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Apple tree recently strengthened its App Store policies on data collection, which has led to numerous apps getting the boot. The latest casualty of the policy is somewhat more notable than the residuum. Facebook's complimentary Onavo Protect VPN client has been removed for violating Apple'due south user data rules.

A VPN client tin can be an excellent manner to protect your privacy — the operative word beingness "can." Instead of letting your information laissez passer through your carrier or Internet service provider, everything gets routed through the VPN, which relays everything to and from the sites you lot access. From the Internet service provider'southward cease, it simply looks like you're continued to the encrypted VPN service all the time. If you trust a VPN more than than your ISP, that's a proficient bargain. About VPNs with subscriptions promise not to shop or snoop on your data. Free VPNs, however, tend to monetize your information in some way. In the case of Onavo, it uses your information to feed Facebook.

According to Apple tree's recently revamped guidelines, developers tin can't list apps on the App Store that collect and share information with third-parties for any reason other than improving the app'south experience or ads. Onavo Protect, every bit part of Facebook, feeds all of its data into the bottomless information pit of Facebook, and that information ends upwardly in the hands of many other companies. Onavo's listing in the App Shop before its removal stated that it nerveless your apply of "websites, apps, and data." So, basically, everything you did on your iPhone ended up in the hands of Facebook and its partners.

Apple tree has already removed apps that share location information and contacts with third-parties. The Facebook VPN situation is insufficiently much more serious. Onavo was collecting all the internet traffic of its users. Apple targeted Onavo specifically considering of Facebook'southward perplexing popularity. For improve or worse, many consumers trust Facebook with their data. Apple made it clear to Facebook it was violating the App Shop guidelines. Facebook agreed to remove the app rather than have it purged on Apple's finish.

Anyone who downloaded the Onavo VPN app on iOS previously tin can continue to utilize information technology, but information technology'south no longer bachelor to iOS users. Information technology's not the only gratis VPN app out there, but the others likely have similar data privacy issues unrelated to Facebook. Onavo is still available on Android where it enjoys a 4.4-star rating.

At present read: Protect Your Online Privacy With the 5 All-time VPNs, Facebook to Build Its Own Silicon for Real-Time Content Filtering, and Facebook Files Patent For Exactly the Kind of Spying It Claims It Doesn't Practice