Some VPN providers actually provides a virtual network address, so I guess it still counts as a network (albeit an isolated one).
I think a better description is: those companies are using a small set of VPN features to run proxy business.
BTW: In Android OS, if you want to intercept and redirect network traffic, you must(I guess??) use a component called android.net.VpnService(1) introduced in Android 4. Maybe this is what inspired those companies to name their product a VPN. Just a guess of course, but the timing is roughly a match.
Like I said, it's VPN tech under the hood. But just using VPN tech does not make you a VPN, no more than joining two bricks together with cement makes a house. You need to connect lots of bricks in the shape of a house before you can call it a house, and you need to connect machines into an actual private network before you can call it a VPN.
Absolutely. The misinformation in this space is risking yet another greater amount of lives now than it was before. It's OK for those of us in countries with freedoms afforded to us by democracy. It's a nightmare for those who aren't.
I think a better description is: those companies are using a small set of VPN features to run proxy business.
BTW: In Android OS, if you want to intercept and redirect network traffic, you must(I guess??) use a component called android.net.VpnService(1) introduced in Android 4. Maybe this is what inspired those companies to name their product a VPN. Just a guess of course, but the timing is roughly a match.
1: https://developer.android.com/reference/android/net/VpnServi...