According to Forbes, Google has issued a serious warning about malicious VPN apps as porn restrictions trigger massive adoption spikes. After the UK’s Online Safety Act took effect, Proton VPN saw UK signups surge 1,400% while NordVPN reported a 1,000% increase. There were 10.7 million VPN downloads in the first half of 2025 alone, with the UK becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing VPN markets. Google warns that “threat actors distribute malicious applications disguised as legitimate VPN services” that can deliver info-stealers and banking trojans. Meanwhile, the UK’s communications regulator Ofcom is already monitoring VPN usage and considering restrictions, while Wisconsin is drafting legislation that could make using VPNs to access adult content illegal.
The dangerous VPN gold rush
Here’s the thing about internet restrictions: they never work the way lawmakers intend. When you block something, people find ways around it. And right now, millions of people are finding their way around porn restrictions using VPNs they know nothing about. Google’s warning isn’t theoretical – researchers found six VPNs communicating with Chinese domains and eight Android VPNs contacting Russian IP addresses linked to Yandex and Mail.ru. So people trying to escape UK surveillance are potentially funneling all their internet activity through servers in countries with even more aggressive surveillance regimes. It’s like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
When governments fight back
Now the really concerning part: governments aren’t just watching this happen. The UK is already using an unnamed AI tool to monitor VPN usage, and 55% of UK adults support banning VPNs for under-18s. Wisconsin’s proposed legislation would make it illegal to use VPNs to access adult content. Basically, we’re seeing the beginning of a domino effect where one restriction leads to another. First they block porn sites, then they come for the tools people use to bypass those blocks. And once those precedents are set, what’s next? Messaging apps? News sites? This is how internet freedom gets eroded piece by piece.
The security implications are massive
Think about what happens if VPNs get restricted. Google’s current advice to only use verified apps from official stores becomes meaningless. People will turn to sideloading and illicit downloads without any security checks. We’re talking about a hacker’s paradise where millions of users willingly install software that has complete access to all their internet traffic. Zimperium’s analysis of 800 free VPN apps found widespread dangerous behaviors. And determining a VPN’s true operational base is notoriously difficult thanks to shell companies in privacy-friendly nations. So how exactly are regular users supposed to make safe choices when even experts struggle to track where these services really operate from?
Where this is heading
The technical challenge of actually blocking VPNs would require fundamentally changing how the internet works. We’re talking about state-by-state restrictions on app availability, deeper device monitoring, and potentially breaking the freedom to install software on devices you own. But here’s the real question: who actually gets hurt by these restrictions? Truly bad actors will just use more sophisticated tools. It’s normal users who pay the price – both in lost privacy and increased security risks. As Google’s security team warns, these malicious VPNs can exfiltrate browsing history, private messages, financial credentials, and cryptocurrency wallet information. We’re creating a perfect storm where attempts to protect children are actually making everyone less safe.
