The VPN trap: how criminal ecosystems exploit our need for privacy

Date:
Thu, 29 May 2025 10:23:10 +0000

Description:
VPNs were once privacy heroes. Now they are malware traps set by criminals hiding behind swanky branding.

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Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are supposed to be the internets cloak of invisibility. Long embraced by corporations to secure remote access and by individuals to shield their browsing activity, VPNs have built a reputation
as tools of privacy, security, and digital freedom. But that reputation is
now under threat.

A growing number of criminal groups are repackaging open source VPN
frameworks into malware-laced products, disguising their intent behind familiar language, friendly branding, and fake reviews. What looks like a quick fix for accessing overseas content or bypassing geo-restrictions is, in many cases, an entry point for data theft, surveillance, and fraud.

Its ironic in many ways. The promise of privacy has become the perfect lure for privacy-hacking criminals. Users who download these malicious VPNs often think theyre outsmarting content restrictions watching football matches from abroad, placing bets where they legally shouldnt, or cashing in on digital deals restricted by region.

At the very least, they might think that having a VPN shields them from the prying eyes of online snoopers. In reality, theyre likely handing over
control of their device to a shadow network. These fake VPNs quietly turn
home networks into residential proxies, harvest personal and financial data, and open the door for broader criminal operations all while maintaining the illusion of security.

This isnt to say that VPNs are bad. Far from it. But a user's choice of VPN matters today more than ever before. With so many affordable, easy options flooding the market, latching onto a cheap VPN to cloak your device or access geo-restricted content is a gamble and the cost of losing that gamble simply isnt worth the risk. Behind the mask: How VPNs are being weaponized

What makes these VPNs so effective as attack vectors is how seamlessly they blend into the digital noise. Many operate through traffic distribution systems (TDSs) like Vextrio, which funnel users toward seemingly legitimate downloads. These platforms dont just advertise VPNs they create an entire illusion of trust, complete with sponsored search results, polished websites, and glowing reviews on platforms like Trustpilot.

Some VPNs are free, others charge modest monthly fees, but the business model is the same: install the software and you unwittingly join a network of compromised machines. These apps often double as information stealers scraping keystrokes, intercepting browser activity, and quietly logging banking credentials.

Worse still, the infected device becomes part of a much larger
infrastructure. Malicious VPNs routinely convert users home internet connections into residential proxies , effectively turning everyday consumers into unknowing enablers of criminal activity.

This allows attackers to route their own traffic through compromised systems, making it harder for authorities to trace or block malicious behavior. Its like a parasite worming its way in unnoticed users pay for access to content theyre not legally allowed to watch, while criminals profit by harvesting their data and hijacking their connections. Users think theyve found a clever workaround, but in reality theyre simply being exploited. DNS, RDGAs, and the art of evasion

The success of these criminals depends on their ability to hide and deceive. To maintain the illusion of legitimacy and avoid detection, malicious VPN operators rely heavily on rapidly generated domain aliases (RDGAs) and DNS tunneling. These tactics allow them to constantly shift the endpoints used by their software, cycling through thousands of domains so that if one is
flagged or taken down, the service continues uninterrupted.

Take Reckless Rabbit and Ruthless Rabbit for instance two recently
discovered investment scam actors that use RDGAs to scale their advertising campaigns and lure victims using well-known names to appear trustworthy. Unlike legitimate providers, whose infrastructure remains relatively stable, these actors thrive on churn.

The fast rotation of domains not only obscures the true nature of the traffic but also makes it nearly impossible for traditional blocklists or IP reputation tools to keep up. From the outside, it simply looks like a user is accessing routine web services, when in fact, DNS is being manipulated to
mask criminal infrastructure.

This constant domain hopping is part of a broader evasion strategy. DNS tunneling, in particular, allows attackers to disguise command-and-control traffic as benign DNS requests. Its a method often used to sneak malware past firewalls or send data out of restricted environments without detection.

When embedded within VPN software , this technique becomes even more insidious: not only is the app encrypting the user's traffic, but its also silently exfiltrating information and receiving instructions from remote servers, all under the cover of what appears to be a legitimate privacy tool. This is how VPNs, when co-opted, transform from protective wrappers into full-fledged vehicles for criminal communication. Snakes and Ladders: Why do people fall for it?

Contempt for the conners, compassion for the conned. Thats how this
particular form of cyber-abuse should be viewed. Because the appeal of these rogue VPNs isnt just technical its psychological. Users are drawn in by the promise of unrestricted access: the ability to stream content blocked in
their country, gamble on overseas platforms, or use region-specific services with no questions asked. For many, it feels like a harmless workaround.

But that desire to outsmart the system is precisely what these criminal operators rely on. They know users will trade caution for convenience. They know a free or cheap download that promises to just work will attract attention. But once its installed, the cost is no longer just a few dollars a month its your identity, your credentials, and even your bandwidth.
Unwitting participants in criminal schemes

Its not just about personal risk either. By participating in these networks, even unknowingly, users help power a much larger criminal economy. Their machines become part of an invisible infrastructure used to launder traffic, evade detection, and launch further attacks. In some cases, VPN clients are bundled with gambling or scam platforms, creating a double-loss scenario: victims hand over their data and their money.

Its not just that the VPN didnt protect them bad enough though that is it was that the VPN was the bait all along. The irony stings: in trying to gain more freedom, users end up more surveilled, more exploited, and more vulnerable than they were before. Can app stores and search engines be trusted?

When we need a service, we Google it. Or perhaps we scan our app store of choice to find a suitable candidate. We might look at a few reviews, but by and large were programmed to trust what we find in these places. But in the case of malicious VPNs, that trust is being actively abused. Traffic distribution systems like Vextrio are skilled at manipulating search rankings
pushing sponsored ads and SEO-optimized domains to the top of results pages within days.

A quick search for free VPN or VPN for Netflix often leads users straight
into their funnel. From there, everything is choreographed: the convincing website, the high user ratings, the false claims of speed and security. Even cautious users, seeing a top result or an official-looking listing in an app store, may assume legitimacy especially when the app promises what they want to hear.

Apples App Store and Google Play are not immune. Despite vetting processes, threat actors have found ways to sneak past these controls by rebranding malware over and over again changing logos, names, domains, and shell companies with each iteration. Dozens of malicious VPNs have slipped through, some remaining live in the stores long after being flagged.

Even the reviews cant be trusted so many of them are fabricated or bot-generated, designed to drown out real complaints and boost visibility.
The emergence of tools like ChatGPT have made these bogus reviews all the
more convincing and harder to spot. The result is a distorted marketplace where bad actors operate in plain sight, shielded by the very platforms users rely on for safety. How to choose a VPN without compromising yourself

So how can users protect themselves without sacrificing privacy? The first step is a healthy dose of good old skepticism, particularly toward any VPN
app thats unfamiliar, heavily discounted, or promises unlimited access for free. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Instead of trusting search engine rankings or user reviews, consumers should rely on well-established providers with transparent business models and a long-standing track record.

Brands like NordVPN , ProtonVPN , and Malwarebytes are trusted not because theyre perfect, but because theyre accountable. They dont need to hide behind a fresh logo or fake domain every time scrutiny increases. Reputation in this space isnt just branding its a proxy for security, support, and scrutiny.

Equally important is understanding what a VPN can and cant do. A VPN wont
make a user anonymous, and it doesnt guarantee safety if the software itself is compromised. In many cases, Protective DNS offers a more targeted layer of defense, alerting users to suspicious activity, blocking access to malicious domains, and providing visibility into where traffic is really going. Whether on a personal device or in an enterprise setting, layered protection matters.

VPNs were built to protect. But in the wrong hands, they become a perfect disguise for exploitation. Criminals are counting on users to trade caution for convenience, wrapping malware in the language of privacy and selling it
as freedom. The safest path isnt the fastest download or the highest-ranked result its a trusted name, a transparent provider, and a double-dose of skepticism. Because when privacy tools are weaponized, the price of easy access can be far greater than it first appears.

We list the best free VPN .

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro



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