Pixalate Releases Q1 2022 Privacy on VPN Apps Report: 10% Share User Location With Advertisers And/Or Data Brokers

Pixalate analyzed over 7,800 VPN apps in the Google and Apple app stores; 33% of such apps in the Apple App Store have potential access to personal information

LONDON and PALO ALTO, Calif., June 30, 2022 - Pixalate, the market-leading fraud protection, privacy, and compliance analytics platform for Connected TV (CTV) and Mobile Advertising, today released the Q1 2022 Privacy on Virtual Private Network (“VPN”) Apps Report, a comprehensive analysis of the state of privacy within VPN mobile apps through Q1 2022.

VPN apps are in-demand among users with initially restricted internet access - such as China or Russia - but also among those seeking greater online privacy. Consumers use VPN apps to protect their information online, notably through masking their device’s true IP address. Pixalate’s analysis reveals how often users’ residential IP addresses are still transmitted in the advertising bid stream from within the VPN apps themselves.

Key findings:

• There are over 7,800 VPN apps in the Google Play and Apple App Stores in Q1 2022 (i.e., apps with “VPN” in their title)
• A large majority of the VPN apps were listed in the Google Play Store (81%)
• 230 VPN apps transmit the users’ residential IP address to the advertising bid stream
• 33% of VPN apps in the Apple Store and 21% in the Google Store have potential access to personal information through the sensitive permissions they request

What’s inside the report

Pixalate’s Q1 2022 Privacy on VPN Apps Report includes:

• Breakdown of VPN apps by country of registry
• What data is shared with advertisers and/or data brokers
• How many have a detectable privacy policy

Download a free copy of the report and find more insights about VPN apps here.

About Pixalate

Pixalate is the market-leading fraud protection, privacy, and compliance analytics platform for Connected TV (CTV) and Mobile Advertising. We work 24/7 to guard your reputation and grow your media value. Pixalate offers the only system of coordinated solutions across display, app, video, and OTT/CTV for better detection and elimination of ad fraud. Pixalate is an MRC-accredited service for the detection and filtration of sophisticated invalid traffic (SIVT) across desktop and mobile web, mobile in-app, and OTT/CTV advertising. www.pixalate.com

Disclaimer

The content of this press release, and the Q1 2022 Privacy on VPN Apps Report (the "Report"), reflect Pixalate's opinions with respect to factors that Pixalate believes can be useful to the digital media industry. Any data shared is grounded in Pixalate’s proprietary technology and analytics, which Pixalate is continuously evaluating and updating. Any references to outside sources should not be construed as endorsements. Pixalate’s opinions are just that, opinions, which means that they are neither facts nor guarantees. Pixalate does not independently verify third-party information. Pixalate is sharing this data not to impugn the standing or reputation of any entity, person or app, but, instead, to report findings and trends pertaining to apps available for download in the official Apple App Store and Google Play Store.