Following the ban of the Telegram application in Iraq, many users have started considering VPN applications as an alternative solution. However, what many people overlook is that some of these apps—especially free ones—may pose a greater risk than the ban itself.

A recent study that examined around 800 free VPN applications revealed alarming results, showing that a significant number of them leak sensitive data and contain serious security vulnerabilities.
Among the risks associated with these applications:
📌 The ability to track and monitor all user activity.
📌 Containing malware or hidden spyware tools.
📌 Collecting personal data and selling it to third parties.
📌 Requesting excessive and unjustified permissions on the device.
📌 The potential theft of passwords and sensitive information.

Therefore, it is essential to exercise caution before installing any VPN application, especially free ones, as they may pose real threats to user privacy and data security.