Virtual private networks (VPNs) have become a staple for protecting your privacy online. By encrypting your internet traffic and hiding your IP address, VPNs allow you to browse the web anonymously. But as VPN services have proliferated, so too have "cracked" or hacked versions that promise the same benefits for free. While tempting, these cracked VPNs open up significant security risks. Read on to understand what cracked VPNs are, why they can be dangerous, and how to safely access the privacy tools you need.
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What is a Cracked VPN?
A cracked VPN is an unauthorized, modified version of a paid VPN service‘s software. Hackers break into the code of popular commercial VPNs like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or CyberGhost, alter it, and distribute the software for free. They remove mechanisms that enforce data limits or connection limits, allowing unlimited use without paying.
Cracking commercial VPN software requires moderate technical skills. According to white hat hacker David Secundus, "Any script kiddie with a hexadecimal editor can overwrite the license check functions and strip out the phoning home mechanism relatively easily. Compiling the altered code into a new executable is then trivial."
The cracked software is distributed on torrent sites and piracy forums. Unsuspecting users download it believing they‘ve scored free access to a premium VPN. But this opens them up to a Pandora‘s box of problems.
7 Risks of Using a Cracked VPN
While nabbing a hacked VPN seems like getting something for nothing, you end up paying a real price in security, functionality, and privacy.
1. Malware
The #1 risk is malware infection. Hacking groups alter VPN code not just to remove payment checks, but also to inject malicious scripts. A 2020 investigation by Avast found that 34% of cracked VPN software contained malware. Infamous examples include the Russian-developed Spy Eye and Zeus trojans.
"We‘ve seen cracked VPN installers deposit all kinds of dangerous payloads from keyloggers to backdoors," says Avast malware analyst Leslie Dan. "Some even launch multiple malware packages designed to steal sensitive data like logins and financial information."
2. Privacy Violations
Even if a cracked VPN isn‘t overtly malicious, you‘re still exposing your most sensitive data. Encryption keys, browsing history, messages – a VPN sees everything.
Siro Iginla, network engineer at Harris-Stowe State University explains: "These cracked VPN networks could be capturing user data, web traffic, credentials, you name it. Whoever created the crack absolutely has the means to intercept communications and siphon private information."
3. Missing Features
Paid VPN providers constantly update their apps to fix bugs, close security holes, and improve performance. Without access to official updates, cracked versions quickly become outdated.
"Older VPN software lacks protections like leak prevention that have become standard in the industry," says Iginla. "Vulnerabilities that have long been patched in legit versions may still be open to exploitation."
You also lose access to VPN support staff who can troubleshoot issues.
4. Adware Contamination
While not all cracked software contains literal viruses, excessive advertising is rampant. Hackers monetize their cracks by bundling in adware that bombard users with popups and redirects.
"Adware is specifically designed to be intrusive and difficult to remove," warns Dan. "It can significantly bog down your device, cause frequent crashes, and drive users absolutely bonkers."
5. Bait & Switch Scams
Unscrupulous hackers cash in on the demand for free VPNs with bait and switch scams. You download a file labeled as a cracked NordVPN that instead installs an entirely different inferior VPN – or worse, malware.
Without being the wiser, users funnel their personal activities through a VPN with zero integrity. There‘s no way to pursue refunds either since the transaction exists in a legal gray zone.
6. Account Revocation
Some cracked VPNs access legitimate user accounts that have been hacked. The operator takes weak credentials like "password123" and creates an open backdoor for anyone to use.
But this leaves users entirely at the mercy of the account owner. If they change their password, the cracked VPN immediately ceases to work. There‘s no recourse after being booted out.
7. Account Competition
Hacked accounts also suffer from competition among freeloading users. Most commercial VPNs limit simultaneous connections. When the limit is reached, you‘re locked out until someone else disconnects.
Imagine urgently needing to use the VPN only to find all connections occupied by other cracked users. This renders the VPN unreliable for activities where timing is critical.
5 Ways to Avoid Cracked VPNs
Fortunately, protecting your privacy doesn‘t necessitate resorting to sketchy cracked software. Here are tips for accessing anonymous and encrypted browsing securely:
1. Only Download from Official Sites
The golden rule is to only download software from the VPN company‘s official website. The Apple App Store and Google Play Store also offer certain VPN apps that have been vetted. Never trust third-party sites hawking premium VPNs for free.
2. Beware Sketchy Payment Options
Legitimate VPNs offer standard subscription options like monthly billing or 1-year licenses. One-time lifetime deals and free plans with no data limits are almost always too good to be true.
3. Compare Pricing Lists
Take a quick look at published pricing on the VPN company‘s website. If what you find elsewhere is significantly cheaper or free, it‘s a red flag. Also cross-check deals against lists of the best VPN deals curated by reputable tech publications.
4. Leverage Other Privacy Tools
If paid VPNs are truly out of reach, other privacy tools also provide a degree of anonymity online. Tor browser routes your traffic through encrypted nodes. DuckDuckGo and StartPage are search engines that don‘t track queries.
5. Vet Free VPN Services Thoroughly
There are a handful of free VPNs that are legitimate, but they come with significant limitations. Strictly vet their reputation, policies, and security before using. Also research how they monetize their free service – it‘s often through selling user data.
Private Yet Poor: Free VPN Vs Professional VPN
To demonstrate the stark differences in features between commercial and free VPN services, let‘s compare industry leading ExpressVPN versus the free version of VPNHub:
| Feature | ExpressVPN | VPNHub Free |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $8.32/month | Free |
| Data Limit | Unlimited | 10GB/month |
| Speed | No throttling | Throttled above 5Mbps |
| Server Locations | 160 countries | 3 countries |
| Supported Devices | 5 simultaneously | 1 only |
| Encryption | 256-bit AES | 128-bit AES |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, Lightway, IKEv2 | IKEv2 only |
| Kill Switch | Yes | No |
| Split Tunneling | Yes | No |
| Ad Blocking | Yes | No |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | No |
It‘s clearly no comparison – ExpressVPN dominates across the board in speed, server count, and key security capabilities. The free VPNHub is severely limited and hampered by lack of full encryption, no kill switch, and slow speeds. Paying a small amount guarantees you a vastly superior VPN experience.
Finding Legit Affordable VPN Options
Thankfully there are also legit affordable VPN options between the extremes of an expensive premium service and a free subpar one:
AtlasVPN – Offers a free plan with 5GB monthly data cap, unlimited speed, and basic encryption. Paid tiers start at just $1.39/month.
Read More: AtlasVPN Review
Surfshark – Extremely fast VPN with unlimited data allowance starting at $2.49/month. Provides ad and malware blocking.
Read More: Surfshark Review
CyberGhost – Ranked #2 VPN with over 7000 servers. Plenty of low cost deals like 83% off plus 3 months free.
Read More: CyberGhost Review
The bottom line is protecting your privacy shouldn‘t come at the expense of security. While appealing, cracked VPNs are a veritable minefield of scams, malware, and snooping that negate any benefit. But fortunately quality encryption and anonymous browsing need not break the bank. With a bit of shopping around, trustworthy VPN protection can be had for an amount anyone can spare.
