08/12/2025

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G EN Z may be easy prey for cybercriminals, due to their more active usage of privacy tools compared to any other generation. Between October 2024 and September 2025, Kaspersky detected more than 15 million attempted attacks disguised as VPN applications. Instead of protecting users, these fake or cracked VPNs often deliver malware and potentially unwanted software – from downloaders and adware to trojans capable of stealing data and granting attackers remote access. According to research findings, Gen Z uses VPNs, encryption tools, anonymous browsers and other privacy-enhancing technologies twice as often as older age groups. Growing up in the era of data leaks, algorithmic tracking and hyper connected social platforms has made them far more aware of how fragile online privacy can be. VPNs and anonymous browsers have become essential for shielding personal data, securing public Wi-Fi use and protecting online identities. But this shift comes with an unexpected danger: in their pursuit of safety, many young users may turn to free, cracked or counterfeit VPN applications – tools that look protective on the surface but actually expose them to risk that is significantly greater. Between October 2024 and September 2025, Kaspersky experts detected more than 15 million attempted attacks disguised as various VPN applications. In the observed period, the most common threats targeting users were dominated by three categories of malware and potentially unwanted software. AdWare led the list with 284,261 cases, continuing to disrupt users through intrusive ads, unwanted redirects and aggressive tracking. Trojans followed closely with 234,283 detections, posing a serious danger due to their ability to steal data and enable full remote control of compromised systems. Downloader-type threats ranked third with 197,707 detected cases, reflecting their role as a key entry point for installing additional malicious payloads on victims’ devices. Kaspersky researchers also identified phishing pages that imitate login portals for well-known VPN

15m attempted cybercrime attacks masquerading as VPNs

o Hidden risk behind Gen Z’s privacy pursuit

pages with minimal effort. “Gen Z may be privacy-aware, but they are also pragmatic and often driven by convenience. This behaviour is easily exploited by cybercriminals as it creates an opening for entry. Attackers may deliberately push pirated versions of ‘premium’ VPN services and create apps that mimic the names and

designs of well-known privacy brands. As a result, young users who genuinely believe they are strengthening their privacy may, in reality, be handing over access to their devices and personal information directly to attackers,” said Kaspersky security expert Evgeny Kuskov. Take the following steps: 0 Download VPNs only from official stores or trusted developers. Official marketplaces apply security checks that significantly reduce the risk of encountering malicious or modified apps. Third-party websites, on the other hand, often distribute counterfeit versions that can infect devices or steal data. 0 Avoid “cracked” or modified apps. Even if they promise premium features for free, malware is majorly sourced from these versions. Attackers frequently embed spyware, keyloggers or backdoors into cracked VPNs, turning a tool of privacy into a tool of surveillance. 0 When selecting a VPN, check independent reviews. For example, in AV-Test’s 2025 evaluation, Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection ranked highest with a score of 94/100 – confirming its performance and reliable protection. 0 Check permissions before installing. Unusual permissions – such as access to contacts, microphone or geolocation – are a warning sign for any privacy-focused app. There are indicators that denote that the app is not legitimate, such as low download numbers or suspiciously repetitive reviews. 0 Use a reliable security solution that contains a VPN function, protecting your devices against malware in real time by blocking malicious sites, phishing emails, infected ads and credit card skimmers created by hackers to steal your data.

particularly notable is how similar these phishing pages look to one another, suggesting they were generated using phishing kits that allow attackers to mass-produce convincing, ready-made fraudulent

services. These sites trick users into entering their credentials, putting them at risk of losing access to their VPN accounts – and potentially to many others, if the same password is reused across platforms. What is

Example of a phishing page disguised as popular VPN.

‘Rage bait’ wins Oxford’s word of 2025 “RAGE BAIT”, the slang term describing online content designed to elicit anger and drive internet traffic, has been crowned 2025’s word of the year, Oxford University Press (OUP) announced recently. typically posted” in order to increase web traffic or engagement. It beat out fellow shortlisted contenders “aura farming” and “biohack”.

after its experts tracked the use of the shortlisted words throughout the year via “a 30-billion-word corpus of international language data”. It is the fourth consecutive year that the public have played a part in picking Oxford’s word of the year, after an inaugural public vote in 2022 saw “goblin mode” prevail. In that instance, the public were given the chance to choose the overall winner, opting for the term describing “unapologetically self indulgent, lazy, slovenly or greedy” behaviour. Voting has played only a part in the choices, which have included 2023’s “rizz” – a colloquial term defined as “style, charm or attractiveness” – and last year’s “brain rot”, in subsequent years. Previous words of the year chosen solely by Oxford lexicographers include “vax” (2021), “climate emergency” (2019) and “selfie” (2013). – AFP

The former was described as “the cultivation of an impressive, attractive or charismatic persona or public image by behaving or presenting oneself in a way intended subtly to convey an air of confidence, coolness or mystique”. Meanwhile biohacking is an attempt “to improve or optimise one’s physical or mental performance, health, longevity or wellbeing by altering one’s diet, exercise routine or lifestyle, or by using other means such as drugs, supplements or technological devices”. More than 30,000 people worldwide voted over three days for their preferred winner, according to OUP. Its final choice was also supported by evidence of “real language usage”,

It said the word – chosen through a combination of public voting, sentiment and analysis of OUP’s “lexical data” – had “captured our emotions” this year. Casper Grathwohl, president of OUP’s languages division, said the growing use of such words “reveal how digital platforms are reshaping our thinking and behaviour”. “It feels like the natural progression in an ongoing conversation about what it means to be human in a tech driven world – and the extremes of online culture,” he added in a statement. Oxford defines “rage bait” as “online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative or offensive,

The winning word is chosen through a combination of public voting, sentiment and an analysis of OUP’s lexical data. – 123RFPIC