Surfshark Redesigns iOS VPN App Locations Tab, Refreshes Browser Extension
Surfshark has redesigned its iPhone VPN app's locations tab and refreshed its browser extension, splitting server selection into Recommended and Advanced views. TechRadar reports it is a usability update, not a new security feature.
On iOS, the locations tab is now divided into two clear sections. The Recommended view brings together the most popular country options, recently used servers, and a dedicated IP if the user has one set up. It surfaces the servers a user relies on most first, so they do not have to search through a single long list each time they connect. The Advanced view holds more specialized options: static IP servers and Multi Hop.
Multi Hop is Surfshark's version of double VPN. It routes traffic through two separate VPN servers at once for an extra layer of protection. Static IP servers provide the same address every time a user connects, which the article says is useful for services that become suspicious when an IP address keeps changing.
For the browser extension, the redesign is more significant. The home view now shows how many ads and trackers Surfshark has blocked on the site the user is visiting. It also gathers protection tools in one place: the ad blocker, cookie pop-up blocker, malicious site warnings, data leak alerts, and email scam checker.
TechRadar reported that Surfshark has added features over the years, from category-based web filtering to the ability to block specific websites, and that its interface had grown busier as a result. The redesign is meant to strip out some of that clutter and make the app feel effortless to use. In its review, TechRadar said Surfshark keeps its apps well maintained, with a clean and consistent experience across platforms.
To use the new layout, a user can open the app and tap the Locations tab at the bottom. They will land in Recommended by default, with their most-used servers ready. To reach Static IP and Multi Hop, they can tap Advanced at the top and then switch back to Recommended.
Editor's Summary
Surfshark has updated its iPhone VPN app and browser extension with a design-focused refresh. The iOS locations tab now separates Recommended and Advanced server options, while the extension surfaces blocked ads and trackers and consolidates protection tools. The changes are intended to simplify use rather than add new security capabilities.