🛡️ Use Free VPNs Without Getting Exploited — Windows Block Method

Tutorials & Methods
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:shield: Use Free VPNs Without Being Their Cash Cow

Windows 10 & 11 only. Most free VPNs monetize you through hidden SDKs — selling your bandwidth and blasting ads through your system. Here’s how to use their servers while blocking every dollar they’d make from you.

:world_map: The Problem Nobody Reads About

Free VPN providers bury the real business model in their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You don’t pay with money — you pay with your device.

ZoogVPN’s own privacy policy admits it:

“The apps might incorporate the Traffmonetizer SDK, which uses a small portion of your internet bandwidth occasionally.”

That’s corporate for: they sell your bandwidth as residential proxy nodes. On top of that, Google AdMob runs in-app ads that generate revenue from your usage. Your “free” VPN is a two-headed monetization machine — your bandwidth goes to proxy buyers, your screen goes to advertisers.

ZoogVPN isn’t alone. This applies to most free-tier VPN providers including Hotspot Shield, VPN360, TunnelBear free, Windscribe free, and ProtonVPN free tier — any of them could be running similar SDKs. Install GlassWire (free network monitor) and watch what tm-sdk.platinumai (Traffmonetizer) connects to when your VPN is active. If you see it — you’re the product.

⚙️ The Fix — 3-Layer Block (OP's Original Method)

Three free tools that kill both revenue streams. VPN still works — they just can’t monetize you anymore.

Layer Tool What It Kills Link
1. System-wide ad blocker Ad Muncher All in-app ads, AdMob banners, SDK ad calls admuncher.com
2. DNS-level blocking Mullvad DNS Google AdMob domains, trackers, malware 194.242.2.3 (adblock) or 194.242.2.4 (base)
3. Hosts file blocker Windows hosts file Traffmonetizer + remaining AdMob domains Built into Windows

Step-by-step:

Layer 1 — Install Ad Muncher
Download from admuncher.com. Was $30/year, now free forever (donation-supported). Works system-wide — not just browsers. Blocks ads inside any app, including your VPN client.

Layer 2 — Set Mullvad DNS
Go to Settings → Network & Internet → your connection → DNS server assignment → Edit. Set:

  • Preferred DNS: 194.242.2.4
  • DoH: https://base.dns.mullvad.net/dns-query

This blocks ads, trackers, AND malware at the DNS level. Free. No Mullvad subscription needed — anyone can use their DNS.

Layer 3 — Block Traffmonetizer in Hosts File
Open Notepad as Administrator → File → Open → C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Add these lines at the bottom:

0.0.0.0 tm-sdk.platinumai.net
0.0.0.0 sdk.platinumai.net
0.0.0.0 traffmonetizer.com
0.0.0.0 api.traffmonetizer.com
0.0.0.0 sdk.traffmonetizer.com
0.0.0.0 app.traffmonetizer.com

Want the full list including all Google AdMob domains? Ask ChatGPT: “Generate a hosts file blocker using 0.0.0.0 that blocks all Google AdMob and Traffmonetizer domains” — copy the output into your hosts file.

Save → flush DNS: open Command Prompt and run ipconfig /flushdns

⚡ Even Simpler Method — 1 Tool, 2 Minutes

Don’t want to mess with three different tools? Here’s a faster path that covers 90% of the protection:

Just use Mullvad DNS with the “extended” filter — it blocks ads, trackers, malware, AND social media trackers in one shot.

Setting Value
DNS IP 194.242.2.5
DoH URL https://extended.dns.mullvad.net/dns-query

Set it in Settings → Network & Internet → DNS and you’re done. This single change blocks AdMob, most tracker SDKs, and known monetization domains at the network level — before they ever reach your VPN app.

For the nuclear option, use 194.242.2.9 (all.dns.mullvad.net) — blocks ads, trackers, malware, adult content, gambling, and social media. Everything.

Why this works alone: Mullvad’s DNS blocklists are open-source on GitHub and updated weekly. They already include Traffmonetizer-style domains and all major ad networks. No installs, no hosts file editing, no admin access needed for browser DoH.

🔍 How to Verify It's Working

Install GlassWire (free) and connect your VPN. Watch the traffic graph — if you see connections to tm-sdk.platinumai, admob.googleapis.com, or traffmonetizer.com → your blocks aren’t working. If those domains are absent → you’re using their VPN for free, for real.

:warning: This only works on Windows 10 & 11. Android users are still vulnerable — mobile VPN apps run SDKs at a deeper level that DNS blocking alone can’t fully stop. If you’re on Android, the safest move is just using a VPN that doesn’t do this (Mullvad, IVPN — both paid, both honest about it).

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