William Gallagher
Google has announced that iPhone users on any of its Google Fi phone plans will now automatically get a built-in VPN service.
Previously announced on "Safer Internet Day" in February 2021, Google has now begun rolling out its VPN service to iPhone users (check for the best VPN deals). The VPN has been available on Android, where it has seen high usage on its Google Fi phone plans.
Announced on the official Google Fi Twitter account, the new service is rolling out now.
Starting today, we're expanding our built-in VPN to iPhone.
— Google Fi (@googlefi) June 24, 2021
With the Fi VPN, you get a private online connection and more protection from hackers included on all plans. Learn more https://t.co/TABM9FSYFB pic.twitter.com/WVfTlcpTRO
"We aren't updating every user all at once," continued Google Fi support on Twitter. "But the update will be widely available to users over the coming weeks."
"The Fi VPN helps you stream, browse and download on an encrypted, private connection," says Google in a statement. "It prevents websites from using your IP address to track your location and helps shield you from hackers - even while you're using unsecure networks."
Google Fi is a phone plan that also offers "free spam call detection and blocking." Its plans start from $20/month for one person.
Users on other cell plans can still add VPNs from third-party companies. Apple's forthcoming iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey won't include a full VPN, but will offer similar privacy protection via Private Relay.
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast — and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too. If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.
Charles Martin
Amber Neely
Sponsored Content
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
14 Comments
No sign of the VPN here. I've been on Google Fi for several weeks now, 100% happy with it so far BTW, and updated the app yesterday. When the VPN becomes available you will know it because "Privacy" settings tab will change to "Privacy and Security". Rolling out in stages is certainly accurate.
Well you’d have to be pretty stupid to use a google VPN. Though in truth I’m dubious about all modern VPNs. There was one that came with Ironkey’s more premium device years ago that I used when necessary. Of course they have their uses but I’d advise anyone only to activate for the bare essentials. If it’s browsing related, Tor is the more secure option. It’s certainly one way of them solving the problem of all the valuable data they have been losing over the last couple of years, and smart/sly to boot. They ensure that one way or another they’re creating detailed profiles on vast swathes of the population - again relying on the average person’s lack of understanding. Of course with schemes such as these they can perpetuate the notion that they are becoming more privacy focused by slowly deprecating cookies etc thus increasing user trust in them.
Encryption by itself solves nothing. If it did, everything on the Internet would be secure because every character on the Internet is encoded in ASCII, which is a code with a key. What matters is the algorithm, key production, and key management. A VPN may use a good algorithm, but the session keys are held by the VPN provider, in addition to yourself, which could completely negate the security of both the algorithm and the key.