“Internet service providers (ISPs) being able to sell user web history to third parties, to advertisers possibly bombarding users with ads, the looming elimination of the FCC’s privacy rules can lead to privacy and anonymity anxiety for a lot of users in the US.” ![]() In a blog spot from April 2017, Chris San Filippo of Hotspot Shield wrote that the company is against ISPs selling user web history to third parties. The group discovered these privacy flaws after teaming up with researchers at Carnegie Mellon University who noted that “When a user connects through the VPN to access specific commercial web domains, including major online retailers like and, the application can intercept and redirect HTTP requests to partner websites that include online advertising companies.” “While insisting that it does not make money from selling customer data,26 Hotspot Shield promises to connect advertisers to unique users that are frequent visitors of travel, retail, business, and finance websites.27 Moreover, these entities have access to IP addresses and device identifiers collected via Hotspot Shield.Įven if Hotspot Shield only provides “hashed” or “proxy” IP addresses to these partners, third parties can also link information about web-viewing habits while using the Hotspot Shield by cross-referencing cookies, identifiers, or other information,” according to page 7 of the filing. In a statement, Michelle De Mooy, Director of CDT’s Privacy & Data Project said that “Hotspot Shield tells customers that their privacy and security are ‘guaranteed, ‘ but their actual practices starkly contradict this. “They are sharing sensitive information with third party advertisers and exposing users’ data to leaks or outside attacks.” ![]() The group has also accused the company of forcing javascript and ad codes into browsers of its customers whenever they use Hotspot Shield. “The VPN has been found to be actively injecting JavaScript codes using iframes for advertising and tracking purposes.” CDT has asked FTC (Federal Trade Commission) to investigate the matter.Īccording to one of the accusations, “Hotspot Shield engages in logging practices around user connection data, beyond troubleshooting technical issues” by using a user’s location and IP addresses to “improve the service, or optimize advertisements displayed through the service.” In a 14-page filing, the group has accused the company of utilizing “unfair and deceptive trade practices” despite stating that it does not sell, track or log user data. of violating user privacy by intercepting web traffic, keeping activity logs and redirecting it to third-party websites especially advertising companies. A renowned privacy group Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has accused Hotspot Shield VPN developed by AnchorFree, Inc.
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