Apple and Google app stores host VPNs linked to sanctioned Chinese group

Apple and Google’s mobile stores are hosted by a number of popular “Private Browsing” programs that are operating by the US Government on a list of Chinese cyber security.

At least five free virtual private networks (VPN), which are available through US technology programs, have links to Shanghai 360, according to additional discoveries of the Research Group Tech Transparence.

Qihoo, which is officially known as 360 security technology, was imposed on 2020 for Chinese military links in 2020. Later, the US Department of Defense increased Qihoo in the list of Chinese military-affiliated companies.

The TTP report, which also found 20 of the 100 most downloaded apps of Apple’s App Store, has warns that “millions of Americans are illegal to send their internet traffic to Chinese companies.”

The revelations come to the Chinese technology companies in the United States and National security risks They can cause.

VPNS allows users to bypass the Geographical Restrictions on Websites and Firewalls, offering a coded connection to a server, which can access content that will otherwise be blocked in their country.

But connecting to the network also gives user Internet activities VPN control. China’s national security laws require that all companies and individuals cooperate with state intelligence investigations and assume the data if asked.

Five programs related to Qihoo: Turbo VPN, VPN Proxy Master, Thunder VPN, SNAP VPN and Significant VPN VPN were available in Apple and Google’s US stores. After contacting FT, Thunder VPN and Snap VPN pulled out of his store.

According to the sensor tower estimates, three of the portfolio programs received more than 1MN downloads from Apple’s App Store and Google’s game store, which combined 2025.

Portfolio is operated by a Singapore-based innovative connecting PTE, which in turn, in turn, is based on lemon seed technology based on the Kamman Islands.

In January 2020, the Qihoo said $ 69.9 million for lemon seeds and two other companies. In May of that year, the US added qihoo The blacklist of tradingknown as a list of organization. The transfer is disabled from US technology and it is possible to endanger its VPN programs that are completely targeted by global users as they do not restrict.

In September, Kihu said he had decided to sell. It told investors, “reviewing his foreign strategy” and sold what he was called “project l” for $ 70.1 million. It did not reveal the buyer.

But the subsidiary of Qihoo Guanju took place in December 2019, developers in China to work, the plans were going to be part of Qihoo.

In 2021, the name of the subsidiary was changed to Guangzhou Lianchuang technology. In 2023, it was finally sold to the newly established RMB1 Pekinger, according to local business records, which are observed by FT.

The owner of the majority of Beijing firms was named not Ning. The man with the same name has launched the QIHOO’s phone security department and is the only director of lemon seeds.

When the latter visited the Guangzhu Liananchang’s office, both developers say they work on foreign VPNs and that their company is connected to Qihoo.

“You can say that we are part of them, and you can say that we are not,” said one of the developers without providing a name. “It’s complicated.”

In recent collection lists, Guangzhou Lianchuang says its plans operate in more than 220 countries, and that it has 10 ml daily. It is currently hiring for a position whose responsibilities include “analysis of monitoring and platform data”. The right candidate will be “well aware of American culture,” he said.

Apple and Google are both VPN programs that prohibit the use of VPN programs or collecting their consent, Apple clearly prohibits any data with third parties.

Programs themselves have their own privacy policy, but Matthew Green, an expert in Hopkins University, has received an audit of individual VPNS security.

“VPNs are a great exception [Apple’s phone privacy efforts]Because they are attached to the connection of your phone’s root network, “said all online activities through VPN service, said green, and it is not very easy.”

Apple removed VPN applications. It allowed users to bypass Chinese Firewall in China in 2017 from its app store, one step developers were signed as a sign of a company with state censorship. Google came out of China in 2010, and his playground is not available in the country.

Apple said that it is fully appropriate to relevant laws and regulations, and which measures will take removal programs that violate it strictly.

It added that its App Store rules do not limit the ownership of citizens or corporations in special countries.

Google noted that “it is committed to compliance with relevant sanctions and trade compliance laws”, “when we find accounts that can violate these laws, our related policy or service conditions, we take appropriate action.”

In January, Google announced that it represents “confirmed” signs for VPN programs that have taken additional steps to prioritize security. Turbo VPN has received the “Fixed” badge.

Guangzhou Lianchuang refused to comment. Qihoo, Innovative Connecting PTE and Chen Ningyi have not answered comment queries.