Back in 2023, Microsoft launched a new feature for Microsoft Defender users called Privacy Protection. This is essentially a secure VPN service that protects users when they connect their devices over public and open Wi-Fi networks. This feature helps reduce the risk of users being tracked online by hiding their IP address and location from websites, apps, and advertisers. Additionally, hackers cannot steal user data because everything is encrypted.
Last year, Microsoft expanded Defender Privacy Protection to Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android platforms in several key markets around the world, with a relatively positive response. However, today, the company unexpectedly sent out an email to Microsoft 365 subscribers informing them that Defender Privacy Protection will be discontinued on February 28, 2025. Microsoft gave the following reason for the VPN service's discontinuation:
"Our goal is to keep people safe online. We regularly evaluate the use and effectiveness of our features. As a result, we will be retiring privacy protection and investing in new areas that better meet our customers' needs."
Microsoft emphasizes that other Defender features, like device protection and identity and credit card theft monitoring (in the US), will continue to work as usual.
Microsoft Defender users on Windows, iOS, and macOS don't need to take any action because of this change. However, Defender users on Android should remove the VPN profile from their device using the following steps:
While the discontinuation of the VPN feature may disappoint some users, Microsoft's commitment to improving other aspects of security may benefit the community at large.
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