Do free VPNs really keep us safe?
Most people want privacy when they go online. A VPN sounds like the perfect solution. It hides your IP address, it encrypts your traffic, and it helps you bypass restrictions. Then you open the app store and see dozens of VPNs offering their service for free. No payments, no subscriptions, just a download button. You ask yourself, why pay if you can get the same thing without spending money?
The truth is less shiny. Free VPNs come with risks, and in many cases, they do the opposite of protecting you. Instead of keeping your data safe, they may collect it, sell it, or leave it exposed. The promise of privacy can quickly turn into a nightmare.
What Free VPNs Promise You
On paper, free VPNs sound amazing. You see ads that talk about unlimited protection, full anonymity, and access to every site in the world. They often use strong words like "secure tunnel" or "military-grade encryption." Many people download them without reading the fine print because the word "free" is powerful.
The Business Model Behind Free VPNs
A VPN company spends money on server networks around the world, engineers to keep the apps running, and security to protect connections. If you don't pay, they must find another way to earn revenue. That usually means one of two things:
- Selling your data to advertisers or third parties.
- Flooding your device with ads and tracking scripts.
Real Scandals Involving Free VPNs
Hola VPN and Bandwidth Theft
Hola VPN marketed itself as a free and unlimited VPN. Millions of users installed it. What most people didn't know was that Hola turned their devices into exit nodes for other users. That meant strangers could route their traffic through your connection without your consent. Even worse, Hola resold user bandwidth through a separate service called Luminati. If someone used your IP address for illegal activity, you carried the risk.
Hotspot Shield and Data Logging
Hotspot Shield was one of the most popular free VPN apps. In 2017, researchers filed a complaint against them. The app claimed to provide privacy, but it secretly redirected traffic to partner websites for advertising. It also logged connection data, location, and browsing details. Many users had no clue this was happening while they thought they were "safe."
Turbo VPN and Data Harvesting
Turbo VPN appeared as a top-rated free service in app stores, especially for Android. Reports later showed that the company harvested data, including device information and usage logs. The service also had ties to Chinese ownership, raising concerns about state-level surveillance. Despite the risks, the app gained hundreds of millions of downloads because of its "free forever" label.
Facebook's Onavo VPN
Even Facebook tried the free VPN trick. They launched Onavo Protect, claiming it would secure users' data. In reality, Onavo was a data collection tool. Facebook used it to monitor user behavior across apps, track competitors, and gather market research. Apple eventually banned Onavo from the App Store for violating privacy rules, but only after millions had already shared their activity.
UFO VPN Data Leak
In 2020, UFO VPN left a database exposed online. It contained 894 GB of data, including plain-text passwords, IP addresses, device info, and connection logs. The company advertised itself as a no-log VPN, but the leak proved otherwise. This breach showed the gap between marketing promises and actual practices.
GeckoVPN, SuperVPN, and Others
In 2021, reports revealed that data from over 21 million users of free VPNs like GeckoVPN, SuperVPN, and ChatVPN ended up on the dark web. Email addresses, passwords, payment details, and even device IDs were part of the leak. Many people thought they were protecting themselves by using these apps, but they ended up exposed instead.
Common Risks with Free VPNs
- Data collection: Your browsing history, location, and app usage may be logged and sold.
- Weak encryption: Some free services use outdated protocols or fake security claims.
- Malware risks: Researchers have found malware inside some free VPN apps.
- Ads and trackers: Instead of hiding you from advertisers, they send more targeted ads your way.
- Slow speeds and limits: Many free VPNs are almost unusable for streaming or large downloads.
- False promises: Many advertise "no logs" policies but keep records anyway.
Why Free VPNs Are More Dangerous on Mobile
Free VPNs thrive in app stores. They climb the rankings quickly because users search for "VPN", pick the first free one, and tap install. Unlike desktop apps, mobile VPNs ask for broad permissions. They can access your network traffic, device ID, and sometimes even your contacts or storage.
This gives them more power to collect sensitive data. For example, researchers from CSIRO studied 283 VPN apps in the Google Play Store. They found that 75% used third-party tracking libraries, and 38% contained some form of malware.
Can Any Free VPN Be Trusted?
Not every free VPN is malicious, but very few can be trusted fully. Some premium VPN providers offer free versions with limited bandwidth or servers as a way to attract customers to their paid plans. These are usually safer, but they come with restrictions. Examples include ProtonVPN's free plan or Windscribe's limited version.
How to Spot a Risky Free VPN
- Vague Privacy Policy: If the policy is full of generic language or avoids details, stay away.
- Excessive Permissions: If the app asks for access to your SMS, contacts, or photos, uninstall it.
- Unknown Ownership: Many free VPNs hide who runs them. If you can't find a company name or address, that's a problem.
- Unrealistic Claims: "Unlimited free VPN forever with zero logs" usually means the opposite.
- Past Scandals: A quick search can reveal if the service has a history of leaks or shady practices.
What You Risk by Using Free VPNs
It's not just about ads or slow speeds. The bigger danger is losing control of your personal information. If your browsing history, passwords, or payment details leak, you could face:
- Identity theft
- Hacked accounts
- Spam and phishing attacks
- Legal trouble if your IP address gets linked to illegal activity
Safer Alternatives
If you truly need privacy, the best option is a paid VPN with a solid reputation. Look for independent audits, clear privacy policies, and strong encryption standards. Some of the safer providers also run transparency blogs and publish regular security reports.
If you cannot pay, choose free versions from reputable companies, but use them with caution and understand the limits. They work for light browsing but not for full protection.
Conclusion
Free VPNs rarely keep you safe. In many cases, they do the opposite by exposing your data, slowing your connection, or even turning your device into a tool for others. The history of scandals shows a repeating pattern: when you don't pay, you become the product.
A free VPN may promise those things, but real safety often comes with a price tag. Before you trust a service with your personal information, ask yourself how they make money. If the answer is not clear, the risk is too high.
