Proton found trackers inside most VPN apps downloaded in the US
Proton says 85% of the VPN apps in its US analysis contain trackers, while dozens can also access users’ physical location.
Proton VPN’s recent investigation revealed that 85% of VPN apps downloaded in the US contain trackers for analytics, advertising, or profiling. These apps collect sensitive information such as device IDs, phone models, network types, mobile carriers, and physical locations. Proton used Exodus Privacy, an open-source platform, to analyze over 7,000 mobile VPN apps worldwide.
One concerning aspect is that 64 of these apps could access GPS and other geolocation data, resulting in over 3 million US downloads in June alone. Furthermore, 32% of the apps analyzed were owned by Chinese companies, while 8% allegedly hid ownership behind foreign entities. The presence of trackers in VPN apps, especially those collecting physical location data, is particularly troubling as it contradicts users' expectations of enhanced privacy.
While not every VPN is secretly monitoring users, the findings serve as a reminder for consumers to research the app's developer and data collection practices before installing.
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