Hotspot Shield is a software application created by AnchorFree, Inc. that enables users to secure Internet connection by connecting them to a virtual private network (VPN). Hotspot Shield was used to bypass government censorship during the Arab Spring protests in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. The service is available for free on Google Play Store and Apple Mac App Store with about 500 million users around the world.
The company has been accused of violating its own privacy policy of “complete anonymity” promised to its users. The charges have been made by Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), which is a nonprofit advocacy group for consumer privacy rights.
In a 14-page filing, the CDT group has submitted a request for investigation, injunction, and other relief to the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Hotspot for engaging in “unfair and deceptive trade practices” by interfering with web traffic and redirecting it to partner websites like advertising companies.
“Contrary to Hotspot Shield’s claims, the VPN has been found to be actively injecting JavaScript codes using iFrames for advertising and tracking purposes”
“For example, when a user connects through the VPN to access specific commercial web domains, including major online retailers like www.target.com and www.macys.com,the application can intercept and redirect HTTP requests to partner websites that include online advertising companies,”
VPN has been created to provide an encrypted tunnel to secure communication on untrusted network. But VPN providers can see the users’ unencrypted traffic such as HTTP web connections and they will usually intercept that traffic to monetize via advertising.
