It’s tough to choose the best VPN service with so many options out there. Our buying guide will help you choose from our favorites, but we also have a list of VPNs that you should avoid, if a recent report is to be believed. According to VPNPro, ten of the top VPN apps on the Google Play store have a vulnerability to a type of cyber attack called a man-in-the-middle (MITM) hack. These weaknesses in the VPNs defenses allow hackers to easily intercept all communications between the user and their VPN server, meaning they can see everything that the user is doing.
Among the ten free VPNs that were exposed was SuperVPN Free VPN Client, which has a staggering 100 million installs on the Google Play store - that’s a lot of people whose data and privacy is potentially being exposed. The complete list of VPNs that were found to have the vulnerability is below.
VPNs currently still available for download:
- SuperVPN Free VPN Client
- TapVPN Free VPN
- Korea VPN - Plugin for OpenVPN
- VPN Unblocker Free unlimited Best Anonymous Secure
- Super VPN 2019 USA - Free VPN, Unblock Proxy VPN
VPNs removed from Google Play store:
- Wuma VPN-Pro (Fast & Unlimited & Security)
- VPN Download: Top, Quick & Unblock Sites
- Secure VPN-Fast VPN Free & Unlimited VPN
- Power VPN Free VPN
VPNs where issue has been resolved:
- Best Ultimate VPN - Fastest Secure Unlimited VPN
VPNPro states that it tested the security of these VPNs by performing its own MITM attack on the most popular apps on the Google Play store. Once it had identified the vulnerable VPNs, it contacted the VPN providers to give them a chance to respond and fix the issue. Of the ten that VPNPro contacted, only Best Ultimate VPN responded. It has since patched the vulnerability out of their app, so it's back off the bad list.
If you've been reading this and wondering "What is a VPN, and why do you need one?" then don't worry, we've got an article that explains everything. VPNs are a great way to stay safe online, but they’re not the only security precaution that you should take when browsing the web. If you want to secure your laptop or computer from cyberattacks, viruses and malware then check out our best antivirus and best internet security software guides for more information.
