Reasons why free mobile VPN apps aren’t worth the downloads

Recently, more and more print and web press releases about the security flaws in free mobile VPN apps have made headline news. If you have read any of these articles yourself or have downloaded a free mobile VPN app from Apple or Google stores then you’re likely to be aware of this. If you were not aware up until now, and if you have been considering downloading a free mobile VPN app but yet have decided whether to or not – This article should provide you with a valuable source of information before making that decision.

According to a recent study by Metric Labs ‘as many as 9 out of 10 free mobile VPN apps have raised privacy concerns after examining the top 30 free mobile VPN apps available on Apple App store and Google Play. The security flaws included not having a privacy policy, tracking user activity and admitting to sharing data.’

Furthermore, Simon Migliano, Head of Research at Metric Labs said... "Our investigation uncovered that over half of the top free VPN apps either had Chinese ownership or were actually based in China, which has aggressively clamped down on VPN services over the past year and maintains an iron grip on the internet within its borders."

The top 30 apps that were investigated by expert Simon Migliano, Head of Research Labs as shown in the investigation and originally shared with ZDNet, are as follows:

#1 Turbo VPN, 3M Android installs, 300K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #2 VPN Proxy Master, 1M Android installs, 800k iOS installs, Chinese ownership #3 Snap VPN, 10M Android installs, Chinese ownership #4 X-VPN, 5M Android,600K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #5 VPN 360, 1M Android installs, 500K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #6 VPN Super Unlimited Proxy, 400K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #7 Free VPN, 500K Android installs, 200K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #8 Secure VPN, 1M Android installs, Chinese ownership #9 VPN Master Proxy, 60K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #10 Hotspot VPN, 1M Android installs, 70K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #11 SkyVPN, 1M Android installs, 200K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #12 VPN Patron, 200K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #13 VPN for iPhone, 100k iOS installs, Bangladeshi ownership #14 YogaVPN, 5M Android installs, 40K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #15 VPN Guru, 80K iOS installs, Chinese ownership

#16 Hola, 10M Android installs, 60K iOS installs, Israeli ownership #17 Hotspot Shield, 50M Android installs, 1M iOS installs, American ownership #18 Betternet, 10M Android installs, 1M iOS installs, American ownership #19 TouchVPN, 10M Android installs, 70K iOS installs, American ownership #20 Shield VPN, 70K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #21 VPN WIFI Proxy Security Master, 50K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #22 Victory VPN, 20K iOS installs, Chinese ownership #23 Storm VPN, 5K iOS installs, ownership unconfirmed #24 Super VPN Free VPN Client, 50M Android installs, Chinese ownership #25 VPN Private, 10M Android installs, Chinese ownership #26 Thunder VPN, 1M Android installs, HK Chinese ownership #27 VPN Melon, 1M Android installs, ownership unconfirmed #28 Super VPN, 5M Android installs, Chinese ownership #29 VPN, 200K iOS installs, American ownership #30 Psiphon, 10M Android installs, 100K installs, Canadian ownership

Learn more by clicking here: - Free VPN Apps: Chinese Ownership, Secretive Companies & Weak Privacy

What Mitol Experts in Cloud Computing say…

There are several benefits to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and a VPN can protect your privacy, provided the VPN is secure itself. The resent study on free mobile VPN apps by Metric Labs shows that (specifically) free mobile VPN apps among the frequent downloaded and installed, are not secure.

Typically, a VPN provider can see everything that is going on if they need to provide solutions to better handle your data for speed and efficiency, recover your data if required, and provide security. Thus, trust in a VPN provider is essential to making the right decision towards VPN.

Mitol says… do your own research

Doing your own research in VPN service providers is fundamentally important so that you are aware of who is handling your data, where exactly your data is, how your data is handled and protected, and know exactly what you’re paying for (read the small print). Moreover, it helps to establish confidence in the data protection and physical security that the VPN provider provides, if it does, is key to gaining trust. Overall, the study by metric labs shows us, is that you get what your pay for, in other words, if its ‘free’ you could be paying a huge price with your data. Think before your install a free mobile VPN app, is it a risk worth taking?

Reasons why free mobile VPN apps aren’t worth the downloads

The top 30 apps that were investigated by expert Simon Migliano, Head of Research Labs as shown in the investigation and originally shared with ZDNet, are as follows:

What Mitol Experts in Cloud Computing say…

Mitol says… do your own research

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