Google is implementing its Virtual Private Network (VPN) service for subscribers to its Fi network to help people use online services on public Wi-Fi.
VPNs are handy, as long as you trust the service provider to guide your traffic safely through their servers. The most important question is whether you as a device owner trust the service provider.
A VPN offers you a private tunnel over the open internet and ensures packets are encrypted. If it is intercepted by a government agency or hacker, it cannot be decrypted.
VPN is not infallible, but it works well enough in many situations, such as at the airport when you need access to your online bank account or Gmail. Normally, a decent VPN costs money, but Google throws it in with its Fi broadband service to provide a shield against attackers and marketers who use a device’s IP address to locate a location.
Google has delivered performance improvements to its Fi VPN and moved it out of beta for Android phone users.
“This means you can take advantage of the VPN while also getting a faster, stronger connection between your applications and services,” Google notes.
It also comes on the iPhone, which provides coverage to all of Google’s Fi users. “We plan to expand the VPN to iPhone from this spring,” Google notes. Google also brings its privacy and security hub to Android devices and offers users a shortcut to features available to Android users, such as its VPN.
Eventually, Fi users can expect spam calls and blockers of spam calls to stop identified robo-calls and scams, and the company is stepping up its game to protect users from SIM scams.
“Your Fi number is linked to your Google Account and contains security features that protect your phone number from threats such as SIM swaps – this is when bad actors try to take someone’s phone number and assign it to another SIM card without permission. , “Google said. .
“On Fi, you receive standard extra layers of protection, including a robust account recovery process and notifications for suspicious activity. You can also enable 2-step verification for more protection.”