Free VPN App on Google Play Store Exposes User Database | Here’s Why You Should Go for a Paid Option

Free VPN App on Google Play Store Exposes User Database | Here’s Why You Should Go for a Paid Option

A VPN app can secure your safety online, but not all the time. For instance, a free VPN accessible on the Google Play Store has reportedly exposed many users’ data to risk.
A recent report says a database containing over 18 GB of connection logs is all over the internet. How can you stay safe amid this security concern?
Free VPN Service Put User Data at Risk

Beware: This Free VPN App Puts Customer's Data at Risk
(Photo : Privecstasy from Unsplash)
Android users should beware of a free VPN app that can expose their information online.

In May, Cybernews listed that the free VPN apps might expose users’ information when using a smartphone. Now, it’s been confirmed that one of these applications includes BeanVPN.
The latest story from Tom’s Guide revealed that this VPN app has over 25 million data from global users. The database envelopes IP addresses, ID, connection timestamps, and more.
This security issue has been bugging researchers recently because people could easily click and download it. Without them knowing, the hackers behind this scheme could immediately steal their credentials.
“The information found in this database could be used to de-anonymize BeanVPN’s users and find their approximate location using geo-IP databases. The Play Service ID could also be used to find out the user’s email address that they are signed in to their device with,” Aras Nazarovas, a security researcher from Cyber news, said.
Related Article: Tor Plus VPN: Can This Help You Stay Truly Anonymous Online?
Privacy Violations
Tom’s Guide included in its article that IMSOFT is the company behind BeanVPN. Although it’s stated in its own policy that the free VPN service won’t store any timestamps and IP addresses, the firm has not really addressed it.
In this regard, the Romania-based firm has violated its policy when it comes to privacy. Instead of vowing to protect user data from being exposed online, it does not do what it wrote on its rules.
Speaking of user data, an exposed database can do more harm than good to the users. 
For instance, a 2021 incident has caught the attention of Cybernews. At the time, the firm found out that three VPN services had leaked confidential information–ChatVPN, SuperVPN, and GeckoVPN.
The worst part of this investigation is that experts discovered that the data were sold on the dark web. There’s also a separate database that Cybernews spotted. The unsafe digital storage came from the UK law enforcement organizations.
If the hackers get the data, this could affect not only the users but also the businesses to which this information is tied.
Why Choose a Paid VPN Over Free Ones?
It’s good that people can now use a VPN app for free. This is a user-friendly approach by a VPN company to its customers. However, you should note that choosing this type of service has limitations.
For instance, a fake VPN app does not have enough safety and security features that you can access on paid versions. To note, buying a premium VPN guarantees lasting protection since it comes from a trusted provider.
Read Also: Best Working VPNs For Netflix in 2022 | Here’s Why You Should Buy Them or Not
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joseph Henry 

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How to Rent Your Stuff for Cash

How to Rent Your Stuff for Cash

Montage of online transactions with examples showing browsing merchandise on a smartphone, a money transaction, an empty garage and expensive women's dress shoes

Montage of online transactions with examples showing browsing merchandise on a smartphone, a money transaction, an empty garage and expensive women's dress shoes

Moment, E+ / Getty Images

Are you looking to raise cash to pay down debt, boost your retirement savings, replenish your emergency fund or pay for a nifty vacation? Have you thought of renting the stuff you seldom use?

Right now there are a plethora of websites with handy apps you can use to identify potential renters, complete transactions and get paid quickly. They are similar to the apartment rental app Airbnb, only for items like clothes, parking spots and power tools.

Here are six categories to start with. In each case be sure to read the fine print. When renting out your possessions, look for an insurance or protection plan to fall back on should you encounter a problem with a renter, or your property be lost, stolen or damaged.

1. The bling in your closet

Let’s say you’re a woman with a closet full of designer shoes, handbags, clothes and accessories. Or you’re a guy with a killer tux. You can offer these pricey items for rent through StyleLend.

You simply list your items, get a renter, approve the individual and prepare the goods for shipping within 24 hours. You’ll be paid 80 percent of the fee through Venmo or Paypal. Clothing must fit the customer, of course. It will be returned to you in a prepaid envelope after seven days.

What if merchandise is damaged? Customers pay a $5 insurance fee to cover fixable repairs up to $50. Should the article suffer greater damage, or be lost, stolen or unfixable, the customer will be charged the replacement cost or the item’s current monetary value.

2. Your car

You enjoy having a car but seldom use it. Maybe you have a second vehicle that often sits idle. Try turning to Turo. This car-sharing platform, available in many major U.S. cities, connects you with drivers in your area who may want to rent your wheels. Rental rates are attractive but lower than those typically charged by car rental agencies.

Turo sets the rate for your car based on competitive factors, lists and markets it, and checks out potential drivers. It offers insurance coverage and roadside assistance. With Turo, you keep 65 to 85 percent of the receipts per rental. Payments are deposited into your bank account within days.

The platform estimates that you can earn up to $10,000 a year (depending on the car), suggesting that you might use the revenue to purchase and rent out additional vehicles and build a lucrative side business. 

3. Your RV

Say you have a recreational vehicle that you love but use just a few weeks a year — an expensive investment that is costly to maintain. With RVShare and Outdoorsy, you can rent out your wheels by the day or week and earn as much as $50,000 a year.

Both platforms list your vehicle, but you set the rental rate, considering the make, model, amenities and model year. RVShare and Outdoorsy verify renters in advance, offer insurance and provide 24/7 roadside assistance. They charge a commission or a transaction fee. All payments go directly into your bank account.

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