- Iran -Employees are reportedly deterrent to citizens from using popular free VPN -Apps
- VPN demand has risen among Iranians since June 13, 2025, when the recent Internet restrictions began
- Internet connection has also reportedly been low across the country since June 18
When people in Iran look for ways to keep in touch, Iranian authorities warn their citizens from using VPN services.
In a tweet on Monday, the nation warned its citizens that free VPNs not only put their own data at risk but also security throughout the country.
“More than half of free VPNs collect your very sensitive information and send them to servers abroad without your knowledge or permission. Hola VPN transfers user data to a company called Luminati, based in Israel,” reads a tweet shared on Monday, June 23, 2025, by Father’s News Agency, administered by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
یش از †صف فیلترشکای ر oth ، ب ای F خارج از کشر ارسا didn’t have فی! pic.twitter.com/tcrhzkeggiJune 23, 2025
The warning comes with the fact that the VPN demand Skyrocket in Iran since June 13 after Internet restrictions were enforced.
Data coming from the Top10VPN confirmed tops of up to 707% compared to the basic level, with the tip of the VPN demand, which is still running at the time of writing.
However, despite this increase, VPN uses also seem to be a target in the country with users complaining that their apps are not working consistently.
Since June 18, Iran has also experienced an almost total Internet blackout, as Internet Watchdog Netblocks reported, which further influences the ability to use the best VPN apps.
Is it to use a free VPN -SOSE?
We have long warned about the risk of using free VPN services at Techradar. Some free VPN apps can collect user data to target them with ads or simply to sell one. Hackers can also use these applications to spread malware and other malicious software.
Hola VPN proved specifically to sell its user’s idle band width through Luminati back in 2015. It is also notorious for collecting a lot of identifiable information about its users.
Head of research at Top10VPN, Simon Migliano agrees that Hola VPN and other unsecured freebies are a bad choice for Iranians (or anyone else for that matter) because of their serious privacy and security deficiencies.
That said, Migliano told Techradar, “For the Iranian government to instruct its citizens to avoid all free VPNs are simply uncomfortable.”
“The truth is that there are several reliable free VPNs that Proton VPN and Windscribe use strong security standards along with privacy -friendly logging policies. They are absolutely safe to use, and the Iranian government knows very well,” he added.
Iranian information security analyst and women’s rights lawyer Azam Jangrevi also confirmed to Techradar that Iran’s authorities previously released some VPNs that are not safe.
She said: “Iranian officials discourage free tools, quoting poor encryption, data abuse and potential ties to surveillance schemes. Some ‘free’ VPN apps may have been developed or quietly approved by authorities to monitor online behavior under the guise of privacy.
“Digital rights groups advise Iranians to rely on reputable paid paid VPNs with stealth features, rotate providers when blocked, and avoid downloading apps through suspicious links or ads.”
Iran’s VPN crash
The Iranian authorities have long tried to prevent the use of VPNs in Iran. Iran was only second for China for VPN censorship in 2023.
These blocks continued in 2024 with Iran topped the VPN censorship list over the entire country’s official app stores.
In February 2024, the Iranian authorities went a step further by banning the use of “unauthorized” VPNs without a legal permit. Three months later, the government also resurrected an Internet bill that could put VPN use at an additional risk.
But as Jangrevi told Techradar: “Despite vigorous censorship, VPN use inside Iran has increased in response to state-of-the-art blackouts. Users report that paid VPNs with advanced blur still work, even if it is not reliable.”
