Microsoft is discontinuing the VPN provided through Microsoft Defender. As highlighted by , the company updated for its built-in VPN, aimed at privacy protection, to inform users that the service will be terminated on February 28. The VPN, integrated with Microsoft Defender, was accessible to anyone with a personal or family Microsoft 365 subscription and facilitated private browsing by routing internet traffic through Microsoft servers, up to a monthly data limit of 50GB.
In a statement regarding the decision posted on the support page, Microsoft stated, “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.” Microsoft notes that Android users might still notice the Microsoft Defender VPN profile in their settings post-expiration, which they will need to remove manually if they prefer it gone. “Action is not required by Windows, iOS, and macOS users,” Microsoft adds.
The company also assures that this is the only feature being discontinued at this time. According to Microsoft, “device protection and identity theft and credit monitoring (US) features will continue.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/microsoft-defenders-vpn-feature-will-be-killed-off-at-the-end-of-february-212313322.html?src=rss
