Following the announcement of #TwitterBan in Nigeria on Friday, June 4, many Twitter users in Nigeria have opted for VPNs to bypass the ban. But while VPNs can be a quick fix, not all VPNs are safe.

Some free VPNs are not safe enough to protect or keep users’ data private because they compromise their security.

Research by the ICSI Networking and Security Group found that 38% of the 283 Android VPNs studied contained malware.

Some free VPNs contain malware used by cybercriminals to steal users’ data, gain access to their data, or launch a cyberattack.

Like the ISPs and government, some also track their users’ online activities allowing them to sell the information they collect to third parties.

Some free VPNs conceal information about sharing or selling user data, but others disclose it in their privacy policies. But how many people read privacy policies before accepting them?

Free VPNs are not free because they raise money in other ways. To make revenue, they either sell users’ data to third parties or flood you with ads without your permission.

The adage then comes to mind, if you are not paying for the product, you are the product.

A few steps to protect your data:

Carefully choose what country you connect with because VPNs are illegal in some countries. Do your research to ensure your connection is not established in countries like Russia, Uganda, Turkey, and China, amongst others.
Look for a provider that has a VPN kill switch feature. This helps users exit specific programs if an Internet connection fluctuates, reducing the risk of sensitive data being disclosed.

Also, ensure the VPN you are selecting supports Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This ensures that only authorised users can gain access to it.

To learn more about the type of VPNs to use and what to look out for while choosing one, read the full explainer here: https://techpoint.africa/2021/06/07/twitterban-vpns-nigerians/