Millions of VPN users in the US are inadvertently putting their privacy at risk, Proton warns

Proton found 85% of VPNs on US app stores contain hidden trackers 64 of these apps actively track physical GPS locations Millions of US downloads are tied to apps funneling data to foreign entities Millions of Americans use virtual private networks to shield their internet activity from prying eyes.

But a massive new study reveals that many of the most popular privacy apps are doing the exact opposite.

According to a sweeping new report published by Proton VPN , a staggering 85% of mobile VPN apps available on US app stores contain trackers designed to collect and share your data.

Instead of securing your connection, these rogue apps harvest incredibly sensitive information.

This includes your unique device IDs, device models, network types, and mobile carrier data.

If you are on the hunt for the best VPN , this data serves as a harsh reminder that not all privacy tools are created equal.

In June 2026 alone, Google and Apple allowed these suspect VPNs to be downloaded more than 13.2 million times.

Proton VPN – best for privacy The popular privacy-first VPN offers good speeds, extra security features, and has servers in 145 countries around the world (including across Africa and Asia, where other providers tend to struggle), which makes it excellent for streaming and torrenting.

While Proton VPN Free is a secure and capable service, premium users have access to the full powerhouse starting at the equivalent of $2.99 per month .

View Deal The hidden foreign ownership problem Proton’s research team analyzed more than 7,000 mobile VPN apps worldwide to uncover these privacy violations.

Zooming in on the US market, they found that 64 out of the 390 available VPNs appeared to be owned by Chinese companies.

Worse still, the report says that 31 of those services actively conceal their true ownership behind shell companies based in places like Singapore, Hong Kong, and the UK.

These Chinese-owned apps are incredibly popular, racking up more than 3 million US downloads in a single month.

The final destination of your tracked data is equally alarming.