I used this VPN to create a new, secure identity as a pensioner – now it's 88% off for Black Friday

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I used this VPN to create a new, secure identity as a pensioner – now it's 88% off for Black Friday Deals By Rob Dunne published 29 November 2025

I tried a secure alternative identity tool, now it's got a huge Black Friday discount too

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VPNs now do far more than just encrypt your online traffic. Surfshark's Alternative ID tool, however, takes added security functionalities to a level unseen among all the best VPNs out there.

It gives you everything: a new name, address, email address, and, for an added fee, phone number – though the latter only works properly in the US right now. Your new persona can then be used to sign up for online newsletters or shopping accounts that you might want to help you save a bit more over Black Friday – all without risking any of your genuine personal data.

Given the possibilities this feature offers, I spent a week using an alternative identity, becoming 64-year-old Brendan Lloyd Lewis, to see if it'd help me stay secure day-to-day, and frankly, I was impressed.

Creating my pension-collecting alter ego took only a few clicks, and, once complete, I could copy and paste any details I needed straight from the app. It's also been built into Surfshark's web extension too, so it can auto-fill sign-up forms for you without needing to manually copy and paste.

I took it for a spin with a few of my favorite online clothes stores, which are often known for their excessive promotional emails, and, to my shock, it worked faultlessly.

A clean inbox, all the discounts a shopaholic could dream of, and no risks of a data breach in one fell swoop!"

Any emails were securely forwarded to an email address of my choosing, leaving me only having to set up an automation moving anything received by my Alternative ID to a folder away from my inbox. Once done, voila, a clean inbox, all the discounts a shopaholic could dream of, and no risks of a data breach, in one fell swoop!

Annoyingly, since I'm based in the UK, I couldn't test Alternative Number during my time as Brendan. In short, any phone call to your alternative number is handled within the Surfshark app, from which you can do anything you'd normally expect you could on a standard phone call.

Alternative ID is something you'll find on no other VPN; it's that simple. While NordVPN might offer better performance overall, and Proton VPN might be a more privacy-focused alternative (which also has a killer Black Friday VPN deal), Surfshark offers Alternative ID on even its most basic plan. That means, right now, you can create an entirely new, secure, alternative identity for yourself for only $1.99 per month.

Surfshark Basic is 87% off for Black Friday, giving you 27 months of coverage for under $54 – since the $1.99 per month is paid upfront. It's the lowest price Surfshark has reached in 2025, and the perfect deal if you're after your own Alternative ID.

Surfshark Basic: was $2.19, now only $1.99/month + 3 months extraSurfshark Basic is 87% off for Black Friday. This means that for under $54, you can access what I believe is Surfshark's best feature, Alternative ID, plus:

✅ Servers in 100 countries✅ Dynamic Multihop and Rotating IP ✅ Unlimited simultaneous connectionsPlus, if you're unsure, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. So if you're unhappy at the end of your first month, you can get your money back.

View Deal TOPICS Black Friday Rob DunneSocial Links NavigationVPN Editor

Rob is TechRadar's VPN Editor. Coming from a background in phones and technology, he's no stranger to the risks that come with putting yourself online. Over years of engaging with different platforms, testing the limits of his online persona, and feeling the brunt of several data breaches, Rob has come to gain a keen understanding of cybersecurity and the benefits of services such as VPNs in providing a secure online experience. He uses this to not only advise on the best ways to stay secure online but also share his own experiences and especially how to avoid trouble. Outside of work, you'll find Rob on the tennis courts, in the gym, or diving into the biggest and best games of the year.

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