In short
- Roskomnadzor (RKN), Russia's communications regulator, regularly demands that Apple remove Happ. It is not in the Russian App Store right now; it is in the global one.
- Happ's developer is Flyfrog LLC in the App Store and HappDev in Google Play. The official site is happ.su.
- Any other developer means a fake, even with the same name and icon.
- Happ's developer does not sell keys. Keys are sold by VPN services, and “official Happ keys” on Telegram are a scam.
- Installing on an iPhone takes an Apple ID from another region.
Why Happ keeps disappearing from the App Store
Roskomnadzor sends Apple demands to remove VPN clients from the Russian App Store. Happ is one of them: the app is removed, and the developer publishes it again under a different name and as a separate app. Over its lifetime Happ has gone through about ten names.
That is why a search for “Happ” in the App Store shows something different every time. A list of names goes out of date faster than anyone can rewrite it, and scammers take advantage: they publish copies under the names people are searching for.
The one sign that never changes is the developer: Flyfrog LLC in the App Store and HappDev in Google Play.
How to check that Happ is real
The check takes half a minute and is done before you install.
The most reliable route: the official site
On happ.su the developer publishes current links to every version: App Store, TestFlight, Google Play, the APK file, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android TV and Apple TV. Go to the store from the link there, not through search.
For an iPhone, take the App Store Global link: Happ is not in the Russian App Store right now, and links to it lead to the removed app.
The same verified store links and installer files are gathered in the Apps section of the MaskNet site: for Happ, INCY and every platform.
iPhone and iPad: App Store
- Open the app page from the link on happ.su or find Happ in search.
- The developer is shown under the name.
- The developer must be Flyfrog LLC. Any other name means a fake.
- Install only after this check.
Android: Google Play or APK
- Open Google Play and find Happ.
- On the app page the developer is shown under the name.
- The developer must be HappDev. Any other name means a fake.
Download the APK file only from the link on happ.su or from the Happ page on MaskNet. A file from a Telegram channel or an unfamiliar site gives you no way to check who built it.
The icon, screenshots and description do not prove anything: copies reproduce them exactly.
| Sign | Proves it is real |
|---|---|
| Developer Flyfrog LLC (App Store) or HappDev (Google Play) | Yes |
| A link from the official site happ.su | Yes |
| The name “Happ” | No |
| A familiar icon | No |
| Screenshots and description | No |
| A clean VirusTotal scan | No |
Two kinds of fakes and what they steal
Copies of the app
Apps built on pirated code with a similar logo and the same name. On the outside they look like Happ. All of your traffic passes through a VPN client, so whoever owns the copy gets everything you put into it: your VPN service keys, your connection history and any data sent without HTTPS.
Telegram bots and channels
Bots and channels pose as Happ's developers or sell “official keys for Happ”. Happ's developer does not sell keys: Happ is a client that connects to a VPN service's servers, and the key is sold by the VPN service along with the subscription. These bots take money for a key that does not work or stops working within a few days. Or they sell a working key that routes your traffic through a server with an unknown owner.
How to check a key seller
- A website with plans and a public offer.
- Support answers before you pay.
- Clear refund terms.
- The service has been running for more than a couple of months.
If even one item is missing, look for another seller.
What to do if Happ is not in your App Store
Happ is not available in the Russian App Store right now; it is available in the global one. Change your Apple ID region: how to do it and what happens to your subscriptions is covered in How to change your Apple ID region. Before you switch, bring your Apple ID balance to zero: Apple will not change the region while there is money on the account.
Once the region is changed, open Happ from the link on happ.su, check the developer and install the app.
How to connect MaskNet to Happ
MaskNet works with Happ and INCY. The MaskNet key is built into the subscription and is added with the “Add subscription” button in your account: Happ opens with the subscription already added. A second device or a TV connects with a QR code from your account.
The configuration is encrypted: it cannot be opened, copied or shared. The encryption is a closed part of Happ; the developer does not publish its code. Copies built on pirated code do not contain it. We refund within 30 days. More about the app on the Happ page.
Once connected, check that the connection does not reveal your real IP and DNS: Leak Test.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download Happ on an iPhone?
Open the App Store link from happ.su and check the developer: it must be Flyfrog LLC. Happ is not in the Russian App Store right now, so change your Apple ID region first.
Why is Happ called something different?
After every removal from the App Store the developer publishes Happ under a new name. Only the developer, Flyfrog LLC, matters.
Are Happ Proxy Utility and Happ the same app?
If the developer is Flyfrog LLC, it is the real Happ under one of its names. If the developer is someone else, it is a fake.
Where do I buy a key for Happ?
From a VPN service. Happ's developer does not sell keys, and “official Happ keys” on Telegram are sold by scammers. What to check with a service before paying — in Where to get a key or subscription for Happ. The MaskNet key comes with the subscription: A key for Happ from MaskNet.
Does a VirusTotal scan prove Happ is real?
No. VirusTotal looks for known malicious code. A copy built on pirated code with no viruses passes the scan clean and still gets your traffic and keys. Only the developer and a link from happ.su prove it is real.
Can I install Happ on Android outside Google Play?
Yes, the developer publishes an APK file. Download it only from the link on happ.su or from the Happ page on MaskNet.
I already installed a fake. What do I do?
Delete the app. Cancel any subscriptions taken out through it in your Apple ID or Google Play settings. Change the passwords for accounts you signed in to through the fake. Install Happ from the link on happ.su.