Researchers find VPN apps in app stores linked to Chinese military

The post Researchers find VPN apps in app stores linked to Chinese military appeared first on Android Headlines.

Apr 2, 2025 - 18:03

Summary: Researchers found that five VPN apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play have ties to the Chinese military. One of the companies is even hiring someone “well-versed in American culture.” Two of the free VPN apps have already been pulled.

It’s ironic. VPN services aim to offer users an extra layer of privacy. However, sometimes, you get what you pay for. According to a new report by the research group Tech Transparency Project and findings by the Financial Times, they have discovered at least five free VPN apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play that have ties to the Chinese military.

VPN apps with Chinese military links

The apps in question are Turbo VPN, VPN Proxy Master, Thunder VPN, Snap VPN, and Signal Secure VPN (which, by the way, has no connection to the Signal messaging app). These apps have links to a China-based company called Qihoo 360. The US government hit the company with sanctions in 2020 over alleged links to the Chinese military, later adding it to a list of firms tied to China’s armed forces.

What’s even more worrying is that one of Qihoo’s subsidiaries, Guangzhou Lianchuang Technology, is actively recruiting. According to the Financial Times, “It is hiring for a position whose responsibilities include ‘monitoring and analyzing platform data.’ The right candidate will be well-versed in American culture,” the post says.

How did Apple and Google miss them?

Another worrying concern is that these apps have somehow managed to skirt around Apple and Google’s review process. Both companies have policies that prohibit VPN apps from using or collecting user data without their consent. However, Matthew Green, a cryptography expert at Johns Hopkins University, says that this is difficult to enforce.

According to Green, “VPNs are a big exception to [Apple’s phone privacy efforts] because they attach themselves to the root network connection of your phone. It’s not a very binding promise and not something that is very easy to enforce.”

Luckily, Apple has removed two of the VPN apps after the Financial Times alerted them to it. That said, even though VPNs promise privacy and security, users shouldn’t automatically trust all of them. This is why you must do your research when choosing a VPN app. A reputable VPN service will allow independent audits of its security. So, the next time you see a free VPN app in the app store, you might want to think twice because the true cost could be much higher than you expect.

The post Researchers find VPN apps in app stores linked to Chinese military appeared first on Android Headlines.