July 8: Researchers tested 281 free VPN apps — dozens leak the very data they promise to hide

A new study published July 8 by researchers at the University of Michigan, the University of New Mexico and IIT Delhi tested 281 free VPN apps from the Google Play Store — the apps millions of parents install to feel safer online. The results: 61 transmitted some data without encryption, 29 leaked browser or DNS traffic outside the encrypted tunnel, and 76 sent device identifiers such as Android's Advertising ID to third parties. The tool families download for privacy is, in many cases, the thing spying on them.