New Delhi, Aug. 21 -- A recent investigation has found that many leading free VPN apps on the Android platform pose serious risks to users' privacy and security. The Free and Open Communications on the Internet (FOCI) initiative uncovered that more than 700 million downloads of VPN apps, appearing under countless brand names, actually lead back to a single Chinese company, Qihoo 360. While these apps are promoted as independent privacy tools, technical analysis and business records show they operate under the same infrastructure and management.

Security researchers explored a range of popular VPNs like Turbo VPN, Snap VPN, Melon VPN, and XY VPN. Their inspection revealed that despite different branding, the core software, encryption prot...