FTC urges consumer caution on 'virtual private network' apps promising data security

The Federal Trade Commission is urging caution by consumers when purchasing virtual private network apps, commonly used to shield private data when using a public WiFi source, while offering “tips” on what to look for in a VPN, in a blog post published Thursday.

In the post, the FTC suggests that consumers consider “the benefits and the risks” of using a VPN, and recommends researching VPN apps before purchase, checking on encryption protocols for the app, and looking into...