VPN feature axed from Microsoft Defender
Posted by batterymap01
from the Business category at
04 Feb 2025 01:43:35 am.
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Microsoft has announced plans to remove the free VPN feature from its Microsoft Defender app.
The VPN, and Defender app, is currently included in all Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans at no additional cost, but will be removed on 28 February 2025.
The VPN certainly wasn't challenging any of thebest VPNs, but it was a handy additional feature and better than no VPN protection at all.
Short lived
Microsoft's VPN hasn't been around for long, having only beenintroduced in August 2024, but the tech giant has seemingly decided it isn't worth continuing and are diverting resources elsewhere – Copilot AI by the looks of it.
On one of itssupport pages, Microsoft said: "Our goal is to ensure you, and your family remain safer online. We routinely evaluate the usage and effectiveness of our features. As such, we are removing the privacy protection feature and will invest in new areas that will better align to customer needs."
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It says no action is required by Windows, iOS, or macOS users to remove the VPN, but Android users will have to manually remove the feature if they no longer wish to see it. Not removing the feature won't affect your device, or the remaining app protections, but the VPN will not be usable.
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Other Microsoft 365 protection features will remain unaffected. These include personal information and credit monitoring, 24/7 identity theft support, and up to $1 million identity insurance coverage – services very similar toExpressVPN'sIdentity DefenderandCredit ScannerandNordVPN'sNordProtect.
The VPN's removal comes asMicrosoft increases the price of 365 plans in the US by 45%. The prices of personal and family plans will increase by $3 a month or $30 for annual subscriptions.
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It appears as though the price hike is down to the inclusion of Copilot AI in the Microsoft 365 suite of apps. However users who don't wish to access Copilot AI can opt to switch to the "basic plan" and won't have to pay the increased subscription rate.
Tags: Microsoft Defender
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