Security Risks Found in 18 Popular VPNs: What You Need to Know

A recent peer-reviewed study conducted by three university researchers has revealed significant security flaws in 18 of the most popular VPNs. These VPNs, collectively downloaded over 700 million times from the Google Play Store, were found to share infrastructures that could expose users’ browsing data and make their systems vulnerable to attacks. The VPNs, though advertised as independent, actually belong to three parent companies. The researchers identified these groups as Family A, Family B, and Family C. Family A VPNs are linked to Qihoo 360, a company flagged by the U.S. Department of Defense for its ties to Chinese military operations. The VPNs in Family B share the same IP addresses, and the VPNs in Family C include X-VPN and Fast Potato VPN. CNET’s recommended VPNs, including ExpressVPN and NordVPN, are not part of this list. Experts warn that users should carefully check the privacy policies of their VPN providers to ensure that their data is not being shared or logged. The findings emphasize the need for transparency and caution when selecting a VPN to protect personal information online.