VPN data exposure is more common than you think. Seventeen mobile VPN apps—many of them free—were recently exposed for having undisclosed ties to Chinese companies. This includes Qihoo 360, a firm with a history of working closely with state authorities. Despite their presence in trusted app stores, these VPNs collect and store sensitive user data like IP addresses, browsing histories, and connection logs.
China’s national security laws allow its government to demand access to this data—without notifying users. If you’re using one of these apps, your online activity could already be compromised. Free doesn’t mean secure. It rarely does.
Why this matters
China’s Personal Information Protection Law and Cybersecurity Law give regulators broad authority. If a VPN is owned by or tied to a Chinese entity, the government can legally access user information. Therefore, any VPN data exposure from these apps carries real risk. Your digital footprint—including websites visited, timestamps, and location—may be tracked and misused.
Although some VPN providers claim to protect user privacy, their vague policies and obscure ownership often make verification impossible. As a result, users are left exposed without even realizing it.
Real‑world risks
Surveillance and profiling
Logs collected by VPNs can be used to reconstruct your online behavior. In authoritarian regimes, this kind of profiling feeds censorship and state monitoring.
Targeted marketing or manipulation
Even outside government use, your behavioral data can be sold. Advertisers and political groups use this data to target, influence, and manipulate users.
Forced disclosures through legal pressure
Some VPNs comply with subpoenas or national demands. If they log your data, they can hand it over. A “no-log” policy means nothing without third-party audits to prove it.
How VALT stops this
VALT uses decentralized architecture to prevent VPN data exposure entirely. Here’s how:
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No logging—ever
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No central servers to compromise
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No ties to governments or jurisdictions that can force data handovers
VALT routes all traffic through a peer-to-peer network secured by quantum-resistant encryption. You remain the only one with access to your activity and data.
In addition, VALT’s transparency tools show exactly what data you share, if any. Unlike most VPNs, we believe users should never have to trust—they should be able to verify.
What you should do now
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Audit your current VPN
Research the company behind the app. Who owns it? Where is it based? If answers are unclear, consider switching. -
Demand full transparency
Look for third-party audits, clear privacy language, and technical infrastructure that doesn’t require trust. -
Download VALT today
Switch to a decentralized VPN that gives you control. VALT’s technology eliminates the risks associated with traditional VPN data exposure.
You shouldn’t have to hope your VPN provider does the right thing. With VALT, you don’t need hope—you have proof.
Start protecting your data now with VALT’s decentralized VPN. Take control before someone else takes it from you.
