A VPN app can secure your safety online, but not all the time. For instance, a free VPN accessible on the Google Play Store has reportedly exposed many users' data to risk.
A recent report says a database containing over 18 GB of connection logs is all over the internet. How can you stay safe amid this security concern?
Free VPN Service Put User Data at Risk
(Photo : Privecstasy from Unsplash)
Android users should beware of a free VPN app that can expose their information online.
In May, Cybernews listed that the free VPN apps might expose users' information when using a smartphone. Now, it's been confirmed that one of these applications includes BeanVPN.
The latest story from Tom's Guide revealed that this VPN app has over 25 million data from global users. The database envelopes IP addresses, ID, connection timestamps, and more.
This security issue has been bugging researchers recently because people could easily click and download it. Without them knowing, the hackers behind this scheme could immediately steal their credentials.
"The information found in this database could be used to de-anonymize BeanVPN's users and find their approximate location using geo-IP databases. The Play Service ID could also be used to find out the user's email address that they are signed in to their device with," Aras Nazarovas, a security researcher from Cyber news, said.
Related Article: Tor Plus VPN: Can This Help You Stay Truly Anonymous Online?
Privacy Violations
Tom's Guide included in its article that IMSOFT is the company behind BeanVPN. Although it's stated in its own policy that the free VPN service won't store any timestamps and IP addresses, the firm has not really addressed it.
In this regard, the Romania-based firm has violated its policy when it comes to privacy. Instead of vowing to protect user data from being exposed online, it does not do what it wrote on its rules.
Speaking of user data, an exposed database can do more harm than good to the users.
For instance, a 2021 incident has caught the attention of Cybernews. At the time, the firm found out that three VPN services had leaked confidential information--ChatVPN, SuperVPN, and GeckoVPN.
The worst part of this investigation is that experts discovered that the data were sold on the dark web. There's also a separate database that Cybernews spotted. The unsafe digital storage came from the UK law enforcement organizations.
If the hackers get the data, this could affect not only the users but also the businesses to which this information is tied.
Why Choose a Paid VPN Over Free Ones?
It's good that people can now use a VPN app for free. This is a user-friendly approach by a VPN company to its customers. However, you should note that choosing this type of service has limitations.
For instance, a fake VPN app does not have enough safety and security features that you can access on paid versions. To note, buying a premium VPN guarantees lasting protection since it comes from a trusted provider.
Read Also: Best Working VPNs For Netflix in 2022 | Here's Why You Should Buy Them or Not
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joseph Henry
