SAEDNEWS: Behind the façade of free VPN apps lurk tools that not only steal personal data but also act as covert instruments of enemy propaganda—amplifying falsehoods and fueling cyber operations that threaten privacy and national security.
According to Saed News, what appears as harmless free VPN applications often conceal a sinister reality: these tools are gateways for espionage, data theft, and digital manipulation. Multiple revelations—including confessions from Israeli intelligence officers—have exposed how data harvested from users, including sensitive information from vulnerable groups, is weaponized to intimidate and mislead.
In today’s digital age, millions rely on free VPNs to bypass censorship and access unrestricted internet. Yet, a comprehensive study by Top10VPN of over 100 popular free VPN apps on Google Play and Apple’s App Store reveals alarming privacy deficits: 64% lack transparency about data handling, many have no clear privacy policy, or bury critical terms in technical jargon users cannot understand.
More worryingly, over half of these free VPNs collect and transmit highly sensitive user data overseas without explicit consent. A 2018 Citizen Lab report uncovered that some VPNs covertly install backdoor programs granting extensive control over users’ devices—enabling access to GPS locations, contacts, app data, browsing histories, and even call and message monitoring—often without clear notification.
Well-known VPNs like Betternet, VPN Proxy Master, and Snap VPN have been implicated in unauthorized data collection, with technical analyses confirming persistent background activity post-app closure. Among the most notorious cases is Hola VPN, with over 50 million installs, which failed to encrypt traffic and sold users’ bandwidth and data to an Israeli company, Luminati, facilitating large-scale proxy networks and even participation in cyberattacks like DDoS.
Security experts warn that backdoors embedded in popular apps such as SuperVPN, Hi VPN, and Turbo VPN create vulnerabilities by allowing remote access and secret operations. While these apps are managed primarily by firms in China, Singapore, and Hong Kong, data often routes through servers located in countries including the U.S. and Israel, exposing users to unexpected privacy breaches.
Users’ mistaken belief that their data is securely stored in privacy-friendly jurisdictions is challenged by technical audits revealing that main servers often reside in countries with different or lax data protections. This means sensitive information—including IP addresses, emails, passwords, and connection logs—can be compromised or publicly exposed, as demonstrated in leaks involving millions of users.
The hidden costs of these seemingly free services are steep: beyond data theft, these VPNs can become tools in sophisticated psychological operations, spreading disinformation and aiding hostile cyber campaigns during crises. Experts urge users to critically evaluate VPN providers, recognizing that free does not mean safe, and that personal privacy and security may be the true price paid behind the screen.
