Cybersecurity firm Koi Security revealed that FreeVPN.One, a Chrome VPN extension with over 100,000 users, has been secretly capturing and transmitting screenshots of users’ browsing activity to remote servers[1][2].
The spyware functionality was introduced in July 2025 after earlier updates expanded the extension’s permissions. According to researcher Lotan Sery from Koi Security, “FreeVPN.One shows how a privacy branding can be flipped into a trap”[3].
When confronted, the developer claimed screenshots were only taken of suspicious sites and were encrypted, but researchers found evidence of capture on trusted sites like Google Photos[4]. The extension’s “AI Threat Detection” feature discloses taking screenshots, but Koi Security found most surveillance occurred silently in the background[5].
The case highlights growing risks with free VPN services, particularly as demand increases due to new online safety regulations in the UK requiring age verification[3:1].
GIGAZINE - Chrome VPN Extension Accused of Secretly Capturing User Screenshots ↩︎
It’s FOSS - Google Verified FreeVPN Caught Red-handed Spying on its Users ↩︎
VARINDIA - Chrome VPN Extension Accused of Secretly Capturing User Screenshots ↩︎ ↩︎
It’s FOSS - Google Verified FreeVPN Caught Red-handed Spying on its Users ↩︎
Instagram - Dhaka Chronicles post about FreeVPN.One spying ↩︎
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Yes, like also some others, but…
https://www.security.org/ said
About VPNLY, it’s a Swiss company, Privacy Policy
Free VPN Unlimited AG Rigistrasse 3, CH-6300 Zug, Switzerland
Anyway, as said before, the extension from both are not really VPN services, but proxies, both with no logs/tracking policy and no data limits, no account needed, which make them good for country restrictions and streaming, for what you can use these safely.
VPNs for desktop
The literal first words across the top of that website are “we take money from the stuff we review”.