Are free VPNs safe?

 

Are free VPNs safe? All you need to know before getting one

Has the desire for online privacy and security got you acting unwise, that is, looking at free VPNs? Then we must warn you about all sorts of dangers that come with this approach. Indeed, free VPNs aren’t the safest option out there. In this article, we’ll dive into the subject.

Are free VPNs safe to use?

No. Why? Because VPN (Virtual Private Network) services need resources to maintain the infrastructure. A trustworthy free VPN is hard to find because they still have to make money somehow, and some do it by selling your sensitive data, which is the opposite of improving your privacy.

Why should you avoid free VPNs?

Free VPNs typically make money by selling your data to data brokers or showering you with tons of ads. On top of that, free VPNs rarely have enough resources to maintain a decent infrastructure. That makes free VPNs easier to hack. 

Using a free VPN to protect your online privacy is like using that free plastic grocery bag as a parachute — it could work in theory, but the reality is much different. 

Just as a flimsy grocery bag would fail you in freefall, even the most secure free VPN may be insufficient when protecting your online activity. 

7 risks of using free VPN services

Talking about specific free VPN services, you have to thoroughly research them. You want to cut down on tracking, not get tracked because you use a VPN!

Lucky for you, I already did a little research, so here are some risks that you should think about before using even a “safe” free VPN:

Getting infected with malware

When it comes to determining how secure a VPN is, free VPNs never excel. A report published by the University of New South Wales and the University of Berkeley checked 283 free Android VPN-based apps and found that 38% contained malware or malvertising.

Ironic, isn’t it? You’re looking for a free and safe VPN to protect you online, but all you get is more malware.

Data collection and exposure to third parties

Since you’re not paying for a VPN subscription, free VPNs have other ways to benefit from you. One of them is collecting and selling your data. 

Some free VPNs may collect your browsing history, search queries, IP address, and location, then sell that data to advertisers or other third parties. Now think about what can happen if you use a free VPN for online banking. 

The same research on free Android VPN apps found that about 80% of free VPN apps ask for access to your sensitive data, and 84% willingly or accidentally leak that data to third parties. 

Getting showered with ads

Allowing tons of ads is another way free VPNs can make money without charging you. 

This seems harmless, but that’s not the case. Some free VPNs use ad-serving trackers that track your online activity and browsing habits to display targeted ads. That’s a massive privacy violation and quite the opposite of what a trustworthy VPN should do. 

Getting your browser hijacked

Talking about browsing patterns, a free VPN can alter them by hijacking your browser. 

Some free VPN browser extensions can insert malicious code into your browser. With such code running in the background, you might be redirected to shady websites without your permission. 

Slowed-down internet connection

If you’re using free services that bombard you with ads, collect your info, or have some shady stuff running in the background, your internet connection will slow down. These things use your data or Wi-Fi, so your searches load slower. 

Also, free VPNs rarely have funds for advanced infrastructure like premium VPNs do. With fewer servers, they can’t handle many clients. When servers get overloaded, free VPNs could slow your connection to a halt.

Lastly, free VPNs can intentionally slow down your internet connection and offer a premium paid plan to boost the speeds.

Not accessing content

Some people use free VPNs for illegal purposes. Because of this, their VPN servers get blocklisted by websites.

Since free VPNs don’t have many servers to choose from, you’ll likely end up with a blocked one. If you connect to a server that’s already been banned due to abuse, you won’t be able to access your favorite content or any other websites. Using such servers is also a huge security risk.

Potentially giving over your data to autocratic governments

VPN pro research shows that 24 entities control at least 105 popular VPNs — and a third of popular free VPNs are owned either by Chinese companies or Chinese nationals.

Now, the People’s Republic hasn’t banned VPNs entirely. It’s just that they have to cooperate with the government if they don’t want to be banned. Cooperating with the builders of the Great Chinese Firewall? That’s not something you want out of a company that will be routing all of the data you transmit via a VPN.

 

Are free VPNs worse than no VPN? 

Most of the time, no VPN is better than a free VPN. In terms of security, free VPN providers can collect and sell data about you. That’s even worse than browsing without a VPN.

When it comes to exposure to malware, using a free VPN is also riskier than having no VPN at all. That’s because some free VPNs may contain malware or adware, infecting your device and compromising your security.

Of course, it’s important to note that not all free VPN providers sell your data or expose you to malware. It’s essential to do your research and choose a VPN provider you trust. However, I believe free VPNs can’t beat a premium service