a consistent need for VPN services. It offers cost savings compared to the monthly plan and the convenience of less frequent payments.
24-month plan: For users seeking a long-term VPN solution and the biggest savings, Surfshark offers a 24-month plan.

Here’s a breakdown of the cost of each bundle under these plans:

Plan	Surfshark Starter	Surfshark One	Surfshark One+
1 month	$15.45/mo[1]	$15.95/mo[1]	$17.95/mo[1]
12 months	$2.79/mo ($41.85 for 15 months)[1]	$3.19/mo ($47.85 for 15 months)[1]	$5.09/mo ($76.35 for 15 months)[1]
24 months	$2.19/mo ($59.13 for 27 months)[1]	$2.69/mo ($72.63 for 27 months)[1]	$4.29/mo ($115.83 for 27 months)[1]

Surfshark VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for its services[1], giving users an opportunity to change their minds after trying the service. The refund process is initiated through Surfshark’s customer support.

Disclaimer: The prices in the table are current at the time of writing this article, but they are subject to change.

Surfshark VPN Student Discount Eligibility

Surfshark VPN may offer special pricing for students. At the time of writing, the service offers a 15% student discount. The offer is realized in partnership with Student Beans[2].

Students can also use the code SharkStudent to get two months of Surfshark for free. This offer gives a 79% discount and two extra months for free.

Read also: Guide to UC Davis Student Housing

To access the student discount, eligible students typically need to verify their student status through Student Beans. This involves providing documentation or information that confirms enrollment in a recognized educational institution.

Other Discount Opportunities

Surfshark VPN often offers additional deals, including:

Seasonal sales: Surfshark VPN may provide discounts during popular shopping events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and during the holiday season.
Graduate discounts: Under this program, Surfshark VPN offers graduates a 15% discount on subscriptions. The offer is realized in partnership with Grad Beans[3].
Referral program: The service has a referral program where users can earn rewards or discounts by referring friends or family members. Under the program, users who invite a friend get one month free, while those who invite ten friends get six extra months free[4].
Military discount: Surfshark also provides exclusive savings for active military members, veterans, and their families.
Exclusive affiliate discounts.
Newsletter sign-up discounts.
Annual and multi-year subscription discounts: Going for a longer subscription, like the 2-year plan, saves more than monthly billing.

Additional Costs When Using Surfshark VPN

Surfshark VPN users can purchase features outside of their bundle. Users who want to access services that are sensitive to frequent changes of IP addresses can, for instance, purchase a dedicated IP address feature independent of the standard bundles[5].

Some users might be liable to pay a bit more due to taxes such as the Value Added Tax (VAT) or the Goods and Services Tax (GST), depending on the applicable laws at the time of purchase.

Alternatives to Surfshark VPN

While the price of Surfshark VPN can be attractive, it’s always a good idea to research other VPNs before making a purchase. Some alternatives to Surfshark VPN are:

Read also: Investigating the Death at Purdue

NordVPN
Norton VPN
Proton VPN
ExpressVPN

Can VPNs Protect From Every Threat Online?

While services like Surfshark VPN boost online privacy and security, cyber threats keep evolving, with hackers devising new ways to infiltrate systems or extract information from their victims. Some of the security risks include:

Insider threats: Organizations sometimes face internal threats from disgruntled employees or contractors who have access to sensitive information. The attackers then demand a ransom to decrypt the data.
Credential stuffing attacks: When cybercriminals obtain a list of usernames and passwords from a data breach of one service, they can automate attempts to use these credentials on other online services. People who reuse passwords across multiple platforms are the most vulnerable to this threat.

Cost-Effective Ways To Better Protect Your Sensitive Data

Beyond using VPNs, you can apply the following methods to safeguard sensitive data:

Security awareness training: Staying informed about the latest cyber threats, such as phishing attacks and different types of fraud, can help you recognize and respond appropriately to such threats, reducing the risk of losing sensitive information to hackers.
Regular system and software updates: Keeping the operating system and all installed software up to date is crucial for both individuals and businesses. These updates often include patches for known security flaws, reducing the risk of infection by ransomware or other malicious software.
Virtual cards for online transactions: When using a virtual card, actual financial details such as a card or bank account number are not provided to the merchant and cannot be stolen in case of a data breach. While you can get virtual cards from some banks, independent card providers such as Privacy often offer more spending controls and customization options.

Use Privacy Virtual Cards To Protect Your Sensitive Information

Privacy is one of the leading providers of virtual card services. The company is BBB®-accredited, and its 250,000+ users attest not only to the value of the virtual card service but also to the company’s respect for customers and their data.

To ensure your data and account are secure, Privacy employs various security features and practices, including:

AES-256 encryption: Privacy secures the information you provide them with AES-256, a robust encryption standard trusted by governments and security agencies.
2FA support: Privacy provides various options for two-factor authentication to ensure your account security.
PCI-DSS compliance: Privacy adheres to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS).

Privacy Card Types

Privacy offers two types of virtual cards:

Single-Use Cards: The card automatically closes after a single transaction is complete. They are useful for managing recurring payments such as bills and subscriptions.
Merchant-Locked Cards: These cards are locked to a specific merchant, preventing unauthorized charges from other sources.

You can pause or close your Privacy Virtual Cards at any time, blocking any further charges from affecting your funding source. You can also set a spending limit to stay in control of how much a merchant can charge you. Privacy will decline all charges that go above the limit. This feature can help protect your bank account from unexpected charges.

Convenience Features

Privacy offers several convenience features to all users at no additional cost:

Privacy App: Available on Android and iOS, it allows users to manage their virtual cards directly from their smartphones, offering a seamless and secure way to handle online transactions.
Privacy Browser Extension: Compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Safari for iOS, it provides quick access to virtual cards directly from the browser, simplifying the online shopping experience.

The service also provides a convenient card sharing feature, allowing you to securely share virtual cards with friends and family. Or for businesses, managing employee or contractor expenses.

How To Get a Privacy Virtual Card

To get started with Privacy, all you have to do is:

Visit the signup page
Provide the required details to verify your identity
Link a funding source, which can be your bank account or debit card
Request a virtual card

You can use Privacy cards at most vendors or e-commerce sites that accept Visa® and Mastercard®, allowing you to shop globally while keeping your personal information secure.

Privacy Monthly Plans

Privacy offers three monthly plans:

Personal
Pro
Premium

The table below breaks down the features of each plan:

Plan	Cost	What You Get
Personal	Free for domestic purchases	Up to 12 new virtual cards per month Merchant-Locked and Single-Use Cards All card spending controls Privacy Browser Extension and mobile app
Pro	$10/month (no fees on foreign transactions)	Everything in the Personal plan Up to 36 new virtual cards per month 1% cashback on eligible purchases of up to $4,500 per month Prioritized customer support
Premium	$25/month	Everything in the Pro plan Up to 60 unique cards per month

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