What’s the use of a VPN? To protect you from cyber threats. But, did you know that if you use a free VPN then you might be at risk of data theft from third-party app owners. They can use the data you use to sign up onto the VPN to access your information and traffic. It’s even worse if you use ad blocker apps. This is because then you’ll have to deal with an endless stream of annoying ads.
Why Does This Happen?
It’s quite ironic how apps that should protect you from online threats actually end up becoming the threats that they’re supposed to protect you from. The latest culprits include AdBlock Focus, Mobil Data, LUNA VPN, and Unlimited VPN. Until recently, you could download these apps from the Apple app store and the Google Play Store alike. But they removed them due to data safety issues.
After the installation of an ad blocker app, a user would have to install a root certificate. This is meant to give the app access to your data. The understanding was that the collected data wouldn’t be shared with anyone else.
The founder of Senser Tower claims that their apps don’t collect, track, store or even request sensitive user data such as credentials. But, due to certain failings, these apps were taken down due to policy violations.
This should serve as a cautionary tale for anyone who’s considering trying out a free service. There’s no such thing as “free.” That’s because the developer or founder has to recoup their investment into the app. That’s why it’s better to pay for a VPN instead of relying on the goodwill of a developer that you don’t know.
It’s better than getting a false sense of protection from a free VPN that could end up posing a threat to your safety.
Why Are Free VPNs and Proxies Dangerous?
If you want to access a blocked website through a proxy or VPN then you shouldn’t be looking at free ad blocker apps to help you do that. These services don’t protect you from data theft. They might even facilitate the transfer of user data from you to third parties.
Plus, free VPNs are notorious for collecting and storing sensitive user data, including your IP address, browsing history, content, etc. This is the exact opposite of what a VPN should do. In addition to threatening your online safety, free VPNs are known for causing an unstable Internet connection. They can also slow down your connection speed, causing data throttling and offering useless encryption.
The worst part is that a lot of these free ad blocker apps and VPNs will purposefully sell your data and even create ads based on your information just so they can leverage it to third-party advertisers. Not to mention the free-for-all that comes from making your IP address freely available.
As for proxies, they are completely useless. All a proxy does is to facilitate the distribution of your Internet traffic. There’s no encryption which means anyone can access your personal information on the other end. The proxy operator may even sell your data for personal gain or even steal your identity if you’re not careful.
For best results, we always recommend using a paid VPN to protect you online. That way, you can enjoy safe and fast internet connectivity without looking over your shoulder, as it were.
How to Access Blocked Websites
A paid VPN or other online security services charge you upfront in exchange for providing you with online security. This means they have no need to collect or sell your data. On the other hand, a free VPN feels entitled to sell user information since they provide a free service and this can lead to many problems.
Unless you’re channeling your data through HTTPS, there’s no guarantee that other people won’t be able to see it. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and use a proper VPN to safeguard all of your data.
IPVanish comes highly recommended here because it’s one of the best VPN services on the market. They have a strict no-logs policy and on account of having access to hundreds of servers, they can offer guaranteed safety and fast loading speeds. Plus, you can easily download it as a verified app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Have you ever used an ad blocker app? Share your experience in the comments below!
