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While less of a common problem than a DNS leak, these leaks also undermine VPN user privacy.

It’s also possible for third-parties to exploit WebRTC functionality to request a user’s true IP address. The problem is that WebRTC communication not only requires a real IP address but can also bypass the VPN tunnel. WebRTC (or Web Real-Time Communication) is a browser-to-browser communication technology intended to deliver faster speeds for high-bandwidth applications like video chat. Not only does this defeat the purpose of using a VPN, such a leak would typically go undetected by a user unless they knew to test their connection. This security flaw occurs when a VPN fails to force DNS requests through its encrypted tunnel to its own DNS servers and instead permits the DNS requests to be made directly to the default DNS servers used by the Internet Service Provider (ISP).Įven though the rest of a user’s traffic is concealed, such a leak exposes a user’s browsing history to their ISP and any third-party DNS server operator that it may use. DNS leaksģ8 VPNs exposed users via DNS leaks. We tested for three types of leak: DNS, WebRTC and IP address, all of which expose users’ true identity. Jump to Testing Methodology | VPN Risk Index 2 VPNs showed evidence of the full sweep of leaks (DNS, WebRTC and IP address).WebRTC leaks 4 VPNs failed tests for this leak.DNS leaks 25% (38 VPNs) failed tests for this type of leak.See all of our investigations into the dangers of free VPN services. Nor does it have to be this way none of these risky permissions or functions are present in top-rated VPN apps, or in leading free VPNs like Windscribe, which close the door to any potential privacy abuses.Ĭonsumers determined to use a free VPN must absolutely do their research outside of the Play store, and look at free VPN recommendations based on expert VPN reviews. Our view is that – even putting more malicious scenarios aside – this state of affairs is nowhere near good enough and that consumers trying to protect their privacy deserve better. This doesn’t take into account less experienced users who tap OK without fully understanding what they are doing. Then there’s the in-built protection offered by recent versions of Android where upon install, an app’s permissions are set to “denied” as default until the app requests they be granted. However an app update could easily reinstate these permissions and catch some users unawares. Some of the risky functions we identified may also be “dormant”, ie left in the code even as corresponding app permissions were removed, rendering them unable to successfully execute. While it may not be realistic to hold free VPN apps to the same standard as paid, how are consumers to know whether developer are malicious or just lazy? However problems arise when no-one takes the time to check for excessive, intrusive permissions and functions often bundled with them. It’s standard practice for developers to use third-party libraries for common functionality. The results are VPN apps that just don’t do enough to earn user trust. The presence of such permissions and risky functions is also often a sign of an app development process where corners have been cut and user privacy was low on the list of priorities. What’s even more disturbing however is when location-based permissions and functionality are used to geo-target ads to users with an active VPN connection – which is not a practice with which many consumers would be comfortable. Some app permissions and functions facilitate the aggressive advertising keeping these VPNs “free” for example. The mere presence of some of these intrusive permissions or risky functions may not be necessarily malicious but equally neither does that mean they are typically benign. Our findings on risky permissions and functions, however, need to be placed in proper context as they provide us with illuminating insight into the category of free mobile apps as a whole. It’s clear, for example, that a DNS leak or network anomaly puts user privacy at risk. Many of our Risk Index findings are straightforward in what they reveal about individual free VPN apps. We also analyzed excessive app permissions. We tested for effective encryption, browser leaks, viruses and malware, dangerous app functions and behaviors, along with comprehensive network tests. To create this Index, we first identified the top 150 free VPN apps by total installs. If you need to know more about Virtual Private Networks, read our guide to understanding VPNs first. Our study focuses on the technical performance of free Android VPN apps available on Google Play. We have created this Free VPN Risk Index to help users avoid using potentially unsafe free VPN apps that compromise their privacy and security.