More Than a Dozen VPN Apps Have Undisclosed Ties To China (thehill.com) 62
More than a dozen private browsing apps on Apple and Google's app stores have undisclosed ties to Chinese companies, leaving user data at risk of exposure to the Chinese government, according to a new report from the Tech Transparency Project. From a report: Thirteen virtual private network (VPN) apps on Apple's App Store and 11 apps on Google's Play Store have ties to Chinese companies, the tech watchdog group said in the report released Thursday.
Chinese law requires Chinese companies to share data with the government upon request, creating privacy and security risks for American users. Several of the apps, including two on both app stores and two others on Google Play Store, have ties to Chinese cybersecurity firm Qihoo 360, which has been sanctioned by the U.S. government, according to the report. The Tech Transparency Project previously identified more than 20 VPN apps on Appleâ(TM)s App Store with Chinese ties in an April report. The iPhone maker has since removed three apps linked to Qihoo 360.
Chinese law requires Chinese companies to share data with the government upon request, creating privacy and security risks for American users. Several of the apps, including two on both app stores and two others on Google Play Store, have ties to Chinese cybersecurity firm Qihoo 360, which has been sanctioned by the U.S. government, according to the report. The Tech Transparency Project previously identified more than 20 VPN apps on Appleâ(TM)s App Store with Chinese ties in an April report. The iPhone maker has since removed three apps linked to Qihoo 360.
Re: Maybe because (Score:5, Informative)
Freedom? why is it that whenever there is a protest, the CCP rush in and put up barriers to prevent people from seeing what's going on. Then the CCP arrests the protesters and they disappear permanently.
Let's talk about the CCP's love of censorship. There a lot of fires being set by employees due to a lack of receiving their pay. Instead of discussing everything the CCP tries to prevent any video or pictures of such incidents from being seen.
Re: Maybe because (Score:5, Insightful)
How about masked police who refuse to identify themselves and snatch people from immigration hearings?
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Or he could become a US senator and get slammed to the ground anyway. And the self-righteous right will turn a blind eye because Fox will spin it as his fault.
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Re: Maybe because (Score:2)
Upset ms-13 fanboi upset again
Re: Maybe because (Score:2)
Lololol, only a CCP disinformation agent would make such claims with all the proven evidence available.
Multiple sites and YouTube channels continue to provide evidence of the CCP tactics against it's own people.
No matter how much the CCP tries, the truth eventually comes to light.
Tell me how's the Chinese economy doing? Are your banks are still able to provide loans while refusing to let the average Chinese citizens from withdrawing their savings?
How are all the Tofu drudge projects going? I loved the video
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That didn't happen with the COVID protests though, did it? No mass disappearances, and the images were shared widely on social media and abroad. There was some reaction and police intervention, but for the most part they were peaceful and allowed to happen, and in the end the government relented and lifted lockdown restrictions.
China isn't North Korea. It isn't the China of 40 years ago. These days the kind of stuff you are talking about, the kind of stuff happening in LA right now, isn't how things are.
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Re: Maybe because (Score:2)
TDS alert
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Remember TACO
Trump Always Chickens Out.
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TDS alert
The best way to shield a wannabe despot is with an acronym. I wish this were a joke.
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Re: Maybe because (Score:2)
Yes, Trump devotion syndrome. It truly is a sad affliction, as are most reality denying cults focused on a charismatic leader.
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It wouldn't have happened at all. The cause of the protests wouldn't have existed.
Re: Maybe because (Score:2)
Yep. The CCP has gotten even worse
Re: Maybe because (Score:2)
Nope the CCP is fully in the lead.
Your economy is in serious trouble.
Re: Maybe because (Score:2)
Consider, perhaps, that what you think happened that night actually didn't happen like you think...
Open your mind, just a little, to the possibility that you've been lied to, and have a look at what those who are pointing out those lies are providing as evidence...
I think you'll find that, as usual, the USA is behind much of it, just like what happened in HK, and so many other places. Horrific events, but the perpetrators are not who you think they are.
Which country/countries run the others? (Score:1)
Anyone know who is connect with the others?
Ironic (Score:4, Insightful)
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People using a VPN to secure their communications only for bad actors to provide discount VPN's that spy on all their communications
A long time ago (in Internet time), it was reported that certain agencies were running TOR exit nodes to do the same. What is old is new again.
Re:Ironic (Score:4, Insightful)
Good point. However, there are other reasons to use a VPN. For example, changing your apparent geographical location in order to access otherwise unavailable goods and services, like TV shows or cheaper airline fares.
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People using a VPN to secure their communications only for bad actors to provide discount VPN's that spy on all their communications
And how do you suppose those bad actors are going to spy on your communications? What sites are you going to, for communications, (or anything important for that matter) that don't use SSL?
Re: Ironic (Score:2)
Knowing which sites you are connecting to is valuable to TLAs, even if they can't spy on the content of the communications.
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Knowing which sites you are connecting to is valuable to TLAs, even if they can't spy on the content of the communications.
Yes... But there is a difference between that and "spying on your communications". Knowing where I live is different than knowing the contents of my house. Knowing who I am talking to is different than knowing what I am talking about
Re:Ironic (Score:5, Insightful)
You get to choose who spies.
- Your ISP and your government?
- Or the VPN company of your choice and the government where it is located?
You need to know your threat model yourself. When it comes to file sharing, for example, you're probably not worried about the Chinese government or some VPN company who tries to at least keep the facade of not sharing data.
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Re:Ironic (Score:4, Insightful)
There have been lots of instances where companies with a "good reputation" changed their spots.
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There have been lots of instances where companies with a "good reputation" changed their spots.
Or get sold off to someone with a bad reputation... Which is why you never tie yourself to a single supplier.
What is your use case? (Score:5, Interesting)
If you are chinese and want a vpn to bypass chinese censorship then sure one linked to the chinese government is a bad choice...
But if you're an american who wants a VPN to download pirate torrents then a chinese one is actually a good option.
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If you are chinese and want a vpn to bypass chinese censorship then sure one linked to the chinese government is a bad choice...
But if you're an american who wants a VPN to download pirate torrents then a chinese one is actually a good option.
What if you're using a VPN for security over Wi-Fi? Do you need to watch any commentary or even jokes about China if there is any chance you might visit China in the future for business or tourism?
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Come to think of it, both need to worry about monitoring as blackmail is a tool the CCP uses.
Re:That's better than the US government. (Score:5, Interesting)
Don't know why this was moderated down, but it's the truth. For most every western nation, what would be in your personal best interest. To use an American VPN with ties to the NSA, or use a VPN with ties to a country that wouldn't share data with the NSA on a bet.
Nothing I do holds any interest to the Chinese. I will likely never visit there. Never go anywhere in their direct sphere of influence. Now tell me how the Chinese having my browsing information is anything but better than the Americans having it?
This is actually a reasonable solution to data privacy in today's world. In China, get a Tor bridge to an American VPN. In the USA and the wesrtern world, use a Chinese-affiliated VPN. I think at this point we can assume SOMEONE has their hooks in it. I'd rather it be from the side who has no capability to harm me.
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There a reason that governments, including both the US and China, want to slurp data, including data that ostensibly has no value. If I'm China, I want to know who the vulnerable people are that are in financial, emotional, or social distress and have any connection with access to things of potential military, political, infrastructure, or business value. Which employees at Nvidia can I bribe for espionage. Who works at municipal water plants. Which politicians are amenable to influence.
The US gets rightful
Re: That's better than the US government. (Score:2)
the correct answer. In a world of dictatorships, your most secure option is to play them off each other.
In Communist-Capitalist China... (Score:2)
In Communist-Capitalist China VPNs tunnel you.
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Another funny thing is just how close they are to being Fascist. A little more corporatism (not a thing having to do with corporations) in their management structure and that'll be that.
What are "ties" ? (Score:1)
What does it mean to have "ties" ?
What does "linked" mean?
If I have been to China a few times, do I have "ties" to China? Can I be "linked" to China?
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Sounds about right.
Same as it ever was.
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Next time, look before you leap.
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why is it so hard (Score:3, Informative)
for people to present a list as a list easy on the eyes:
Apple App store:
* Thunder VPN
* Snap VPN
* Signal Secure VPN
* Turbo VPN
* VPN Proxy Master
along with 11 other Chinese-owned apps identified in TTP’s report.
Google Play Store:
* Turbo VPN
* VPN Proxy Master
* Snap VPN
* Signal Secure VPN
as well as seven other Chinese-owned VPNs identified in TTP’s initial report.
FUD FUD China blah blah (Score:1)
gotta peddle the nonsense...
Patriot act (Score:2)
Chinese law requires Chinese companies to share data with the government upon request
I understand US government knows about the issue, as the US patriot act gives it the same power
Re: Patriot act (Score:2)
Iinm, the USA's is worse since it requires that the individual(s) providing the information not inform anyone else that they have done so...a sort of NDA of sorts...even an NDA of that NDA.
I'd imagine that China has an equivalent, but that's not my understanding.
The list (Score:1)
https://www.techtransparencypr... [techtransp...roject.org]
Following are the 13 China-owned VPN apps identified by TTP that remain available in the Apple App Store. The estimated rankings and revenue figures are from mobile intelligence firm AppMagic, collected on May 8, 2025:
X-VPN - Super VPN & Best Proxy
Listed Developer: Free Connected Limited
Ranked #4 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Apple App Store
The app offers in-app purchases
Could not care less. (Score:2)
This is the usual sinophobic bogy man BS. Worry more about your own government - they're a LOT more scary than the Chinese government.
Of course, better to worry about everyone if you have a reason to...but the USA is the worst, by far.
Not only china (Score:1)