Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden warned against using ExpressVPN, a popular VPN app, because of its founder's association with the CIA.

VPN programs hide the users' IP address and encrypt the user's web logs, thus protecting their privacy;

It is therefore effective in protecting user data, and in some cases bypassing government firewalls when the country's internet is subject to censorship.

Launched in 2009 by Peter Burchhardt and Dan Pomerantz, ExpressVPN is one of the largest VPNs in the world, with millions of users around the world.

ExpressVPN also has hundreds of servers in 94 countries and has won Editor's Choice Awards from CNET and Techradar for its intuitive design and Internet security results.

Snowden criticized - in a tweet on his Twitter - "ExpressVPN" after investigative journalist at Reuters Securities Agency Joseph Min indicated that the CIO of ExpressVPN, Daniel Gerrick, is one of 3 former US intelligence agents involved. On charges of illegally aiding the UAE in Project Raven.

The Raven is a team of American mercenary hackers who were paid by the UAE in 2014 to spy on its enemies using techniques they learned in the United States, which include hacking phones and computers.

Reuters revealed the team in 2019, and Jerick and two others were fined $1.4 million.

The at least until recently CIO of big VPN ExpressVPN is one of the three former US intelligence operatives who agreed today not to fight charges they illegally helped UAE hack people.

Kind of makes you think.

— Joseph Menn (@josephmenn) September 14, 2021

"If you're an ExpressVPN customer, you shouldn't be," Snowden said in his tweet.

If you're an ExpressVPN customer, you shouldn't be.

https://t.co/l8us92W0BQ

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 16, 2021

Reply by ExpressVPN

The company issued a statement in response to Joseph Min's initial tweet, saying, "It is deeply regrettable that the news regarding CIO of ExpressVPN has raised concerns among users and given reason to question their commitment to their core values."

ExpressVPN stresses that it does not support Project Revan in any way and that this employment history does not reflect the company's core values.

"ExpressVPN is increasing the number of third-party audits that the company receives to ensure it adheres to its privacy policy," she added.

The company then expanded to say that it "does not share concerns about Crick due to his expertise in cybersecurity and hacking, citing his extensive resume, and noting that someone of his mindset is best suited to protect an ExpressVPN customer base."

"Express VPN" did not know any of the secret operations, nor any investigation about Jerick's activities (communication sites)

"ExpressVPN did not know of any of the man's covert operations nor any investigation into his activities," the press release said.

Edward Snowden is a former cybersecurity contractor hired by the US National Security Agency, but in 2013 he became disillusioned with the extensive surveillance operations conducted by the agency and its key allies, so he fled to Russia, where he leaked details of the NSA's operations to journalists around the world. Residing in Russia, in 2016 he was elected President of the Foundation for Freedom of the Press.