Free VPN apps on Google Play turned Android phones into proxies
tl;dr If you have any one of the following apps installed on your Android device, get rid of it immediately
- Lite VPN
- Anims Keyboard
- Blaze Stride
- Byte Blade VPN
- Android 12 Launcher (by CaptainDroid)
- Android 13 Launcher (by CaptainDroid)
- Android 14 Launcher (by CaptainDroid)
- CaptainDroid Feeds
- Free Old Classic Movies (by CaptainDroid)
- Phone Comparison (by CaptainDroid)
- Fast Fly VPN
- Fast Fox VPN
- Fast Line VPN
- Funny Char Ging Animation
- Limo Edges
- Oko VPN
- Phone App Launcher
- Quick Flow VPN
- Sample VPN
- Secure Thunder
- Shine Secure
- Speed Surf
- Swift Shield VPN
- Turbo Track VPN
- Turbo Tunnel VPN
- Yellow Flash VPN
- VPN Ultra
- Run VPN
Dang, sketchy stuff. I’ve only ever used ExpressVPN (many years ago) and Google’s own VPN. Scary how legitimate some of them look.
I can see a uptick in this with Texas blocking pornhub.
This is why I only use either Google’s own VPN or a paid service like PrivateVPN.
Getting Hola flashbacks
I only use ProtonVPN to bypass my carrier throttling HD YouTube videos. Other than that, I’ve never found a purpose for one. People really need to put an ounce of research on what they’re installing on their phones. And Google really needs to get strict about scrutinizing the apps on the Play Store. You never hear of stuff like this happening in the iOS and Mac App Store or the Microsoft Store.
Run VPN, OK sure. Who are these people downloading random VPN apps? Insane.
You’re better off using no VPN than a free VPN. If you aren’t paying for it, it’s safe to assume they’re logging and selling your data and who else knows what they’re doing with your device.
If you are going to use a VPN, use one that’s paid and make sure they’re outside the jurisdiction of the Five Eyes if you do care about privacy (and read the privacy policy for whatever VPN you go with regarding logging).
Why don’t people even consider using Tor or Orbot, beside slow, because of multiple routings?
If you’re not paying for a product and you’re not stealing the product, you are the product.
Doesn’t google have the possibility to uninstall apps from your phone if they are found fraudulent? They should just unlist all of these from the play store and uninstall it from users, so (current known) issue solved. They probably need to do something with app screening though.
I will never use a “free” vpn. If it’s free, you’re the product.
Why you NEVER USE A PLAYSTORE VPN A HOLY FUCK
This is why going with a trusted provider like Private Internet Access is important.
Who in the world even downloads these? Never heard of any of them or seen them advertised anywhere, you’d think people would just go for nord or PIA with how much advertising they’re always doing.
Who looks at the name “Sample VPN” and decide yeah this is trustworthy sounding
It protects Google from you.
Heck, you might even have root access on your pocket Linux computer! The horror.
That’s why I disable the bullshit, less crap bugging me, I barely even use the play store anyway
Tech illiterate people trying to get porn would be “prime scam opportunity” situation for malicious “fake VPN” providers.