Techlore Talks It's Time for the VPN Industry to Innovate (Obscura Interview)
Jan 17, 2026
Discover the cutting-edge world of Obscura VPN and its unique trust-minimizing approach. Carl discusses how this innovative service can't log your activity, comparing it to traditional VPNs. Learn about QUIC's role in evading censorship and the benefits of multi-party relays that protect user identity. Hear insights on reproducible builds, the challenges of mobile apps, and why Mullvad is their preferred partner. Carl calls on the VPN industry to adopt open-source practices and trustless models for enhanced privacy.
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Episode notes
What Trust Means For VPNs
- Carl explains trust in VPNs centers on whether the provider can see both who you are and where you go.
Growing Up Learning Censorship Workarounds
- Carl recounts growing up between China and London and repeatedly testing censorship workarounds like PPTP and WireGuard.
Split Relays Separate Identity From Activity
- Obscura uses a two-party (multi-party) relay so no single party can link your identity to destinations.