The Shocking Truth: Why Free VPNs Are Dangerous in 2026

We see it in the App Store every day: A shiny app labeled "Super Fast FREE VPN" with 5 million downloads. But running massive server networks costs millions of dollars a year. If they aren't charging you a subscription fee, how are they making money?

1. Selling Your Browsing History

They act as a man-in-the-middle. They see every website you visit, analyze your interests, and sell this highly targeted data to advertising networks. You wanted privacy, but you essentially installed spyware.

2. Selling Your Bandwidth

Some major "free" VPNs were caught selling their users' bandwidth to botnets, effectively turning your phone and computer into a node for illegal activities.

A legitimate VPN costs between $2 and $4 a month. Companies like NordVPN and Surfshark undergo independent security audits proving they log absolutely nothing. Do not risk your identity over a cup of coffee.

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