More and more people are turning to VPN apps to improve privacy and security on their Android devices. However, far fewer people are aware of the potential risk of downloading the wrong file.
Google's latest scam warning has sounded the alarm about the growing threat of malicious VPNs and warned that some dodgy VPNs could be spyware in disguise – and it's not the first time this year that these risks have been exposed.
Best VPN deals for Black Friday
Best VPN for Android according to TechRadar
Best VPN according to TechRadar
Risk of using free VPNs against malware
As the demand for VPN continues to grow, especially due to mandatory age verification is being implemented all over the world—cybercriminals are actively seeking to exploit people’s interests.
Speaking to TechRadar, Daniel Card, a cybersecurity expert and fellow of the BCS Chartered Institute of Information Technology, explains that among the threats, malicious free VPN services can turn your device into part of a rotating proxy service. In other words, a botnet that allows hackers to distribute malware between devices.
“We as a community have been discussing VPNs and the risks they pose for a long time. We have begun to make some progress on this issue through education and public awareness. UK Internet Safety Act it all seems to be crossed out,” Card said.
Not all free VPN apps are malicious, but many of them carry risks. This is because running the infrastructure required for a VPN is expensive, and if they don't charge a subscription fee, then free VPN providers may resort to profiting from your data – which is exactly what you're trying to avoid by downloading VPN first of all.
Commenting on this point, Card said: “Generally, the rule is: if it's free, then you're the product.”
Follow TechRadar on Google News. And add us as your preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the “Subscribe” button!
