Watchdog says VPN services using can compromise personal data

MOSCOW, Apr 11 (PRIME) -- The use of virtual private networks (VPN) can compromise personal data, and fraudsters can exploit this information for blackmailing and other illegal activities, the Russian communications service said late on Monday.

“The social networks are discussing videos with social advertisements about the risks of using of VPN services. According to the law on connection, the means of skirting blocking of forbidden content are viewed as a threat because they create conditions for illegal activities,” the watchdog said.

The Regional Public Center for Internet Technologies (ROCIT) released a series of social videos about the threats of VPN following user data leaks. The videos are unveiled weekly in the center’s community in social network VKontakte.

The authority said that VPN services can create a false idea of anonymity on the Web, but foreign owners of such services have access to the whole information Russian users share via them.

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