These iPhone VPN apps will just rip you off: What to watch for
These iPhone VPN apps will only rip you off: What to watch for
Security firm Avast has discovered three fraudulent VPN apps that were downloaded by thousands of iOS users.
Avast said the apps -- Protrude VPN, Buckler VPN and Lid VPN Pro -- overcharged users, didn't provide the services they promised and were a form of "fleeceware" that charged exorbitant subscription rates in one case their free-trial periods expired.
Data from mobile apps intelligence firm Sensor Tower shows that the apps have been downloaded more than than 420,000, 271,000 and 96,000 times, respectively, over the past year.
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The apps in question marketplace themselves as VPN services and charge users up to $ix.99 every week following a three-twenty-four hour period free trial.
Each app has a high App Store rating between 4.vi to four.8, only Avast warns that many user reviews could be false as they've been written similarly and are all suspiciously overenthusiastic.
Avast likewise found less favourable reviews challenge that the apps were scams, likewise equally privacy policies that were "very like" in terms of language and construction.
'Fleeceware a greyness expanse'
Although researchers were successful in installing and purchasing subscriptions for the apps, they couldn't set up VPN connections and were instead prompted to sign upward for subscriptions despite already having washed and so -- specially frustrating considering that good cheap VPNs aren't difficult to come up by.
Nikolaos Chrysaidos, head of mobile threats & security at Avast, warned: "Fleeceware apps fall into a gray area, because they are not malicious per se, they simply accuse users absurd amounts of coin for weekly, monthly or yearly subscriptions for features that should be offered at much lower costs.
"In this case, the VPNs are beingness sold for $9.99 (USD) a calendar week, when trustworthy VPNs price 10 times less. These apps are non behaving maliciously so they circumvent screening processes to be added to the official app stores' that users trust.
He urged users to do their research before paying for such apps: "With many people turning to VPN apps to protect their information while working remotely, this illustrates how of import it is for users to research VPN apps before installing them, including who is behind the product, their rails record with other products and user reviews, and experience in offering security and privacy apps."
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Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/these-iphone-vpn-apps-will-just-rip-you-off-what-to-watch-for
Posted by: meyerwhispectilly.blogspot.com
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