VPNpro is a VPN review site that also researches VPN ownership, data leaks, and app security.
HN cites its report tracing 97 VPNs to 23 companies for details on VPN ownership, and one commenter links its NordVPN piece on smear claims.
Sources:
1. https://blog.malwarebytes.com/detections/pup-optional-crossrider/
2. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-sagis-criminal-past-may-have-sunk-plus500-acquisition-1001083269
4. https://cointelegraph.com/news/former-mt-gox-ceo-mark-karpeles-to-serve-as-cto-of-new-japanese-blockchain-venture
5. https://www.reddit.com/r/sevengali/comments/9dgexs/why_to_avoid_pia/
6. https://vpnpro.com/blog/confusion-in-the-vpn-industry-is-nordvpn-being-defamed/
7, 8. https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/1088904-private-internet-access-internal-problems-post-is-titled-revealing-the-privateinternetaccess-truth/, https://snew.notabug.io/r/PrivateInternetAccess/comments/ckbuei/revealing_the_privateinternetaccess_truth/
9. https://www.techradar.com/news/cyberghost-owner-buys-pia-for-dollar955m-to-create-vpn-giant
Honestly it's hard to tell, but Mullvard seems to be one of the last options.
The problem I have with all the "checks" that press foundations do is that none of them seem to know what they're talking about in regards to what tech is trustworthy and audited, and what is not.
I found a nice article about it, skimmed through it and seems to be true and reflect my own research that I did for my cyber defense network [1]
[1] https://vpnpro.com/blog/hidden-vpn-owners-unveiled-97-vpns-23-companies/
I think GP was probably exaggerating but there are far fewer owning companies than actual vpns. This article does a decent job of showing it https://vpnpro.com/blog/hidden-vpn-owners-unveiled-97-vpns-23-companies/ but may be a bit out of date now (Oct 24). I believe it, or a similar one, made the rounds on HN a year or so ago.
they looked bad long before this. I don't know why this story didn't get me attention:
https://vpnpro.com/blog/confusion-in-the-vpn-industry-is-nordvpn-being-defamed/
someone from PIA's patent company was caught trying to smear other VPN's but forgot to hide his profile image.
The original article has a lot more details including lists of companies and how they figured this out.
https://vpnpro.com/blog/hidden-vpn-owners-unveiled-97-vpns-23-companies/
It's not linked in the article but this is VPNpros post about it which lists the products and firms: https://vpnpro.com/blog/hidden-vpn-owners-unveiled-97-vpns-23-companies/