Millions of downloads, zero security: how clone VPNs are gaming the Google Play Store

When browsing the Google Play Store for a mobile VPN, downloads in the tens of millions is usually the ultimate stamp of approval.

<![CDATA[ <article> <p>When browsing the Google Play Store for a mobile VPN, downloads in the tens of millions is usually the ultimate stamp of approval. If 10 million people use an app, it must be well-maintained, technically secure, and backed by a legitimate business, right?</p><p>Unfortunately, our latest audit of Android VPNs shows that high download metrics and large app catalogs don't equal operational support, technical maintenance, or store compliance.</p><p>Primarily, our data suggests that Google Play's automated submission checks are allowing multi-million-download apps and commercial app networks to circumvent certain developer website requirements. </p><p>Instead of real support portals, these developers are using blank domain placeholders, error pages, and ad monetization text files to game the system.</p><h2 id="broken-infrastructure-in-10m-download-super-apps">Broken infrastructure in 10M+ download "Super-Apps"</h2><p>When you pay for one of the <a href="https://www.techradar.com/vpn/best-vpn">best VPNs</a>, you get a dedicated corporate infrastructure, 24/7 support channels, and transparent legal documentation. But on Google Play, some of the top-ranking apps we audited are operating as ghost towns.</p><p>Our audit identified 14 separate Android VPN apps with over 10 million downloads each that maintain non-existent, broken, or dummy website links. For example, both <strong>USA VPN - Get USA IP</strong> and <strong>VPN Indonesia - Indonesian IP</strong> direct users to <a href="https://tap2free.net/">tap2free.net</a>, which is a completely blank page.</p><p>Other high-volume apps redirect to active server errors. <strong>AnonyTun</strong> directs users to an HTTP '403 forbidden' error. The link for <strong>v2RayTun</strong> simply times out, and examples like <strong>Fast VPN</strong> lead to "Invalid URL" messages.</p><p>Even when the sites load, they are often devoid of information. <strong>VPN 365</strong> is one of several examples that display generic single-line welcome banners like "Welcome to facefaster.com!" with no other content. <strong>MTM Tunnel Lite</strong> links to an empty free Blogspot page containing a single post stating "there’s nothing here." </p><p>Most embarrassing of all is <strong>Armada VPN</strong>, which points to a blank white page that actually misspells the app’s own product name as "Aramda VPN".</p><p>Other major listings were also found to omit a website URL entirely on their official store pages.</p><h2 id="more-risk-of-hijacking">More risk of hijacking</h2><p>These missing and broken links indicate abandoned or completely unmaintained web assets, heightening the risk of quiet service degradation or future domain hijacking. </p><p>More importantly, it leaves millions of active users with no obvious or easy channels to seek technical support, report severe security vulnerabilities, or legally request account and data deletion. </p><p>It also prevents users from verifying company registration details or reading binding terms of service outside the application client.</p><h2 id="the-problem-of-multi-app-developer-rings">The problem of multi-app developer rings</h2><p>The broken links on individual apps are bad enough, but the audit also exposed massive "developer rings", single entities spinning up dozens of clone apps to flood the search results and trick Google's automated systems.</p><p>One of the most common ways these developer networks game the rules is through the "app-ads.txt" exploit. </p><p>App-ads.txt is a standard format websites use to manage their Google ads, and many sites host these files for free. Developers need only paste these raw monetization file links into their app store submission forms to satisfy Google's website requirement without having to build a real site.</p><p>This exploit is happening on an industrial scale. The developer account <strong>Karastm</strong> operates 39 VPN apps, and 35 of them link back to Google Play via a generic app-ads text file. </p><p>Another developer, <strong>helalik</strong>, operates 19 VPN apps, including seven with over 1 million downloads, that all point to a single adzonemax.site file. Similar ad-file exploits were found across several other networks of similar size.</p><p>When developer rings aren't using ad files, they use dummy blogs. The developer <strong>BanglaTach</strong> operates 26 VPN apps (including two with over 1 million downloads) that all point to <a href="https://naruto24.com/">naruto24.com</a>, a generic, dummy WordPress template that contains no information about VPN services. </p><p>Networks like <strong>BD IT POINT</strong> (8 apps) point their store listings to empty blog feeds, removed accounts, or placeholder domains.</p><h2 id="so-what">So what?</h2><p>These multi-app networks create a dangerous illusion of software variety. They trick users into believing they are choosing between distinct, competing privacy providers, when they are actually downloading reskinned clone apps. </p><p>These white-label fleets share identical infrastructure, identical bugs, and identical data logging practices, all while successfully evading Google's operational transparency and support obligations.</p><div style="min-height: 250px;"> <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-X85NLe"></div> </div> <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/X85NLe.js" async></script><h2 id="consumer-advice-actionable-insights">Consumer advice & actionable insights</h2><p>Because of the ways Google Play permits apps into its store, and the weaknesses in this, users must become their own security auditors to navigate the storefront safely. </p><p>Start by completely disregarding download metrics. You should treat high download totals merely as indicators of past distribution popularity, rather than proof of current security, technical maintenance, or legitimacy.</p><p>Before downloading, always click the developer's name on the app store listing to audit their portfolio. If you see them operating dozens of identical clone apps sharing generic names, avoid their software entirely. </p><p>Finally, pay close attention to the provided URLs. Do not download an app if its official store website link ends in an "/app-ads.txt" extension or points to a free blogging domain like Blogspot. Ultimately, legitimate privacy companies invest in and own their own web domains.</p><h2 id="the-bottom-line">The bottom line</h2><p>Our data shows that, currently, Google Play's app verification methods offer enough maneuverability for apps to use dead links, blank pages, and ad monetization files to register their apps in place of truly helpful information hubs for users. </p><p>Until automated store submission checks are replaced with genuine corporate verification, consumers should evaluate independent security audits and clear corporate domain ownership rather than assuming app store popularity reflects developer reliability.</p><p>When contacted about our findings, Google responded, saying: "We are looking into this. When made aware of an app that violates our policies, we will review the apps in question and take appropriate action."</p><p>We also contacted all the VPNs mentioned in this article for comment on the issues found. As of publishing, none have responded thus far though we will update with any responses as they arrive.</p> </article> ]]>