Are free VPNs legit? I asked security experts to learn the true cost (and what services to avoid)

ZDNET assesses the risks of free VPN services, warning that while they can protect privacy, many free VPNs fund operations by collecting and selling user data, include intrusive tracking or malware, operate with weak or absent encryption, and sometimes falsely claim 'no-logs' policies; the article recommends a handful of trustworthy free or low-cost VPNs backed by paid subscribers and urges users to prefer providers with independent audits.