Warning: That free VPN app cost me 2 full weekends to undo

I downloaded a free VPN from a random ad to watch a show from another country. Two months later I noticed my phone was sending data to servers in Russia every 20 minutes. Cleaning out the malware and changing all my passwords took me 14 hours across two weekends. I also had to call my bank because someone tried to open a credit card in my name. What free tool have you guys used that actually turned out to be a privacy nightmare?

2 comments

2 Comments

jordang321mo ago

Free stuff is rarely free, right? Those shady VPNs are basically just data collection services with a fancy icon. You probably dodged a bullet finding it early, but yeah that sounds like a nightmare. At least you got the bank stuff sorted before it got worse.

danielb431mo ago

Yep, I learned that lesson the hard way too - now my phone has more security layers than my pickup truck has rust spots.