Qihoo 360 Is Secretly Linked to Over Five VPNs, Posing Security Risks

Recent findings have raised concerns about potential security risks associated with at least five VPN (Virtual Private Network) apps in Apple and Google’s app stores that have undisclosed connections to a Chinese company, which was blacklisted by the U.S. government.

According to a report by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) and an investigation by the Financial Times, several popular VPN apps available on Apple and Google’s app stores are linked to Qihoo 360, a Chinese network security company sanctioned by the U.S. in 2020 for alleged ties to the Chinese military.

Qihoo 360, formally known as “360 Security Technology,” has been flagged for its complex associations with these VPN apps that are seemingly operated by different companies but actually have ties to Qihoo 360.

The TTP report highlights that among the top 100 downloaded apps on Apple’s app store, 20 of them are owned by Chinese companies, indicating a potentially concerning trend where millions of U.S. users could unknowingly be sharing their internet traffic with Chinese entities.

These revelations come at a time when there is increasing U.S. apprehension about national security risks posed by Chinese tech companies.

VPN technology enables users to bypass regional restrictions, access blocked content, and safeguard privacy through encrypted connections. However, VPNs themselves can monitor users’ online activities. Particularly worrisome is China’s National Security Law, which mandates that all Chinese companies and individuals must cooperate with intelligence investigations and provide data when requested by the government.

This implies that U.S. users using these Chinese VPN apps may inadvertently expose their network data to Chinese authorities.

As of last week, five VPN apps – Turbo VPN, VPN Proxy Master, Thunder VPN, Snap VPN, and Signal Secure VPN – associated with Qihoo 360 were still available for download on Apple and Google’s U.S. app stores. Following inquiries from the Financial Times, Thunder VPN and Snap VPN have been removed from the Apple store, yet they remain accessible on other platforms.

According to data analysis firm Sensor Tower, these VPN apps amassed over a million downloads in 2025 from Apple and Google’s app stores.

It’s worth noting that both Apple and Google have policies in place that prohibit VPN apps from collecting or utilizing user data without consent, with Apple explicitly forbidding VPN apps from sharing any data with third parties.