A recent surge in porn bans has highlighted a significant threat to smartphone users’ online security. Tens of millions of users are now using virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass these bans, but many free VPN apps are secretly owned by Chinese companies, posing a major risk to user data.
According to Top10VPN’s Simon Migliano, despite being aware of their privacy failures and opaque corporate structures, Google and Apple continue to permit these high-risk apps on their platforms. The Tech Transparency Project (TTP) has reported that millions of Americans have downloaded apps that secretly route their internet traffic through Chinese companies.
These VPNs are often free apps that top the App Store and Play Store charts, but they come with a hidden cost: sharing user data with foreign nations. Users who download these apps unknowingly become part of a vast network of compromised data.
To stay safe, experts advise users to avoid Chinese-owned VPNs altogether. The risks are too great to keep them on your phone. Instead, look for blue-chip, western technology firms that provide other security offerings.
Before installing any free VPN app, check the App Store or Play Store for apps listed as “free VPN” and delete them unless they are linked to reputable companies. Be aware of the following Chinese apps to avoid:
Apple App Store:
X-VPN
Ostrich VPN
VPN Proxy Master
Turbo VPN Private Browser
VPNIFY
WireVPN
Now VPN
Speedy Quark VPN
Best VPN Proxy
HulaVPN
Pearl VPN
Google Play Store:
Turbo VPN
VPN Proxy Master
X-VPN
Speedy Quark VPN
Ostrich VPN
Snap VPN
Signal Secure VPN
VPN Proxy OvpnSpider
HulaVPN
VPN Proxy AppVPN
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/08/09/do-not-keep-these-high-risk-apps-on-your-iphone-or-android