VPN Proxy Master, a Singapore-based VPN service provider, has been growing in popularity. However, as users, it is crucial to exercise caution when choosing to rely on such a service. The origins of a VPN service provider and the clarity of information about its establishment play a significant role in determining its credibility. It is not uncommon for VPN providers with unclear origins to embed tracking scripts into their apps, leading to the sale of user data to third parties. This is a blatant violation of privacy, and users should be aware of such practices.
The issue is further compounded by the fact that many VPN providers tend to oversell their capabilities, promising high-speed connections and unlimited bandwidth, while the reality often differs. Speed constraints are a common issue faced by users of such services. Moreover, without an official audit or a proven track record, users are essentially taking a VPN provider’s “no logs policy” at face value. This leap of faith may lead to serious privacy concerns.
At the time of our testing, the service did not offer Wireguard but only IPSec, OpenVPN, and SSR/ISSR. It’s worth nothing that SSR an ISSR are not even VPN protocols but proxies based on Shadowsocks. During testing of the app, we saw repeated connections to the following advertising domains:
- *.appsflyersdk.com
- *.client.acdtop.com
- data.flurry.com (owned by Verizon)
An intriguing case in point is the corporate structure behind VPN Proxy Master. The company, currently managed by Lemon Clove Pte. Limited, was previously overseen by Innovative Connecting PTE. Limited. While these two entities may seem separate at first glance, they are essentially the same company. Both share identical websites and the same email address registered both websites.
Further research by Security Affairs revealed that the same email address was used to register other websites, including Turbo VPN, VPN Robot, VPN Monster, and VPN Snap. Snap Master VPN is essentially VPN Proxy Master under a different name. While the websites offer limited information, it is known that Lemon Clove operates from 8 Marina View, #42-099, Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore.
The director of Lemon Clove/Innovative Connecting, Danian Chen, is a Chinese national who has been described by Fortune China as “one of the most influential young leaders in China.” Chen, who is the Founder and CEO of Linksure and one of the wealthiest individuals in China, launched the highly successful WiFi Master Key app. However, the reality of doing business in China often involves co-operating with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Chinese military. This raises suspicions about potential data security risks.
VPN Proxy Master is developed by All Connected Co., a subsidiary of Innovative Connecting. Although All Connected Co. is based in Singapore like its parent company, investigations into VPNs have revealed that it also has connections to mainland China.
Another point to consider is Singapore’s involvement in an intelligence coalition called SIGINT Seniors Pacific, which also includes India, South Korea, and Thailand. Led by the United States’ National Security Agency (NSA), this makes Singapore, and therefore companies based there, an extension of the US surveillance apparatus.
In light of these facts, it is advisable to choose a VPN service that is headquartered in a country with no legal claim on your personal data and does not partake in extensive state surveillance. Maintaining your online privacy and data security should always be a priority, and it is essential to be aware of the potential risks associated with certain VPN providers.
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