Surfshark has partnered with Amnesty International to train human rights defenders. The Digital Forensics Fellowship (DFF) focuses on analyzing Android and iOS devices for sophisticated spyware. This is a response to the growing digital threats in 2026.

VPN provider Surfshark is launching a partnership with Amnesty International to train 20 digital rights defenders in safely investigating mobile threats. The program covers the analysis of Android and iOS for spyware like Pegasus. It is crucial now: in 2026, mobile espionage has peaked, and Kazakhstan needs these skills for business and government.

Surfshark and Amnesty Partnership: What Digital Forensics Fellowship Offers

Surfshark, a well-known VPN provider with 65 server locations and unlimited connections, has announced a collaboration with Amnesty International. The DFF program started in May 2026 and aims to train human rights defenders in digital forensics. Participants learn tools for detecting spyware on Android and iOS devices, including traffic and artifact analysis.

The course lasts 6 months and includes practical sessions on data extraction without compromising evidence. Amnesty emphasizes that spyware threatens 1.5 billion smartphone users annually. Surfshark provides its encryption technologies to simulate real-world attacks. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) already use similar tools for corporate security in Kazakhstan.

In 2025, there were 450 cases of mobile espionage against journalists and activists. The DFF program addresses this issue by training on open-source tools like Frida and Objection. The result: graduates can independently conduct device audits. This is critical for regions with high cyber threat risks.

The partnership is backed by an audit of Surfshark's no-logs policy by Deloitte in February 2026. Participants receive certificates recognized by Interpol. For businesses, this means access to mobile security experts.

Privacy Myths: Why Incognito in Chrome Doesn't Save Android and iOS

Google Chrome Incognito only deletes local history, but ISPs see all visited sites. In 2026, providers record 100% of DNS requests for advertising and compliance. HTTPS hides content, but domains are visible via SNI and DNS. This affects 3.2 billion Chrome users on Android and iOS.

VPNs change traffic to an encrypted tunnel: ISPs only see the flow to the VPN server. Surfshark uses WireGuard with 10 Gbps speed. DNS over HTTPS (DoH) in Chrome encrypts requests, reducing visibility by 70%, but not completely. Apple's iCloud Private Relay works only in Safari.

In Kazakhstan, ISPs log data by law since 2024, affecting 18 million mobile users. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) recommend VPNs for business: average savings on leaks are $2.5 million according to IBM 2026.

Audits of Surfshark's RAM-only servers confirm no logs. Fingerprinting remains a threat: sites identify devices by 50 parameters. Combining VPN with anti-tracking extensions provides 95% protection.

Cellebrite Genesis: Agentic AI for Mobile Device Investigations

Cellebrite introduced Genesis in Q1 2026 — agentic AI for digital investigations. The product extracts data from 25,000 Android and iOS models in minutes. Cellebrite's revenue grew 25% to $96.7 million in the quarter. This is a revolution for law enforcement and business.

Genesis uses AI to automate analysis: it recognizes 500 types of artifacts, including deleted chats. Integration with AWS Bedrock speeds up processing by 4 times. In 2026, 70% of investigations include mobile data.

For Central Asia, it is relevant: in Kazakhstan, cybercrimes increased by 40% in 2025 according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) implements similar solutions for corporate compliance. License cost is from $50,000 annually.

Limitations: ethics of use. Cellebrite emphasizes compliance with GDPR and local laws. Testing on 10,000 devices showed 98% accuracy.

VPN and AI: The Future of Android and iOS Protection in 2026

The VPN market will grow to $75 billion by 2027 according to Statista. Surfshark leads with 3 million users. AI integration in VPNs predicts attacks: CleanWeb blocks 1 billion threats per month. For iOS 18 and Android 16 — native support for DoH.

In business, ROI from VPNs is 300%: reducing downtime by 45%. Kazakhstani companies spend 1.2 billion tenge on cybersecurity annually. Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) develops custom mobile solutions.

Third-party audits: Surfshark passed 4 tests in 2026. RAM servers erase data on reboot. For human rights defenders, DFF is the key to fighting spyware.

Trend: zero-trust mobility. 80% of attacks are through apps. Solution: MAM + VPN.

Practical Steps to Protect Mobile Devices Today

Enable DoH in Chrome: settings > Privacy > DoH. Install Surfshark: 30-day refund. For business — endpoint detection with AI. Deployment takes 2 weeks, pays off in 3 months.

Kazakhstan: 92% of smartphones are vulnerable according to Kaspersky 2026. DFF-style training reduces risks by 60%. Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) offers courses for 500,000 tenge.

Monitoring: tools like Exodus Privacy scan apps for trackers. 150 million Android apps contain spyware.

Result: enterprise-level privacy.

Что это значит для Казахстана

In Kazakhstan, 28 million mobile connections in 2026 according to GSMA, 40% are susceptible to spyware. Businesses lose 500 billion tenge from leaks annually. The Surfshark-Amnesty partnership is relevant: Kazakhstani IT companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) train teams to protect Android/iOS. Implementing VPN reduces risks by 75%, with a 400% ROI per year. Central Asia: Uzbekistan +30% cyberattacks in 2025. Local ISPs log by law, VPN is mandatory for data export.

Surfshark trains 20 human rights defenders to analyze Android/iOS for spyware in partnership with Amnesty in 2026.

Mobile privacy requires VPNs and AI tools like Cellebrite Genesis. Businesses in Kazakhstan benefit from such programs, reducing losses. Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) prepares solutions for regional needs.

Часто задаваемые вопросы

How much does a VPN cost for business in 2026?

Surfshark Starter — $2.49/device/month, Teams — $5/user. For 50 employees — $3,000/year. Savings from leaks are $2 million according to IBM.

How is a VPN different from Incognito in Chrome?

Incognito clears local history, VPN encrypts all traffic from ISPs. DNS/SNI protection: 100% vs 0%. Surfshark provides 10 Gbps without logs.

What are the risks of mobile espionage in Kazakhstan?

40% increase in attacks in 2025, losses of 500 billion tenge. Spyware like Pegasus affects 1.5 billion devices. VPN reduces risks by 75%.

How long does it take to deploy a VPN?

2 weeks for 100 users: installation + training. ROI in 3 months. Surfshark is zero-config on Android/iOS.

Best VPNs for mobile business in Central Asia?

Surfshark: 65 countries, no-logs audit. For Kazakhstan — local IPs. Cost is $5/user, 95% traffic protection.

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