Virtual Private Networks provide users with privacy and safety from prying eyes, that is if it is from a trusted service. Choose Proton VPN for a true zero-log tool instead of untrustworthy ones on the App Store and save up to 70%.
It's easy to assume that the Apple App Store is safe and free of manipulative software and privacy-invasive schemes. However, that has never been the case, and recent research reveals exactly how bad things are for VPN software.
Users are becoming more and more aware and educated about the existence and use of Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs. They are meant to encrypt your traffic and keep you anonymous, but not all of them can prove they are as private as they say.
If you already understand the risks of using the wrong VPN, then consider the trustworthy Proton VPN. It can back up its claims of privacy thanks to 20,332 servers in 148 countries running on open source software that can be audited.
On top of that, Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, which is outside of US, EU, or other jurisdictions that may seek user data access. Also, thanks to being a zero-log VPN with end-to-end encryption, your internet traffic can't be accessed anyway.
Get Proton VPN today at up to 70% off and pay as little as $2.99 per month for a 24-month package. If you need a little more convincing, read on to learn about the research into Apple's not-so-private VPN problem on the App Store.
A study conducted by Proton, using AppTweak download data from May and Exodus Privacy tracker counts, surveyed over 7,000 mobile VPN apps. The months-long survey showed that 85% of those downloaded in the US contain trackers, and 25% of those track user locations.
A VPN is meant to mask your traffic, not track the user. Image source: Proton
The fact that a VPN tool contains trackers or follows a user's physical location is a direct violation of trust and defeats the purpose of using a VPN. When activated, a Virtual Private Network should encrypt the user's traffic so that no one, not even the Internet Service Provider, can see what the user is doing.
When a VPN has a zero-logs policy, like Proton VPN, even a government subpoena can't reveal what websites the user visited when the VPN was active. As the global surveillance and persecution of average citizens increases, so does the use of VPNs.
Estimates show a third of Americans use VPNs in their daily life.
To make matters worse, of the VPNs studied, 64 were owned by China, meaning they are required to make user data available to the government upon request. Of these, 31 of the apps hid their affiliation with China through shell companies.
As mentioned earlier, the study also revealed that 85% of VPNs in the US have trackers that collect and share data. The data gathered included device ID, model, network type, mobile carrier name, and more.
Proton VPN gives users control over their web browsing and keeps things private. Image source: Proton
Given enough unique data points about a user, it is easy to place users into buckets. From those buckets, it isn't hard to pinpoint an individual and tie their VPN use to gathered information.
The worst offenders even track user location through GPS and geolocation data. The research showed 64 VPN apps did this, including some of the most popular apps like VPN Proxy Master, VPN-Fast, VPN Super, and X-VPN.
Apple has spent years in various antitrust lawsuits and other court hearings saying they are the sole protector of users through their policing of the App Store. However, the same company is profiting off of VPNs that violate user privacy.
The good news is that it isn't hard to find a VPN that is truly trustworthy, gathers zero user information, logs nothing, and is housed in countries without invasive surveillance laws. Proton VPN, in particular, prides itself on its privacy-first stance and zero-logs policy.
If you've read this far then you're no doubt ready to try Proton VPN. AppleInsider readers get a special deal of 70% off a 24 month subscription.
Pay for a Proton VPN subscription to protect 10 devices at once. Image source: Proton
The discount brings the monthly cost to $2.99 per month. You'll get zero logs, zero ads, unlimited traffic, streaming support, and more for up to ten connected devices with the paid subscription.
If you're looking to try Proton VPN without any financial commitment, there is a free option. Get an account today, no charge, to have a single connection to 2,000 servers across 10 countries.
The free version is more limited, as it won't let you stream video, use torrent clients, or access the ad-blocker and malware protection features. It's a great opportunity to try out the VPN before taking advantage of the limited-time 70% off discount.
