Google is launching its virtual private network (VPN) service for subscribers to its Fi network, which should help people when using online services over public Wi-Fi.
VPNs are useful, as long as you trust your service provider to safely route your traffic through your servers. The main question is whether you, as a device owner, trust the service provider.
A VPN offers a private tunnel over the open Internet and ensures that packets are encrypted so that if they are intercepted by a government agency or hacker, they cannot be deciphered.
VPNs are not foolproof, but they work well in many situations, such as at the airport when you need to access your online bank account or Gmail. A decent VPN typically costs money, but Google launches it with its Fi broadband service to offer protection against intruders and merchants who use a device’s IP address to track a location.
Google delivered performance improvements for its VPN Fi and removed it from the beta version for Android phone users.
“This means you can get the benefits of VPN while getting a faster and stronger connection between your applications and services,” notes Google.
It is also coming to the iPhone, bringing coverage to all Google Fi users. “We plan to launch VPN for the iPhone starting this spring,” notes Google. Google is also bringing its privacy and security hub to Android devices, offering users a shortcut to features available to Android users, such as their VPN.
Finally, Fi users can expect free spam call blocking and warnings to prevent automatic calls and identified scams, and the company is stepping up its game to protect users from SIM exchange scams.
“Your Fi number is linked to your Google Account and comes with security features that protect your phone number from threats like SIM exchanges – when malicious people try to take someone’s phone number and assign it to another SIM card without their consent, “said Google.
“In Fi, you get extra layers of protection by default, including a robust account recovery process and notifications of suspicious activity. You can also enable 2-step verification for more protection.”