Security firm avast has discovered three fraudulent VPN apps that have been downloaded by thousands of iOS users

avast noted that the three apps, Beetle VPN, Buckler VPN, and Hat VPN Pro, are a form of "freeware" that overcharges users, does not provide the promised service, and charges exorbitant subscription fees once the free trial period ends He pointed out that

According to data from mobile app intelligence firm Sensor Tower, these apps have been downloaded more than 420,000 times, 271,000 times, and 96,000 times, respectively, in the past year

The apps in question are sold as VPN services, charging users up to $999 per week after a 3-day free trial

Each app has a high rating of 46 to 48 on the App Store, but avast warns that many user reviews are similarly written, and all are suspiciously enthusiastic, suggesting that they may be fake

avast also found less-than-favorable reviews claiming the app is a scam, as well as privacy policies that are "very similar" in terms of language and structure

Although the researcher successfully installed the app and purchased a subscription, he was unable to set up a VPN connection and was prompted to sign up for a subscription even though he already had one set up

Nikolaos Chrysaidos, head of Avast's Mobile Threat & Security division, warns: "Freeware apps are not malicious per se, but they are designed to provide users with weekly, monthly, or only charges an unreasonable amount of money for an annual subscription, so it is classified in a gray area

"In this case, the VPN is being sold for $999 (USD) per week while a reliable VPN is 10 times cheaper These apps are not operating maliciously, so they bypass the vetting process in order to be added to the official app store that users trust

He urged users to investigate before paying for such apps" With many people using VPN apps to protect their data while working remotely, this is a good example of how users should research VPN apps before installing them, including who is behind the product, their track record with other products and user reviews, and their experience in providing security and privacy apps This shows how important it is for users to research VPN apps before installing them