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VPNs on iOS are a scam

VPNs on iOS are broken. At first, they appear to work fine. The iOS device gets a new public IP address and new DNS servers. Data is sent to the VPN server. But, over time, a detailed inspection of data leaving the iOS device shows that the VPN tunnel leaks.

https://www.michaelhorowitz.com/VPNs.on.iOS.are.scam.php

3 replies

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    • iOS Developer
    • Rob
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    For those not following the link: this appears to be Apple's fault.

    So if this is a "scam", the "scammer" is Apple, not the VPN vendors (in particular not those that complained to Apple about this long ago, like Proton).

    Unless you call the vendors "scammers" for knowing this and still selling their product... 馃槈

      • Pierre_Cartier
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Rob Yes Proton reported this issue since iOS 13, no one else. 

      True, it is Apple fault and in regards of their policy/communication on privacy it raises some questions because even with a VPN Apple can still read your traffic. 

      Also, I think other VPN vendors knew about it but just remained silent otherwise it would have been bad for their business. Maybe Swiss people are being more honest? 馃槈

      So, somehow both, Apple and VPN vendors are "scammers"...?馃

    • Mike_Flynn
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    Yes it鈥檚 true even on iOS 16.5 but still a good VPN will hide me from my ISP most of the time hopefully when Apple isn鈥檛 bypassing my VPN tunnel and I also use a VPN for Geo restrictions. I don鈥檛 think they will fix that bypass anytime soon which is unfortunate. Is  the alternative Google a better solution? I will definitely look into that as Apple was supposed to be all about privacy but they are no better than the rest now. Over 2 years now and Apple has no excuse not to fix it.  I do care as most here do which is the very few it seems and part of the problem. Apple would have to lose a big chunk of the market before they would even consider it seems. I just know one thing developers on Apple avoid this question like plague also on YouTube channels as they are promoting VPN鈥檚 for iOS which is a part of their living. But some VPN鈥檚 do admit to this problem as it can鈥檛 be ignored any longer. One developer even told me if the kill switch is enabled they can鈥檛 bypass the VPN but that鈥檚 just not true. I can鈥檛 blame them for trying. I am just waiting for the day for someone out there to say that it is fixed. Apple made it possible for big companies but not for the general public which is BS.

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