关于Psiphon是否为间谍软件及关机自连网络的技术问询

First off, let's tackle the spyware question straight away: Psiphon is not classified as spyware by mainstream security authorities or independent audits.

Psiphon is primarily built as a circumvention tool to help users access blocked websites and services in regions with strict internet censorship. Its developer, Psiphon Inc., is transparent about this core purpose. That said, it's important to understand what data it does collect:

• It gathers anonymized usage data to optimize its network performance and bypass capabilities.
• It may collect basic device information (like OS version) to ensure compatibility.
• Crucially, it does not monitor or exfiltrate personal data like messages, photos, or login credentials for malicious purposes—this is the defining trait of spyware.

That being said, always review its privacy policy carefully before using it. Any VPN or circumvention tool requires broad network permissions, so you should be comfortable with how it handles your data.

Now, onto the confusing part: "connecting to the internet when the phone is off." Let's clear this up:
A fully powered-off phone can't run any apps, so Psiphon can't connect to the internet in that state. What you're likely seeing is one of these scenarios:

• Deep sleep/standby mode: Many phones have a "quick startup" or "deep sleep" feature that makes it look like the phone is off, but it's actually in a low-power state where some system services (including VPNs) might remain active.
• Background persistence: Psiphon is designed to maintain a stable connection for circumvention, so it often requests Android's "background launch" or "autostart" permissions. This means it can restart automatically after a reboot or wake up from sleep to re-establish the VPN connection.
• System-level VPN integration: On Android, VPNs run as system services, not just regular apps. If you set Psiphon to "always-on" VPN mode, the system might keep the connection alive even if the app itself seems closed.

Fixes to stop this behavior: #

• Go to your phone's settings and disable Psiphon's autostart or background launch permissions.
• Turn off the "always-on VPN" setting for Psiphon in your device's VPN settings.
• Disable any "quick startup" or "fast boot" features in your phone's power settings to ensure a full shutdown.
• Manually disconnect the VPN and force-stop Psiphon when you're not using it.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者spyware-finder