Majority of Popular Free VPN Apps Owned by Chinese Firms Susceptible to User Data ‘Harvesting’

Majority of Popular Free VPN Apps Owned by Chinese Firms Susceptible to User Data ‘Harvesting’
Chinese authorities had announced that all unrecognised VPN services would be blocked by March 31, meaning that Chinese and foreign companies must choose from a limited number of state-approved VPNs. / AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR Photo credit should read FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
Annie Wu
Updated:

In China, using a VPN is vital for any netizen who wishes to bypass the Great Firewall to access websites and content censored by Beijing.

A VPN, or virtual private network, is a service that allows users to obtain free information through a secure connection. The services typically hide one’s IP address and encrypt the data sent or received over the internet, diverting traffic through a remote server.

Annie Wu
Annie Wu
Author
Annie Wu joined the full-time staff at the Epoch Times in July 2014. That year, she won a first-place award from the New York Press Association for best spot news coverage. She is a graduate of Barnard College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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