The End User License Agreement for the iOS app goes even further, explaining that the free version also collects 'web page URLs and device screenshots', supposedly to 'identify web pages that load slowly or apps that load slowly.' If the company has URLs, why does it need screenshots? And is it really now admitting that it's collecting data on the apps you use? For example, it describes one paid feature as 'No user data to be collected except the information needed to provide the Services' functionality.' We'd like to know exactly what information that is, but the company isn't saying. Urban VPN says this only applies to the free edition, but the small print is a little vague. In particular, the privacy policy (opens in new tab) has a lengthy list of all the data Urban VPN collects: device IDs, IP addresses, search engine results, web pages visited, 'clicked stream data' and more.

The website does provide a lot of information in other relevant areas, though. Urban VPN says it uses OpenVPN, and we confirmed that on the desktop, but its website has no detail on the mobile apps or how they protect your data. If you're concerned about the idea of your VPN traffic passing through other devices, then you would not be alone – so are we.

Urban VPN makes big claims on privacy, but doesn't back them up (Image credit: Urban VPN) Privacy and logging

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