When using vpnI expect reliable software. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. The term “VPN” may give you peace of mind when connecting to the internet, but not all VPN services are what they claim, and some are secretly based in China. If you know anything about international privacy laws, it would be a rather shocking revelation.
If you’re looking for an affordable VPN solution on your mobile, tablet or smart TV, you may have noticed that you’re looking into the depths of the Apple App Store or Google Play. Unfortunately, these platforms have many Chinese VPNs in the mix.
However, these Chinese-owned services almost certainly won’t appear on the best VPNs list and are unlikely to run to the standards required for gaming VPNs. Of course, beyond that, you don’t know what these suspicious services are doing with your private data.
Technology Transparency Project and China VPN
In April 2025, Tech Transparency Project (known as TTP, formerly Google Transparency Project) identified the Apple App Store and Google Play apps being owned by publishers associated with the Chinese military.
This actually causes all data to be transferred to the Chinese government’s hands through these VPNs. The use of a VPN is only permitted if the VPN company agrees to hand over the browsing data to the ruling party in Beijing. As far as privacy goes, it’s like trying to bathe in a glass house full of cameras.
The US government, Hong Kong shell companies, and even companies licensed by VPNs targeting children were discovered by TTP. Most of these VPNs have been removed from their respective app stores, but new reports from TTP show that some reports are allowed to continue, but new reports of similar origins have been added.
How to Find a VPN App in China
TTP provides a list of China-related VPN apps for iOS and Android. If you’re worried, use your browser’s text search feature (CTRL+F) to search for the name of the VPN you’re using. Or simply stop using the VPN with the quirky name you installed the other day.
One of the most interesting things about these VPNs is how you can style yourself as a clever imitation with similar names. So instead of nordvpn, there is “Now vpn”. It is labeled “Wirevpn” which connects to the WireGuard protocol used by VPNs. The other is “Hula VPN,” which sounds very similar to the legitimate provider, Hola VPN.
Bad VPNs affect the level of trust across the industry. App stores that allow these services to list software and profit from signing up and in-app purchases, you need to think again. They could be causing great damage to the broader reputation of this privacy technology.
With so many unreliable VPNs on both mobile platforms, it can prove difficult to avoid signing up to one. So take the Smart option and resort to famous European or North American VPN services like Nordvpn.
If you plan to use a (reliable) VPN for your game, there are useful pointers in Minecraft VPN and Warzone VPN guides.
