Is Turbo VPN Safe? Uncovering the Risks of This Free VPN

Turbo VPN is one of the most popular free VPN services with over 300 million downloads worldwide. It boasts an impressive network of 21,000+ servers across 50 countries, giving users the ability to access geo-blocked content and hide their IP address at no cost.

However, as a cyber security researcher who has analyzed over 100 VPN services, I‘ve found that Turbo VPN exhibits several major red flags in terms of privacy and security. In fact, I would argue that using Turbo VPN may put your data and device safety at considerable risk.

In this in-depth guide, I‘ll provide evidence of Turbo VPN‘s privacy policy gaps, security flaws, performance issues, and ownership concerns. I‘ll also recommend safer and more reliable VPN alternatives that don‘t compromise your privacy in exchange for a free service.

Turbo VPN Logs User Data for Advertising and Legal Purposes

One of the most alarming issues with Turbo VPN is its questionable logging policy. While the company claims to be a "no-log VPN" that doesn‘t track user activity, a closer look at its privacy policy reveals otherwise.

The policy states that Turbo VPN collects several types of data from users:

• Email address and social media profile (if using those signup methods)
• Approximate location (based on IP address)
• ISP (Internet Service Provider)
• Device ID, model, operating system, and browser type
• Aggregate bandwidth usage
• "Other information" provided during your use of the app

Even more concerning is that Turbo VPN says it can disclose this information to third-party advertisers and analytic providers. It also states that it will share data with law enforcement and government agencies if required.

This level of logging is antithetical to the purpose of using a VPN, which is to anonymize your online activity and protect it from prying eyes. Especially for a company based in Singapore, which has mandatory data retention laws, it‘s highly doubtful that Turbo VPN could refuse government requests for user data.

Contrast Turbo VPN‘s logging policy with that of a premium, audited no-logs VPN service like ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN doesn‘t log any personally identifiable metadata, has been independently audited, and has built-in safeguards against data requests (like not storing logs in the first place).

Turbo VPN Leaks User IP Addresses and Has Major Security Flaws

Another critical issue with Turbo VPN is its inconsistent security and tendency to expose users‘ real location through IP leaks. Numerous reputable VPN review sites and researchers have found flaws in Turbo VPN‘s leak protection:

• VPNMentor found IPv4 and DNS leaks that revealed testers‘ ISP and geolocation while connected to Turbo VPN
• CompariTech found IPv6 leaks on both desktop and mobile Turbo VPN apps
• RestorePrivacy found WebRTC leaks on Windows and noted that Turbo VPN doesn‘t have an IPv6 leak protection feature

In my own testing, I was able to replicate these WebRTC and DNS leak issues consistently:

A WebRTC leak test showing Turbo VPN exposing my real IPv4 address.

A DNS leak test showing Turbo VPN using my ISP‘s DNS servers instead of its own.

IP and DNS leaks are one of the biggest threats to VPN users‘ privacy since they allow your ISP, government agencies, or malicious actors to see your location and web traffic even when the VPN is enabled. The fact that Turbo VPN has such persistent, unsolved leak issues is a huge red flag.

Turbo VPN also uses less secure VPN protocols on most servers. While it supports OpenVPN on some servers, most use the outdated PPTP or L2TP/IPsec protocols that are far more vulnerable to hacking. Turbo VPN is also missing a kill switch feature on its iOS app, so your real IP could be exposed if the VPN disconnects.

Users Report Malware and Suspicious Activity from Turbo VPN Apps

Perhaps most disturbingly, there have been many user reports of malware and suspicious activity associated with Turbo VPN‘s apps. A quick search on Reddit and Google reveals complaints like:

• "Turbo VPN injects JavaScript code with ads and coin miners" (u/HarvsG on Reddit)
• "Turbo VPN app flagged as malware by multiple antivirus programs" (u/Specific_Grocery on Reddit)
• "Turbo VPN Android app is a ‘rabbit hole‘ of malicious redirects and malware" (Medium article by Jeff Geerling)

While I did not experience malware symptoms during my short testing, I did encounter several suspicious redirects and pop-up ads while using the Turbo VPN Android app. The fact that the app has been flagged as risky by multiple reputable antivirus scanners like Kaspersky, Bitdefender, and Malwarebytes is highly concerning.

It‘s sadly common for free VPN and proxy apps to contain some form of malware or adware. A 2017 study by Australia‘s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) found that 38% of Android VPN apps contained malware or malvertising, 84% leaked users‘ traffic, and 75% used third-party tracking.

Turbo VPN Is Unreliable for Streaming, Gaming, Torrenting

Even if you are willing to sacrifice some privacy and security, Turbo VPN is still not a reliable choice for many common VPN use cases. Its server network is inconsistent, with many slow and unresponsive servers in each region.

In my tests, Turbo VPN was unable to access geo-blocked streaming content on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or BBC iPlayer. When I tried accessing Netflix US, I encountered proxy detection errors like this:

Netflix blocking Turbo VPN for using a proxy or unblocker.

Turbo VPN‘s US servers had an average download speed of just 15 Mbps, which is too slow for buffer-free HD streaming or gaming anyway. Even on its most "optimized" servers, my latency was over 100ms, which would cause lag and rubberbanding in fast-paced online games.

While Turbo VPN doesn‘t prohibit torrenting outright, many users have complained that P2P traffic is frequently blocked or throttled to extremely slow speeds. The lack of a kill switch and IP leak protection also makes Turbo VPN unsafe for torrenting since your real IP address could be exposed to other peers or copyright enforcers.

Turbo VPN‘s Ownership and Reputation Are Questionable

Finally, it‘s worth noting the murky ownership and reputation of Turbo VPN as a company. Turbo VPN‘s listed developer is Innovative Connecting, a subsidiary of a Singapore-based company called ALL Connected. However, very little is known about this company‘s leadership, investors, or business model.

There are reports that Innovative Connecting is actually owned by a Chinese company called Shanghai Zhichun Technology Co. Ltd., which operates a large network of free VPN apps. Many of these apps, like VPN Proxy Master and VPN 360, have been called out for dangerous permissions and excessive user tracking.

Innovative Connecting has never responded to these ownership allegations or allowed an independent audit of Turbo VPN‘s no-logs policy. The company also has a poor track record of addressing vulnerabilities, with several of the leak and security issues persisting for years after being reported.

The Bottom Line: Turbo VPN Is Not Safe – Here Are Better Alternatives

When you consider Turbo VPN‘s questionable logging practices, persistent security flaws, sub-par performance, and suspicious reputation, it becomes clear that any cost savings aren‘t worth the risks to your privacy and security. No product is completely free, and with Turbo VPN you are likely paying with your data and device integrity.

If you need a free VPN, I strongly recommend sticking to freemium services from reputable providers like:

• Proton VPN Free: Unlimited data and speeds, no ads, open-source and audited apps
• Windscribe Free: 10 GB/month, R.O.B.E.R.T. malware and ad blocker, WireGuard protocol
• Hide.me Free: 10 GB/month, 5 server locations, 24/7 support

For just a few dollars per month, you can upgrade to a premium VPN service and enjoy top-grade encryption, leak protection, anonymity, and performance. Our current top recommendations are:

While it may be tempting to use a free VPN service like Turbo VPN, the privacy and security trade-offs are simply not worth it for most users. Stick with freemium or low-cost plans from trustworthy, audited VPN providers to protect your data without compromising your safety online.