Pay for your VPN
A Lifehacker article caught my eye yesterday about Android VPNs that collect personal data. Toward the end it gives a walkthrough of how to check which permissions an app has asked for, as well as how to revoke permissions (this can be for any app, not just the VPN app):
- Tap and hold the app's icon, then tap Info.
- Tap Permissions. This will bring up the list of permissions.
- Tap the slider next to each permission to revoke it.
The article does go on to say that changing the permissions can cause the app not to work as intended, and to delete any app with permissions that make you uncomfortable.
Issues with free VPNs is apparently not new. Several articles detail how many free VPN apps originate in China, and there are concerns.
If you want to use a #VPN, you have to pay for one. You can easily find best of lists to research which service is right for you. (For a good read on VPNs, consider this Slate article.)