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In July 2020, Comparitech reported that an Elasticsearch database linked to UFO VPN was reachable without a password or other authentication. The exposed records reportedly included plaintext account passwords, VPN session secrets and tokens, IP addresses, timestamps, geotags and device information. The report did not establish how many people were affected or whether an unauthorized party accessed the data.
What happened to UFO VPN’s database?
Security researcher Bob Diachenko found the exposed database, according to Comparitech’s incident report, written by Paul Bischoff and updated July 21, 2020. It was an unsecured Elasticsearch cluster that required no authentication. Both free and paid users could have been represented in the records.
Comparitech’s timeline says Shodan indexed the server on June 27. Diachenko notified UFO VPN on July 1 and the hosting provider on July 14; the database was secured on July 15. On July 20, data reportedly appeared again at a different IP address, with records as recent as July 19. A “Meow” bot attack then destroyed almost all records in that second dataset, leaving newer records. Comparitech said it could not determine whether anyone had accessed the information without authorization.
The cluster reportedly held 894 GB of data and more than 20 million logs per day. UFO VPN’s website claimed 20 million users, but Comparitech said the number of affected users was unclear. Neither figure proves that 20 million people were exposed.
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What information was reportedly exposed?
| Data category | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Plaintext account passwords | Could enable account takeover and credential-stuffing attacks if the same password was reused elsewhere. |
| VPN session secrets and tokens | Could potentially be used to interfere with or impersonate sessions; the report did not establish that this occurred. |
| Device and VPN-server IP addresses | May help infer a user’s network or approximate location. |
| Connection timestamps and geotags | Can reveal when and from where an account connected. |
| Device and operating-system characteristics | Add technical detail that can aid profiling or targeted attacks. |
| URLs apparently associated with advertisements injected into free users’ browsers | Suggest activity related to the service’s advertising system, rather than proving a record of every site a user browsed. |
These findings were reported by Comparitech, not established by a regulator or court. They also do not prove that UFO VPN stored the contents of users’ browsing traffic.
Did UFO VPN’s “strict no-logs” claim mean no data was stored?
No. A no-logs statement normally addresses particular kinds of activity, and its meaning depends on the policy’s wording and the provider’s implementation. AV-Comparatives’ 2020 VPN report explains that a provider may avoid retaining browsing history or traffic content while still keeping connection records needed for technical or regulatory purposes. Examples include login and logout times, usernames, partial IP addresses and the temporary VPN address assigned to a user.
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That distinction matters here. The reported database contained account, API and connection-related records. It is not evidence that the provider captured full URLs, DNS requests or the contents of encrypted traffic. Conversely, a “no browsing logs” promise does not by itself mean that registration data, authentication records or connection metadata are absent.
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- What the privacy policy says about browsing activity, DNS queries, traffic contents and connection metadata.
- What account-registration and payment information is retained.
- Whether an independent review examined live server configuration and operating practices, rather than only repeating policy language.
- Whether the complete audit is public, what dates and infrastructure it covers, and which subscription tiers are included.
As a separate example, Proton VPN’s published page describes a Securitum review of its infrastructure and operations and reproduces the report’s conclusion. The quoted conclusion concerns the reviewed Proton VPN infrastructure only; it does not validate UFO VPN’s practices.
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What did UFO VPN say?
Comparitech attributed the following response to an unnamed UFO VPN spokesperson in its July 21, 2020 update: “Due to personnel changes caused by COVID-19, we’ve not found bugs in server firewall rules immediately, which will lead to the potential risk of being hacked. And now it has been fixed.” [sic]
The same report quoted the spokesperson saying, “We don’t collect any information for registering,” followed by a claim that collected information was anonymous and used to analyze network performance and improve service quality. Comparitech said the sample data did not appear anonymous. These are statements reported by Comparitech, not independently authenticated findings.
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What should former UFO VPN users do?
- Change the UFO VPN password. Comparitech advised changing it immediately because the report said passwords were stored in plaintext.
- Change every reused password. Update accounts where the same password was used, prioritizing email, banking, shopping and social accounts.
- Use unique passwords going forward. A password manager can generate and store distinct credentials; it cannot remove data that was already exposed.
- Review account activity. Look for unfamiliar sign-ins, password-reset messages, new devices or other security alerts.
- Secure the email account tied to the VPN. Change its password if reused, enable multifactor authentication where available and verify recovery addresses and phone numbers.
- Treat unexpected messages cautiously. Exposed account details can make phishing attempts more convincing. Do not provide passwords or one-time codes in response to unsolicited requests.
What remains unknown?
- The exact number of affected individuals was not established.
- Comparitech did not know whether unauthorized parties accessed or copied the records.
- The report does not prove that UFO VPN logged complete browsing traffic.
- The 20 million-user figure was a company claim reported by Comparitech, not a confirmed exposure count.
How to judge a VPN’s privacy claims
Use the policy and the evidence together. A provider’s jurisdiction, marketing label or audit headline is not enough on its own. Prefer documentation that identifies the systems reviewed, the period covered, the kinds of logs tested and the limitations of the engagement. Keep account-registration data separate from claims about VPN activity, and ask whether the evidence applies to the servers and plans you would actually use.
The Bottom Line
The 2020 UFO VPN incident shows why “strict no-logs” marketing is not a substitute for secure database configuration or independently verifiable evidence. Reported plaintext passwords and connection metadata warranted password changes, but the incident did not establish full traffic logging, unauthorized access or a precise number of victims.
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