VPN Nightmare: 5 Free Apps Concealing the Hidden Hand of the CCP

Hello audience, welcome to watch the “Epoch Times Express”. Today is Tuesday, April 1st, on the East Coast time.

Today’s focus: VPN nightmare! 5 free applications hidden with the shadow of the Chinese military of the CCP; Musk predicts someone’s arrest, scammer steals 400,000 Americans’ identities; Trump’s tariffs about to take effect, global trade war imminent; Trump woos Putin, Wang Yi urgently shouts “China and Russia will never be enemies”; Immigration nightmare approaches, green card holders detained upon entry.

According to the latest investigation by the UK’s Financial Times, at least five free VPN applications available on Apple and Google app stores have potential connections with the Chinese military of the CCP. Three of them have surpassed a million downloads, posing threats to users’ privacy and raising cybersecurity concerns.

These free VPN applications are developed by a subsidiary of the Chinese company “Qihoo 360” called “Guangzhou Lianchuang”. According to the promotional materials of Guangzhou Lianchuang, these VPN applications are used in over 220 countries, with a daily active user base of 10 million. Qihoo 360 has been sanctioned by the US government as early as 2020 for its links with the Chinese military, with the US Department of Defense listing Qihoo 360 as a military-associated enterprise of the CCP.

The five VPN applications related to Qihoo are Turbo VPN, VPN Proxy Master, Thunder VPN, Snap VPN, and Signal Secure VPN. After contacting Apple following the report by the Financial Times, Thunder VPN and Snap VPN have been removed from Apple’s store.

VPNs are intended to protect users’ online privacy, prevent network attacks when using public Wi-Fi, and avoid telecom companies tracking internet activities. Additionally, VPNs are often used to bypass national or regional restrictions to access foreign media content.

According to the research organization “Technical Transparency Project”, among the top 100 downloaded apps in the Apple app store, 20 belong to Chinese companies. The report warns that “millions of Americans are unwittingly sending their web traffic to Chinese companies”.

The Chinese “National Security Law” requires all companies and individuals in China to cooperate with national intelligence investigations and provide data when requested. Both Apple and Google prohibit VPN applications from using or collecting user data without consent, with Apple explicitly prohibiting VPNs from sharing any data with third parties.

Currently, the national security risks possibly brought by Chinese tech companies are triggering scrutiny in the West, and the exposure of this news will deepen these cybersecurity concerns.

Government Efficiency Department leader Musk revealed, “Someone will be arrested tomorrow. He (the scammer) actually stole 400,000 Social Security numbers and personal information from the Social Security database.”

Musk also stated that this person is selling Social Security numbers and identity information with the aim of stealing Social Security funds. Musk disclosed this information during a phone call with Wisconsin voters on Monday, March 31.

Musk and his Government Efficiency Department (DOGE) are dedicated to exposing government overspending and fraudulent activities. In March, a report indicated a significant amount of fraudulent activities, with some scammers submitting fake Social Security numbers in attempts to access federal benefits.

Musk pointed out that Social Security is easily susceptible to fraud. According to Musk’s team’s investigation, up to 40% of calls to the Social Security Administration requesting changes to direct deposit account information are actually scammers trying to steal legitimate beneficiaries’ Social Security benefits. Musk emphasized that these incidents occur daily, resulting in legitimate beneficiaries not receiving their entitled Social Security funds due to fraud loopholes within the system.

To address this security loophole, the US Social Security Administration announced new security measures in early March. In the future, beneficiaries must use more secure methods to change bank account information. They must either use the SSA’s “my Social Security” online service with two-factor authentication or visit a local SSA office in person to provide physical proof to confirm their identity. These new measures are expected to significantly enhance system security and protect legitimate beneficiaries’ funds from being misused.

President Trump plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on April 2nd. White House press secretary Levitt stated on April 1st that the tariff announcement will be made on April 2nd and take immediate effect. She also noted that Trump has dubbed April 2nd as “Liberation Day”.

Trump previously stated that the implementation of these “reciprocal tariffs” will be a significant measure. The new tariff measures mean that countries that previously imposed tariffs on American goods will face reciprocal tariffs from the US. The new measures will involve all countries trading with the US, but specific details regarding the scope of tariffs, the extent of increases, and calculation methods remain unclear.

The White House announced that Trump will deliver a speech in the Rose Garden at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, April 2nd.

Monday evening, Trump stated in the Oval Office that he had finalized the “Liberation Day” tariff plan, but did not disclose specific details.

During his presidential campaign, Trump vowed to change the situation where the US faced tariff bullying from many countries and comprehensively reform tariff policies. Since taking office on January 20th, Trump has introduced a series of tariffs targeting individual countries, including China, Canada, and Mexico, as well as industry-specific tariffs on metals and imported cars.

The president and his aides affirm that “reciprocal tariffs” will encourage manufacturing to return to the US, increase revenue, and offset the tax revenue reduction caused by Trump’s implemented nationwide tax reduction policy.

White House adviser Navarro supports “reciprocal tariffs” and stated that the new tariffs could generate at least $600 billion in revenue annually, which could be used to reduce federal personal income taxes for US residents.

Despite differing opinions, this tariff policy has garnered widespread support. The Coalition For A Prosperous America openly expressed support for implementing “reciprocal tariffs”, stating that it will not only increase revenue but also ensure the best way to bring manufacturing back to the US and create a predictable business environment.

In response to Trump advancing US-Russia relations, potentially resulting in a “unite with Russia, confront China” situation, the CCP urgently sent Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Moscow, emphasizing that China and Russia will “forever be friends and never enemies”. Previously, Xi Jinping and Putin jointly declared that “there is no upper limit to China-Russia cooperation”.

The Kremlin revealed that Putin will meet with Wang Yi, and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov will partake in discussions.

After returning to the White House, Trump’s approach towards Moscow focuses on negotiations and wooing, while he enforces comprehensive pressure on Beijing. Trump hopes to swiftly resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict and divide China and Russia.

According to the analysis in the Epoch Times commentary “The Big Picture of US Strategies Towards China, Russia, and Iran,” Trump hinted to Putin that if Moscow accepts a ceasefire and distances itself from the CCP, it could assist Russia in re-entering the international stage.

On March 18th, Trump spoke with Putin again, discussing starting with energy and a Black Sea ceasefire and gradually progressing toward a comprehensive ceasefire. On March 25th, the White House announced that talks with Russia and Ukraine had achieved certain results.

Wang Yi’s visit to Russia coincides with a critical moment in Russian-Ukrainian ceasefire negotiations. Wang Yi stated that China is willing to facilitate a fair agreement based on various parties’ appeals, play a constructive role, and support Russia in maintaining its own interests. However, in the coordination of the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire agreement led by Trump, the CCP has always been excluded.

It has been noted that since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, Beijing’s attitude has been ambiguous, and it has not provided the robust support that Moscow hoped for.

Regarding the previous statement of “China-Russia cooperation has no upper limit,” it had sparked strong reactions in Europe. China’s Ambassador to the EU in Brussels, Fu Cong, explained to The New York Times in 2023 that the statement of “China-Russia friendship has no upper limit” is only a rhetorical device. China does not side with Russia. China does not recognize Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories, including Crimea.

With the Trump administration ramping up immigration enforcement, green card holders and international travelers in the US are facing unprecedented challenges. In recent cases, multiple green card holders have been detained upon entry, prompting many to reconsider: can they still travel abroad safely?

In February of this year, American citizen Madonna Christopher smoothly passed through customs near Seattle, while her aunt Luvelyn Dixon was not as fortunate. Luvelyn, who holds a green card and has been living in the US for 50 years, was detained by Customs and Border Protection upon their return from a family trip to the Philippines.

Madonna waited for three hours before learning that her aunt had been detained by Customs and Border Protection.

Lawyers revealed that the issue stems from over twenty years ago when Luvelyn was convicted of a felony for embezzling $6,500. Though she admitted her guilt and paid a fine at the time, this old case has now become a problem. Currently, she is detained at an immigration processing center in Washington waiting for a July court hearing.

Similar incidents have also occurred on the East Coast. In mid-March, New Hampshire resident Fabian Schmidt from Germany was detained upon arrival at Boston Logan International Airport.

He has been a lawful permanent resident in the US since 2008 and returned from a family visit in Germany this time but was subjected to intensive questioning and asked to sign documents relinquishing his green card. His mother told the media that her son was treated harshly and is currently detained in Rhode Island, awaiting a June court appearance.

The Department of Homeland Security countered, stating that Schmidt has a record of misdemeanors, including a 2015 marijuana charge and a conviction for driving under the influence, although the former was later dismissed. These past incidents now serve as the basis for enforcement.

Not only green card holders but international travelers have not been exempt. Two German tourists in California were detained because authorities suspected they were trying to stay for work; a British backpacker was also detained for three weeks due to visa issues, with her father indignantly stating that his daughter was handcuffed and deported to the airport, “she’s not a dangerous person!” These cases raise the question: why has entry into the US become so challenging?

New York immigration lawyer Pyang Darrian advises that the situation has indeed changed. He said, “I used to tell clients that green card holders are basically not a problem, but now it’s different. I suggest everyone to postpone travel because once you enter the US, you may face strict scrutiny.”

Experts warn that while current cases are limited, it is uncertain whether this will escalate into a systematic action targeting millions of green card holders.

In response, CBP Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham stated, “We are simply enforcing immigration law. As long as you have not violated the law, committed fraud, or stayed out of the country for long periods without applying for permission, there’s nothing to worry about.”

However, former CBP official Gil Kleikovski does not view it this way, believing that being strict for minor faults may be a waste of resources.

These cases have also sparked international attention, with several European countries updating travel advisories, cautioning citizens about the consequences of criminal records or visa issues.

For approximately 12.8 million green card holders in the US, all these issues have significant impacts.

Lawyers recommend that individuals with criminal records should avoid traveling abroad, and those conditional should promptly apply for citizenship.

Thank you for watching this episode of “Epoch Times Express,” see you next time.